Multi-element optical waveguide sensor: General concept and design

A prototype of a self-contained multi-element optical waveguide sensor for detection and identification of the constituents of gaseous or liquid mixtures has been fabricated. The device consists of eight optical waveguides, each coated with a thin film known to react specifically with one or more components in a multicomponent system. An array of eight sequentially-activated light-emitting diodes is attached to the waveguide assembly in such a fashion as to activate each detection channel separately. Each waveguide is a fiber-optic coupled to a single high-gain, low-noise photomultiplier tube or photodiode/operational amplifier detector. The amplified signals can be displayed visually or input to a microprocessor pattern-recognition algorithm. CMOS analog switches/multiplexers are used in feedback loops to control automatic gain-ranging, light-level adjustment and channel-sequencing. Preliminary experiments involving the monitoring of redox/pH changes are discussed.