Reflectance based optical fiber chemical sensor

Patent Application · Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:5333555

Butler, M A; Pfeifer, K B; Ricco, A J

A thin film chemical sensor undergoes changes in reflective optical properties when exposed to a chemical species. A thin metal film is deposited at the end of an optical fiber, and exposure of the thin film to the chemical species causes changes in the effective thickness of the thin film, thereby changing its reflective properties. A chemical detection system based on the thin film sensor includes a light source and an optical divider for dividing light from the light source into a first and second light path. The first light path leads to circuitry for providing a reference signal. The thin film chemical sensor receives light from the second light path, and a photoelectric detector detects light reflected from the chemical sensor and provides an electrical signal representative of the reflected light. Circuitry is provided for comparing the reference signal with the reflected light signal, thereby providing a measurement signal indicative of the presence of the chemical species. 5 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A7259556
• Application Number: ON: DE91016975; PPN: US 7-259556
• OSTI ID: 5333555
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
MEASURING METHODS
CORROSION
OPTICAL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
THIN FILMS
REFLECTIVITY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
INVENTIONS
LIGHT SOURCES
OPTICAL FIBERS
PHOTODETECTORS
SILVER
THICKNESS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FIBERS
FILMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION SOURCES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
440600* - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)
400102 - Chemical & Spectral Procedures