Optical hydrogen detector
OwnerFrank DiMeo JR., Mackenzie E. Kinginventors
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Abstract
A hydrogen gas detector for detection of hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment. The detector comprises a light/heat source, an optical detector, and an optical barrier between the source and detector. The optical barrier responds to the presence of hydrogen by responsively changing from a first optical state to a different second optical state, whereby transmission of light from the light/heat source through the optical barrier is altered by the presence of hydrogen and the altered transmission is sensed by the optical detector to provide an indication of the presence of hydrogen gas in the gaseous environment.
Claims46
A hydrogen gas detector for detection of hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment, said detector comprising a light/heat source, an optical detector, and an optical barrier therebetween, wherein the optical barrier responds to the presence of hydrogen by responsively changing from a first optical state to a different second optical state, whereby transmission of light from said light/heat source through said optical barrier is altered by the presence of hydrogen and said altered transmission is sensed by said optical detector to provide an indication of the presence of hydrogen gas in the gaseous environment.
A hydrogen gas detector for detection of hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment, said detector comprising a light/heat source, at least one optical detector, and at least one optical barrier deposed between the light/heat source and each detector, wherein the optical barriers respond to the presence of hydrogen by responsively changing from a first optical state to a different second optical state, whereby transmission of light from said light/heat source through said optical barriers is altered by the presence of hydrogen and said altered transmission is sensed by said optical detectors to provide an indication of the presence and concentration of hydrogen gas in the gaseous environment.
A method of fabricating a hydrogen gas detector, comprising:
- providing a source of luminous and thermal energy including an output surface for emitting light and thermal energy;
- depositing on the output surface an optical filter comprising a rare earth metal thin film that responds to contact with hydrogen by exhibiting a detectable change of optical transmissivity;
- positioning a light detector in light-sensing proximity to the source of luminous and thermal energy, whereby a change in optical transmissivity of the rare earth metal thin film in exposure to hydrogen gas is detected as a change in luminous energy flux impinging on the detector, and
- outputting a signal indicative of said change in luminous energy flux.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.