# US 10,338,000 B2 · Fiber sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,338,000 B2 - Document ID: US10338000B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/035,933 - Filed: 2013-09-24 - Published: 2014-07-31 - Granted: 2019-07-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-24 - Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology; FLIR Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology; FLIR Systems, Incorporated - Inventors: Alexander Gumennik; Alexander Mark Stolyarov; Brent Richard Schell; Chong Hou; Guillaume Romain Lestoquoy; Fabien Sorin; William Richard McDaniel, II; Yoel Fink; Aimee Rose; John Dimitris Joannopoulos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10338000B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/84: Systems specially adapted for particular applications - B29D 11/00721: {involving preforms for the manufacture of light guides} - G01N 21/76: Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence - G01N 21/7703: {using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides (using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B)} - G02B 6/4283: {with electrical insulation means} - C03B 2201/86: Chalcogenide glasses, i.e. S, Se or Te glasses - G01N 2021/7753: {Reagent layer on photoelectrical transducer} - G01N 2021/7786: {Fluorescence} - G02B 6/02314: {Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes} - G02B 6/4291: {by accessing the evanescent field of the light guide} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES ## Abstract There is provided a sensor fiber including an electrically insulating material having a fiber length. At least one transduction element is disposed along at least a portion of the fiber length and is arranged for exposure to an intake species. A photoconducting element is in optical communication with the transduction element. At least one pair of electrically conducting electrodes are in electrical connection with the photoconducting element. The pair of electrodes extend the fiber length. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor fiber comprising: An elongated, unsupported three-dimensional fiber body comprising an electrically insulating polymeric material, the fiber body having a fiber length and an outer fiber body surface along the fiber length, with at least one intake aperture disposed in the fiber body for accepting an intake species into the fiber body; at least one transduction element comprising a chemiluminescent material disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the to fiber length and arranged for exposure to an intake species provided through an intake aperture in the fiber body, the chemiluminescent material emitting chemiluminescent light upon exposure to a target intake species with a wavelength of chemiluminescence indicative of the target intake species; at least one photoconducting element comprising a semiconducting material arranged in the fiber body in optical communication with the transduction element to receive chemiluminescent light produced by the chemiluminescent material upon reaction of the chemiluminescent material with the target species to produce a corresponding electrical sensing signal indicative of the target intake species; and at least one pair of electrically conducting electrodes in electrical connection with the photoconducting element in the fiber body, the pair of electrodes extending the fiber length to transmit the electrical sensing signal to an end of the fiber body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent material extends the fiber length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent material is disposed at an end of the fiber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the at least one transduction element comprises a plurality of transduction elements, each transduction element in the plurality disposed at a different site along the fiber length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent material comprises a layer of chemiluminescent material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent material comprises a layer of chemiluminescent material that is disposed on an internal wall of the fiber body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the at least one transduction element comprises a plurality of transduction elements, each transduction element in the plurality emitting light upon exposure to a different intake species. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the at least one transduction element comprises a plurality of different chemiluminescent materials. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the target intake species comprises one of peroxide vapor and liquid peroxide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the target intake species comprises 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the target intake species comprises an explosive species. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the at least one transduction element includes a scintillation transduction element that scintillates upon exposure to a radioactive species. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the chemiluminescent material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluorescein and naphthofluorescein. ### Claim 14 A sensor fiber comprising: an elongated, unsupported three-dimensional fiber body comprising an electrically insulating polymeric material, the fiber body having a fiber length and an outer fiber body surface along the fiber length; at least one transduction element comprising a chemiluminescent material disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the fiber, the chemiluminescent material emitting chemiluminescent light upon exposure to a target intake species with a wavelength of chemiluminescence indicative of the target intake species; at least one intake microcapillary disposed within the fiber body and extending the fiber length for intake of species to be sensed, the chemiluminescent material being in communication with a microcapillary for exposure of the chemiluminescent material to an intake species; at least one photoconducting element comprising a semiconducting material arranged in the fiber body in optical communication with the transduction element to receive chemiluminescent light produced by the chemiluminescent material upon reaction of the chemiluminescent material with the target species to produce a corresponding electrical sensing signal indicative of the target intake species; and at least one pair of electrically conducting electrodes in electrical connection with the photoconducting element in the fiber body, the pair of electrodes extending the fiber length to transmit the electrical sensing signal to an end of the fiber body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sensor fiber of claim 14 wherein the at least one intake microcapillary comprises a plurality of spaced-apart intake microcapillaries. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The sensor fiber of claim 14 wherein the intake microcapillary comprises a hollow fiber core. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The sensor fiber of claim 14 wherein the intake microcapillary has a cross section that is generally circular. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The sensor fiber of claim 14 wherein the intake microcapillary has a cross section that is generally rectangular. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the electrically insulating material is substantially transparent to a wavelength of light that is generated by the chemiluminescent material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 further comprising at least one microcapillary disposed within the fiber body, extending the fiber length and in fluidic communication with at least one intake aperture and the chemiluminescent material for exposure of the chemiluminescent material to the intake species. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein at least one transduction element is disposed in the fiber body at a site adjacent to an intake aperture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the semiconducting element comprises a chalcogenide glass. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the semiconducting element comprises a chalcogenide glass selected from the group consisting of Se97S3, As24S38Se38, and As30Se63Sb4Sn3. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the photoconducting element comprises a layer of the semiconducting material, extending the fiber length. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the photoconducting element comprises a layer of the semiconducting material, extending the fiber length and including portions of semiconducting material that are crystalline, separated by portions of semiconducting material that are amorphous. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the photoconducting element comprises a semiconducting material having a bandgap energy that is less than about 3 eV. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the photoconducting element comprises a layer of the semiconducting material, disposed in the fiber body, along the fiber length. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the photoconducting element comprises a layer of the semiconducting material disposed in the fiber body adjacent to the transduction element. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the at least one photoconducting element comprises a plurality of different semiconducting materials, each semiconducting material being sensitive to a different wavelength of chemiluminescent light. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the electrodes comprise a material selected from the group of metals and metal alloys. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are connected in a photodetector circuit that includes a voltage source connected to apply a bias voltage to the photoconducting element. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are connected to deliver an electrical signal from an end of the sensor fiber to an output circuit that includes a current measurement element to measure an indication of photogenerated charge produced by the photoconducting element. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are connected to deliver an electrical signal from an end of the sensor fiber to an output circuit that produces an electrical indication of exposure of the transduction element to an intake species. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The sensor fiber of claim 1 wherein each electrode is geometrically confined within the fiber body by the electrically insulating material of the fiber body.