Patent ID: 8901479

Claim:
A sensor assembly for fluid detection and discrimination in an area of interest, said assembly comprising: a lens component having an outer periphery with a substantially semi-circular cross-section including a central apex, and first and second side edge portions disposed at opposite sides of the apex and extending approximately parallel to each other, the lens component having an inner surface located opposite the outer periphery; a holder in which the lens component is mounted for exposure of the lens outer periphery to an area of interest; a light-transmitting component mounted in the holder remote from the area of interest and transmitting light toward the inner surface of the lens and at the first side edge portion of the lens; a light sensitive component mounted in the holder remote from the area of interest to detect light emitted at the inner surface of the lens adjacent to the second side edge portion as a result of light from the light-transmitting component at the first side edge portion; and means for detecting the intensity of light received at the light sensitive component and for providing an indication signal of a characteristic of a fluid in the area of interest as a function of the detected intensity.