Modular optical particle counter sensor and apparatus
A modular optical particle counter sensor and apparatus are described that consolidates counting functionality on a single main counter board and has expandable functionality through connections to plug-in system boards. The modular optical particle sensor may be directly connected to a manifold with an integrated venturi for better controlling the flow rate of the air stream passing through the apparatus for sampling.
1. A compact optical particle counter comprising:
an optical particle counter having a housing that contains a controller, a light source, a light detector, a flow channel manifold to move a particle flow through a beam of light, wherein the flow channel manifold includes a venturi;
a signal processing circuit to process detected signals above a threshold for at least one output channel, an analog to digital converter that converts analog signals above the threshold to digital signals to generate particle count data;
wherein the controller is connected to a memory and a communication port connected to a communication network, wherein the controller operates a communication interface that transmits operational state data for the optical particle counter regarding an operational mode to an external computing device; and
a circuit board on which the signal processing circuit and the controller are mounted, the circuit board further comprising a connector to electrically connect the controller to a detachable circuit board module that controls at least one operational mode of the optical particle counter.
2. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the manifold further comprises an output for the venture that is connected to an input to a sensor chamber wherein the light beam traverses the sensor chamber.
3. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the manifold further comprises a connector that directly connects the venturi to a filter at the pump output.
4. The particle counter of claim 1 further comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA) connected to the controller.
5. The particle counter of claim 4 wherein the FPGA is mounted to a circuit board on which the controller, an analog front end circuit, and a power control circuit are mounted.
6. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board module comprises a display and a battery mounted in the housing such that the operational mode comprises a handheld particle counter.
7. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board comprises a circuit board module controller.
8. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises a universal serial bus (USB).
9. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises a sensor.
10. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises a memory.
11. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises an Ethernet connector.
12. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board comprises a power over Ethernet connector.
13. The particle counter claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises a touchscreen display, a power supply and a display controller.
14. The particle counter of claim 1 wherein the detachable circuit board further comprises a wireless transceiver.
15. A compact optical particle counter device comprising:
an optical particle counter having a housing that contains a controller, a light source, a light detector, a flow channel manifold to move a particle flow through a beam of light wherein the flow channel manifold includes a venturi;
a signal processing circuit to process detected signals above a threshold for at least one output channel, an analog to digital converter that converts analog signals above the threshold to digital signals to generate particle count data;
wherein the controller is connected to a memory and a communication port connected to a communication network, wherein the controller operates a communication interface that transmits operational state data for the optical particle counter regarding an operational mode to an external computing device;
a circuit board on which the signal processing circuit and the controller are mounted, the circuit board further comprising a connector to electrically connect the controller to a detachable circuit board module that controls at least one operational mode of the optical particle counter; and
a light emitting device mounted on the housing, the light emitting device being connected to the controller such that the light emitting device emits a light signal corresponding to an operational state that of the device.
16. The particle counter of claim 15 wherein the light emitting device comprises:
a first light emitting device (LED) emitting at a first wavelength to indicate a first operational state, and
a second light emitting device (LED) that emits at a second wavelength to indicate a second operational state.
17. The particle counter of claim 15 wherein the external computing device comprises a server configured to transmit a plurality of operating parameters to the optical particle counter.
18. The particle counter of claim 15 wherein the first operational state comprises actuation of a re-calibration procedure.
19. The particle counter of claim 15 wherein the external computing device is configured to select an alarm indicator state for each of a plurality of operational states of the device.