Plastic optical fibers (POF) are good candidates for on-board signal and data optical transmission systems. More specifically, cars, tracks, and trains present many opportunities for the introduction of POF-based short-range local area networks (LAN) operating at rates up to 10 Gbit/s. While the prospects for the introduction of POF on board of airplanes and space vehicles are not quite clear because ofsevere environmental factors encountered in these applications. This optical sensor can measure the level of gasoline or diesel fuel in automobile tanks and simultaneously detect the presence of water at the bottom of the tank and measure its level. The sensor employs a detection element of transparent plastic in a form of semi-cylinder and an array of commercially available POF. A single detection element of plastic offers a competitive advantage over the existing arrays of point sensors of glass and plastic. This detection element can be used in the reflection mode which allows one to use only a half of POFs required in the transmission mode. Also, the sensitivity to the external refractive index can be increased by using larger than 180 deg. segments of plastic cylinders, solid or hollow. It is used the detection element of a relatively large radius of 20 mm, but the radius can be much less in a practical device. The results show that this device has a large promise for the automotive applications.
Discrete POF liquid-level sensor for measuring the level of gasoline and detecting water in automobile tanks
Diskreter Flüssigkeitspegel-Sensor mit optischer Polymerfaser zur Messung des Bezinstandes und zur Wasserdetektion in Autotanks
2009
4 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 11 Quellen
(nicht paginiert)
Conference paper
English
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