US Patent 7452095 Device and method for illuminating liquid droplets

There is provided a liquid droplet illumination device, which includes at least one liquid droplet traveling on a first surface. The liquid droplet can be distilled water and the first surface can be a ribbon of translucent material. The liquid droplet illumination device further includes at least one light beam that is offset from the first surface. For example, the at least one light beam can be a coherent beam of light, such as a laser beam. The at least one light beam interacts with the at least one liquid droplet as it travels on the first surface, thereby illuminating the at least one liquid droplet.