Secure optical leak sensing

A method of detecting a coolant leak within an information handling system, the method comprising:

• illuminating objects within the information handling system with a pattern of light generated by a light source, wherein the pattern corresponds to a randomized encoding;
• generating with a light sensor a signal in response to the sensor absorbing light emitted from an object illuminated by the light source, wherein the signal is encoded according to the randomized encoding of the pattern;
• generating with a controller a decoded signal, wherein the decoded signal is generated by reversing the randomized encoding of the signal;
• and
• identifying with the controller a potential coolant leak in response to the decoded signal matching a predetermined pattern indicating a coolant leak.

An information handling system, comprising:

• a chassis;
• at least one processor contained within the chassis;
• a memory contained within the chassis;
• a bus operatively coupling the memory with the at least one processor;
• a liquid cooling subsystem configured to circulate a liquid coolant within the chassis;
• and
• an optical detector configured to detect a coolant leak, the optical detector including
• a light source configured to illuminate objects within the information handling system with a pattern of light, wherein the pattern corresponds to a randomized encoding;
• a light sensor configured to generate a signal in response to absorbing light emitted from an object illuminated by the light source, wherein the signal is encoded according to the randomized encoding of the pattern;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled with the light sensor to generate a decoded signal by reversing the randomized encoding of the signal, and wherein the controller is configured to identify a potential coolant leak in response to the decoded signal matching a predetermined pattern indicating a coolant leak.