Patent ID: 7605361
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A fuel property detection device comprising: a light guiding member disposed partially in contact with fuel, the light guiding member being made of a translucent material; a light source disposed to allow light emitted therefrom to enter the light guiding member; a photoreceptor disposed to receive measurement light which is the light emitted from the light source and proceeding in the light guiding member, the photoreceptor being configured to output a detection signal by receiving the measurement light; and a detection portion adapted to detect a property of the fuel based on the detection signal output from the photoreceptor, wherein the light guiding member includes a light emitting surface through which the measurement light is emitted from the light guiding member into the fuel, a light incident surface through which the measurement light emitted from the light emitting surface and passing through the fuel enters again the light guiding member, and a reflecting surface at which the measurement light incident from the light incident surface is reflected toward the photoreceptor, wherein the light incident surface and the light emitting surface are opposite to each other to have a space between the light emitting surface and the light incident surface in the light guiding member, and wherein the space is provided to be filled with the fuel, and the reflecting surface is in direct contact with the fuel.