Wavelength-independent polymer/optical sensing apparatus and method
AssigneeMonsanto Company
InventorsGeorge E. Walker, William K. Fisher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical sensing device which incorporates a suitable optical sensor system, preferably a fiber optics system, with a suitable environmental sensitive polymeric material is presented. The polymeric material must be of the type which undergoes wavelength-independent changes in optical properties in response to environmental changes. Accordingly, preferred polymers include crosslinked, semicrystalline polymers, high strength amorphous polymers, and polymer blends. This novel combination will accurately and, at times, reversibly measure and detect temperature, humidity, pressure, position, radiation, flow, stress/strain, light, color, electric field, and a plurality of other properties with respect to changes in the environment.
Claims35
A device for detecting environmental changes comprising:
- fiber optical sensor means;
- and
- an environmental sensitive polymeric material capable of undergoing a wavelength-independent change in optical properties in response to a change in the environment, said environmental sensitive polymeric material communicating with said fiber optical sensor means and said environment whereby a change in the environment which causes said optical change in the said polymeric material is sensed and indicated by said fiber optic sensor means.
The device for detecting environmental changes comprising:
- optical sensor means;
- and
- an environmental sensitive polymeric material capable of undergoing a wave-length independent change in optical properties in response to a change in the environment, said environmental sensitive polymeric material communicating with said optical sensor means and said environment whereby a change in the environment which causes said optical change in the said polymeric material is sensed and indicated by said optical sensor means;
- said optical sensor means including;
- a housing for said environmental sensitive polymeric material, said housing including two opposing sides;
- light emitting means spaced from one side of said housing;
- and
- light detecting means spaced from the other of said opposed sides of said housing wherein light from said light emitting means passes through said environmental sensitive polymeric material to said light detecting means.
A method for detecting environmental changes using a fiber optic sensor means which communicates with an environmental sensitive polymeric material, said polymeric material being capable of undergoing a wavelength-independent change in optical properties in response to a change in the environment, including the steps of:
- providing a change to the environment which causes an optical change in said environmental sensitive polymeric material;
- sensing said optical change with said fiber optic sensor means;
- and
- indicating said sensed optical change with said fiber optic sensor means.
A method for detecting environmental changes using an optical sensor means which communicates with an environmental senitive polymeric material, said polymeric material being capable of undergoing a wavelength-independent change in optical properties in response to a change in the environment, including the steps of:
- providing a change to the environment which causes an optical change in said environmental sensitive polymeric material;
- sensing said optical change with said optical sensor means, said optical sensor means including a housing for said environmental sensitive polymeric material, said housing including two opposing sides, light emitting means spaced from one side of said housing, and light detecting means spaced from the other of said opposed sides of said housing wherein light from said light emitting means passes through said environmental sensitive polymeric material to said light detecting means;
- and
- indicating said sensed optical change with said optical sensor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.