Patent ID: 6057678
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G01D,G01R

Abstract:
An optical sensor apparatus for optically determining and measuring a change in a physical quantity to be measured, comprising:an optical sensor for intensity modulating supplied light according to the change in the physical quantity to be measured; anda signal processing circuit for supplying light to said optical sensor and processing an intensity-modulated optical signal obtained from said optical sensor to obtain a measured value of said physical quantity;said signal processing circuit comprising:light emitting means for outputting light supplied to said optical sensor;measuring means for processing an optical signal outputted from said optical sensor to measure said physical quantity; andcontrol means for controlling said light emitting means;wherein said control means,during an initialization mode in which said optical sensor is not sensing said physical quantity, supplies dc light of a predetermined intensity from said light emitting means to said optical sensor, and adjusts the intensity of the dc light so that an intensity of an optical signal inputted to said measuring means is a predetermined value, andduring a measurement mode in which said optical sensor senses said physical quantity, supplies pulse light of the intensity adjusted in said initialization mode from said light emitting means to said optical sensor; andwherein said measuring means electrically processes the optical signal outputted from the optical sensor to measure said physical quantity when said pulse light is supplied from said light emitting means to said optical sensor.