Patent ID: 7288766

Claim:
An infrared gas detector for detecting a density of a sample gas comprising: a pedestal; a cap disposed on the pedestal, the cap including a window and a filter disposed in the window for selectively passing a specific wavelength of infrared light; an infrared light sensor disposed on the pedestal and within a cap, wherein the infrared light sensor is configured to output a first signal corresponding to a density of the sample gas under the influence of water vapor based upon based upon an intensity of the infrared light received at the infrared light sensor via the filter; a humidity sensor disposed on the pedestal and outside of the cap, the humidity sensor configured to output a second signal corresponding to an absolute humidity of the water vapor in the sample gas based on an intensity of infrared light received at the humidity sensor; and a processor configured to determine the density of the sample gas by correcting the detected density of the sample gas under the influence of water vapor based upon the detected absolute humidity.