Robert M Mccullough

US Patent:

50556924, Oct 8, 1991

Filed:

Sep 1, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/402124

Inventors:

John B. Abbiss - Irvine CA
Medhat Azzazy - Laguna Niguel CA
Robert W. McCullough - Princeton Junction NJ
Anthony E. Smart - Costa Mesa CA

Assignee:

The Titan Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01J 142
G01N 2164

US Classification:

250372

Abstract:

A source produces light, preferably in a wavelength band of approximately 185-200 nm and in pulses at a suitable frequency (e. g. , 100 Hz). The light may be directed in a progressively diverging beam into the atmosphere for a Rayleigh scattering by molecules in the atmosphere in the 185-200 nm wavelength band and for fluorescence by particular molecules (e. g. oxygen) in the atmosphere in another wavelength band (e. g. 210-260 nm). The Rayleigh scattered light and the fluorescent light may pass in a progressively converging beam to two detectors, one responsive to the Rayleigh scattered light to produce first signals and the other responsive to the fluorescent light to produce second signals. Optical elements may prevent the second detector from responding to the fluorescent light and the second detector from responding to the scattered Rayleigh light. A data processor processes the first and second signals to provide outputs representative of the atmospheric pressure and temperature.