Claims
- 1. A method for detecting and measuring inclusions in a fluid comprising the steps:
forcing the migration of particles in a fluid conductor to a measurement region; and detecting the particles in the measurement region.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forcing the migration of the particles comprises applying an electromagnetic Lorentz force to the fluid.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electromagnetic Lorentz force is applied using a plurality of permanent magnets and a direct current (DC) source.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the electromagnetic Lorentz force is applied using an alternating current (AC) source.
- 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising conditioning the measurement region to move the particles within the measurement region.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the conditioning of the measurement region further comprises applying a mechanical force to a surface of the region.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the conditioning of the measurement region is comprises vibrating the region.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the particles uses an electrostatic measurement.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the particles uses an image detection system that detects the particles.
- 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising flowing a fluid material over a surface of the fluid to alter a surface characteristic.
- 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising flowing a gas across the measurement surface.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of flowing a gas further comprises flowing a gas selected from the group comprising helium, argon and chlorine.
- 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising flowing a gas mixture over the measurement surface.
- 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising flowing a gas over the surface to increase a particle flow rate in the measurement region.
- 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a detective that detects light in a range of wavelengths from 500 nm to 1200 nm.
- 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a solid state infrared detector.
- 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an amorphous selenium detector.
- 18. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of altering a surface characteristic can comprise altering an oxidation rate at the fluid surface, reducing surface tension at the fluid surface, increasing contrast between particles in the fluid and the fluid, or increasing flow rate of particles through a region of interest.
- 19. The method of claim 1 further characteristic comprises comprising controlling separation reducing an oxidation rate of particles from the fluid at the fluid surface.
- 20. Apparatus for measuring inclusions in a conductive liquid comprising:
a conductive liquid source; an electrode device positioned relative to the liquid that provides a current path in the liquid; a current source connected to said electrode device; and a detection device that detects material in the liquid.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the current generator is a direct current (DC) source.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the current generator is an alternating current (AC) source.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of permanent magnets to a create magnetic field.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the detection device is an electrostatic device system.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the electrostatic device further comprises a plurality electrodes contacting a measurement surface to detect changes in voltage as inclusions flow through the measurement surface between said electrodes.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the detection device is an optical detection system.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the detection system further comprises, an optical magnifier to magnify the measurement surface and a solid-state imaging device.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the detection system is coupled to a display.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an image processor and a system controller.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a magnetic field source that applies a force to the liquid to move the liquid against a gravitational force.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the electrode device comprises a plurality of graphite, tungsten, aluminum or copper electrodes.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the detection device comprises an infrared imaging detector.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 20 comprising a flow container including a metal liquid source inlet and an outlet.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a gas source coupled to a housing such that a gas can flow across a surface region of the liquid.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an inclusion separator.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the gas comprises an inert gas or an active gas.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a memory and an image processor that measures particle size and distribution in the liquid.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 20 a gas flow controller to control gas flow in a chamber above the liquid and quartz window.
- 39. Apparatus for measuring inclusions in a liquid comprising:
a source of a liquid having inclusions; an electrode system positioned to provide a current path in the liquid; a current source connected to said electrodes; and an imaging device to sense inclusions in the liquid.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising an optical system that optically couples a surface of the liquid to the imaging device and a system controller that controls process parameters in response to detected images.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation-in-Part Application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/700,975 filed on Nov. 21, 2000, which is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT/US00/08668 filed on Mar. 31, 2000, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/285,528 filed on Apr. 2, 1999. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09700975 |
|
US |
Child |
09822772 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09285528 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Child |
PCT/US00/08668 |
Mar 2000 |
US |