Optical sensor

US6605804B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Roland Muller-Fiedler · Leonberg, DE
• Helmut Sautter · Ditzingen, DE
• Joachim Schneider · Ehringshausen, DE
• Anton Pfefferseder · Oberhaching, DE
• Winfried Bernhard · Gerlingen, DE
• Andre Mueller · Hilzingen, DE
• Andreas Hensel · Egmating, DE
• Ulrich Oppelt · Zorneding, DE
• Lutz Mueller · Altadena, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 23, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 12, 2003
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/783
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical sensor is provided for determining a physical and/or chemical parameter of a sample, having at least one optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver, and having a sensitive element which is arranged in a beam path between the transmitter and the receiver and is exposable to the sample, and which changes its absorption and/or its refractive index for electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength in response to a change in parameters of the sample, in particular, a gas-sensitive element, and possibly having an evaluation unit arranged downstream of the receiver. The transmitter and the receiver can be coupled to the sensitive element via at least one optical waveguide.Provision is made for the transmitter (12) and for the receiver (14) to be coupled to the sensitive element via at least one optical waveguide (26, 28).