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Title: Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  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
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
871330
Patent Number(s):
5708735
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 Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-83CH10093
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
fiber; optic; device; sensing; presence; gas; fiber-optic; environment; provided; comprises; light; source; directing; beam; layer; surface; opposite; exposable; portion; encounters; reflects; angle; incidence; free; optical; wave; guide; resonance; phenomenon; enabling; selected; reversibly; react; detected; reaction; material; changes; properties; wavelength; occurs; furthermore; mechanism; measuring; intensity; reflected; relative; ratio; portions; indicating; concentration; wave guide; device comprises; light source; fiber optic; light beam; optical properties; reversibly react; optical wave; surface opposite; optic device; /385/356/

Citation Formats

Benson, David K, Bechinger, Clemens S, and Tracy, C Edwin. Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Benson, David K, Bechinger, Clemens S, & Tracy, C Edwin. Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas. United States.
Benson, David K, Bechinger, Clemens S, and Tracy, C Edwin. Thu . "Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871330.
@article{osti_871330,
title = {Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas},
author = {Benson, David K and Bechinger, Clemens S and Tracy, C Edwin},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {1}
}