Real-Time Optical Monitoring of Particle Deposition in Controlled Environments

Brookhuis Applied Technologies carried out an innovation project to develop a real-time optical system for monitoring micro- and macro-particle deposition on large surfaces under controlled environmental conditions. The aim was to create a device capable of detecting particles larger than 0.5 µm on an 80 cm² witness plate, offering three times the measurement area of existing instruments.

The system was based on grazing illumination and forward-direction particle detection in a Scheimpflug optical configuration, enabling high sensitivity and absolute measurement capability. The innovation addressed a major challenge in manufacturing and healthcare environments, where even trace levels of particle contamination can impact product performance, safety, or yield.

Through this project, Brookhuis developed and validated a TRL 5 prototype that proved the feasibility of the concept in relevant industrial environments. The technology demonstrated strong potential for use in sectors such as semiconductor production, optics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and medical device fabrication, where cleanroom standards are critical.

The project confirmed the viability of cost-effective, compact, and accurate real-time particle monitoring, strengthening Brookhuis’s portfolio of industrial sensing solutions and supporting its mission to improve process control and quality assurance worldwide.