Porous Fluid Sensor
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJohn A. Wheatley, William B. Kolb, Audrey A. Sherman, Mark A. Roehrig, Alan R. Dombrowski, Kurt J. Halverson, Steven P. Swanson, Del R. Lawson, Cory M. Arthur
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Abstract
An optical element includes a porous layer with a network of a plurality of interconnected voids. The porous layer is optically diffusive to at least one wavelength of light when the network of interconnected voids is substantially free of fluid. The porous layer of the optical element undergoes a detectable optical change upon fluid ingress into the network or egress from the network of interconnected voids.
Claims11
A fluid sensor comprising a porous layer with a network of a plurality of interconnected voids, wherein the porous layer is optically diffusive to at least one wavelength of light when the network is substantially free of fluid, and wherein the porous layer undergoes a optical change detectable visually upon fluid ingress into the network or egress from the network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.