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Title: Real-time method and apparatus for measuring the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor

Abstract

A method for determining the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. (Alcoa, TN)
  2. Knoxville, TN
  3. Oak Ridge, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872507
Patent Number(s):
5949539
Assignee:
American Iron and Steel Institute (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01K - MEASURING TEMPERATURE
DOE Contract Number:  
FC07-93ID13205
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
real-time; method; apparatus; measuring; decay-time; constant; fluorescing; phosphor; determining; provided; performing; photodetector; detecting; light; emitted; irradiated; excitation; pulse; converting; detected; electrical; signal; differentiator; differentiating; zero-crossing; discrimination; circuit; outputs; width; corresponding; time; period; start; differentiated; reaches; zero; output; proportional; pulse signal; output pulse; pulse width; electrical signal; time period; light emitted; time constant; detected light; excitation pulse; detecting light; fluorescing phosphor; decay-time constant; real-time method; /356/250/

Citation Formats

Britton, Jr., Charles L., Beshears, David L, Simpson, Marc L, Cates, Michael R, and Allison, Steve W. Real-time method and apparatus for measuring the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
Britton, Jr., Charles L., Beshears, David L, Simpson, Marc L, Cates, Michael R, & Allison, Steve W. Real-time method and apparatus for measuring the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor. United States.
Britton, Jr., Charles L., Beshears, David L, Simpson, Marc L, Cates, Michael R, and Allison, Steve W. Fri . "Real-time method and apparatus for measuring the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872507.
@article{osti_872507,
title = {Real-time method and apparatus for measuring the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor},
author = {Britton, Jr., Charles L. and Beshears, David L and Simpson, Marc L and Cates, Michael R and Allison, Steve W},
abstractNote = {A method for determining the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {1}
}