Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871330

Benson, David K ^[1]; Bechinger, Clemens S ^[2]; Tracy, C Edwin ^[3]

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1. 14154 W. First Dr., Golden, CO 80401
2. 35 S. Holman Way, # 3D, Golden, CO 80401
3. 19012 W. 60th Dr., Golden, CO 80403

A fiber-optic device for sensing the presence of a gas in an environment is provided. The device comprises a light source for directing a light beam to a layer system having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is exposable to the light beam and the second surface is exposable to the environment. A first light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence free from optical wave guide resonance phenomenon and the second light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence enabling an optical wave guide resonance phenomenon. The layer system is selected to reversibly react with the gas to be detected. The reaction between the gas and the material changes the material's optical properties and the wavelength at which the optical wave guide resonance occurs. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the intensity of the reflected first light portion relative to the reflected second light portion is provided with the ratio of the first and second light portions indicating the concentration of the gas presence in the environment.

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Institute
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-83CH10093
• Assignee: Benson, David K. (14154 W. First Dr., Golden, CO 80401);Bechinger, Clemens S. (35 S. Holman Way, # 3D, Golden, CO 80401);Tracy, C. Edwin (19012 W. 60th Dr., Golden, CO 80403)
• Patent Number(s): US 5708735
• OSTI ID: 871330
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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/385/356/
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