Patent ID: 6590665
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G01B,G01D,G01N

Abstract:
An optical nose for identifying at least one substance in a solution, said optical nose comprising:a plurality of optical sensors, each comprising an optical fiber having a free extremity and a polymer layer deposited on said free extremity, said polymer layer laying in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, at least two of said polymer layers being of different types, each polymer layer having a thickness related to said at least one substance when exposed thereto; a light source, coupled to the optical fiber of each of the optical sensors, for injecting an analytical light beam therein so that said analytical light beam is reflected by the corresponding polymer layer to define a reflected light beam; and a spectrum analyzer coupled to the optical fiber of each of the optical sensors, for receiving each of the reflected light beams, analyzing each of said reflected light beams to deduce therefrom the thickness of the corresponding polymer layer, and identifying the at least one substance corresponding to said thicknesses.