US 7,489,397 B2
Instrument, system and method for automated low cost atmospheric measurements
Miguel Felipe Acevedo, Carrollton, Tex. (US); William T. Waller, Argyle, Tex. (US); and Gilbert B. Nebgen, Saint Jo, Tex. (US)
Assigned to University of North Texas, Denton, Tex. (US)
Filed on May 11, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/432,084.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/679933, filed on May 11, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0266950 A1, Nov. 30, 2006
Int. Cl. G01J 3/28 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 356—326  [356/51; 356/72; 356/73; 250/339.05] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for measuring ozone in the atmosphere, comprising:
(a) a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end;
(b) a collimating lens having narrow field of view coupled to the first end of the fiber optic cable, wherein light from a Sun is capable of being funneled into the fiber-optic medium and is transmitted through the fiber optic cable, wherein the narrow field of view is in the range of from about 1° to about 45°;
(c) a spectrometer having a ultra-violet/visible light (“UV/VIS”) channel coupled to the second end of the fiber optic cable; (d) an optical bandpass filter coupled to the fiber optic cable; and
(e) a pan-and-tilt positioning unit having a pan-axis capable of tracking an azimuth angle of the Sun, and a tilt-axis capable of tracking an elevation angle of the Sun, wherein pan-and-tilt positioning unit further comprises a means for mounting the collimating lens.