[54] OPTICAL SENSOR ELEMENT
[75] Inventors: Giinter Schwotzer, Dorndorf-Steudnitz;
Reinhardt Willsch, Jena, both of
Germany
[73] Assignees: Bartec Componenete und Systeme GmbH, Gotteszell, Germany; Institut fuer Physikalische Hochtechnologie e.V., Jena, Germany
[21] Appl. No.: 08/860,771
[22] PCT Filed: Nov. 22, 1996
[86] PCT No.: PCT/EP96/05155
§ 371 Date: Jul. 3, 1997
§ 102(e) Date: Jul. 3, 1997 [87] PCT Pub. No.: WO97/21092
PCT Pub. Date: Jun. 12, 1997
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Dec. 6, 1995 [DE] Germany 195 45 414
[51] Int. CI.6 G01N 21/41; G01N 21/75
[52] U.S. CI 428/306.6; 428/216; 428/307.3;
428/308.4; 428/315.7; 428/315.9
[58] Field of Search 428/306.6, 307.3,
428/308.4, 315.7, 315.9, 212, 216
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,641,524 2/1987 Tarvin 73/335
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 0536656A1 4/1993 European Pat. Off. .
M. Tabacco et al.: "Chemical Sensors for Environmental
Monitoring"; SPIE vol. 1587 Chemical, Biochemical and
Environmental Fiber Sensors III (1991) / 271-277.
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 11, No. 319 (P-627) [2766],
Oct. 17, 1987 & JP 62 108133 A (Fujitsu Ltd), May 19,
1987, see abstract.
J.P Conzen, et al.: "Characterization of a Fiber-Optic Evanescent Wave Absorbance Sensor for Nonpolar Organic Compounds"; Applied Spectroscopy vol. 47, No. 6 (1993) 753-763.
C. Ronot, et al.: "Detection of chemical vapours with a specifically coated optical fibre sensor"; Sensors and Actuators B, 11 (1993) 375-381.
H. Koch: Optische Untersuchungen zur Wasserdampfsorption in Aufdampfschichten phys. stat. sol. 12 (1965) 533-543.
Primary Examiner—D. S. Nakarani
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jordan and Hamburg LLP.
[57] ABSTRACT
An optical sensor element for detecting organic compounds, particularly hydrocarbon. The sensor element permits the selective detection of substances by use of units which produce spectral displacements. This is realized by employing a spectral band filter, which comprises at least one layer of variable optical thickness of X/4 and X/2, respectively, or a multiple thereof, and said layer exhibits hydrophobic properties and includes organic affinity groups, the selection of which is adaptable to the substances to be detected.
5 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
