OPEN PATH OPTICAL SENSING SYSTEM HAVING AN ULTRASONIC CLEANER AND METHOD

摘要

An open path optical sensing system (100) having an ultrasonic cleaner. The system includes at least one ultrasound transducer (106) which is configured to propagate ultrasonic waves (107) across exposed surfaces of optical components (101) of the optical sensing system. The ultrasonic waves create tiny vibrations on the exposed surfaces of the optical components which clean the surfaces of environmental pollutants and prevent environmental pollutants from accumulating on the surface. The ultrasonic waves may have a frequency that is substantially different than the modulation frequency of a modulated laser light beam that is generated by a laser of the open path optical sensing system. The surfaces of a plurality of optical components may be cleaned by the ultrasonic waves of a single ultrasound transducer. A plurality of ultrasound transducers may propagate waves on a single optical component.