Light guide device, measurement system, and method for producing a light guide device
First Claim
1. A light guide apparatus for guiding a first light beam between a light source and a measuring unit, which contains a gas or substance and is configured for measuring a gas concentration of the gas or substance concentration of the substance, the light guide apparatus comprising:
- a light guide including;
at least one input coupling portion configured to couple-in the first light beam and to face the light source; and
an output coupling portion configured to decouple the first light beam and to face the measuring unit,wherein the light guide is configured to guide the first light beam between the at least one input coupling portion and the output coupling portion via total-internal reflection at an interface to a fluid or material surrounding the light guide and having a first refractive index that is lower than a second refractive index of the light guide; and
a holding device that holds the light guide in the fluid such that at least a main proportion of a surface of the light guide contacts the fluid, the holding device includes at least one first holding element and one second holding element, and the light guide is clamped between the at least one first holding element and the one second holding element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light guide device for conducting a light beam between a light source and a measuring unit for measuring a gas or substance concentration includes a light conductor and a holding apparatus. The conductor includes at least one coupling section, which faces, or can be arranged to be turned toward, the light source, for coupling the light beam, and a decoupling section, which faces, or can be arranged to be turned toward, the measuring unit, for decoupling the light beam. The conductor is configured to conduct the light beam between the coupling section and the decoupling section via total reflection on a boundary surface to a fluid or material that surrounds the conductor and has a smaller refractive index than the conductor. The holding apparatus is configured to hold the conductor in the fluid such that at least one primary portion of a surface of the conductor contacts the fluid.
22 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A light guide apparatus for guiding a first light beam between a light source and a measuring unit, which contains a gas or substance and is configured for measuring a gas concentration of the gas or substance concentration of the substance, the light guide apparatus comprising:
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a light guide including; at least one input coupling portion configured to couple-in the first light beam and to face the light source; and an output coupling portion configured to decouple the first light beam and to face the measuring unit, wherein the light guide is configured to guide the first light beam between the at least one input coupling portion and the output coupling portion via total-internal reflection at an interface to a fluid or material surrounding the light guide and having a first refractive index that is lower than a second refractive index of the light guide; and a holding device that holds the light guide in the fluid such that at least a main proportion of a surface of the light guide contacts the fluid, the holding device includes at least one first holding element and one second holding element, and the light guide is clamped between the at least one first holding element and the one second holding element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A measurement system, comprising:
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a light source from which a light beam emanates; a light guide apparatus including; a light guide having; at least one input coupling portion arranged facing the light source and configured to couple-in the light beam; and an output coupling portion configured to decouple the light beam, wherein the light guide is configured to guide the light beam between the at least one input coupling portion and the output coupling portion via total-internal reflection at an interface to a fluid or a material surrounding the light guide and having a first refractive index that is lower than a second refractive index of the light guide; and a holding device that holds the light guide in the fluid such that at least a main proportion of a surface of the light guide contacts the fluid, the holding device includes at least one first holding element and one second holding element, and the light guide is clamped between the at least one first holding element and the one second holding element; and a measuring unit arranged facing the output coupling portion of the light guide, the measuring unit containing a gas or substance and is configured for measuring a gas concentration of the gas or a substance concentration of the substance.
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14. A method for producing a light guide apparatus for guiding a light beam between a light source and a measuring unit, which contains a gas or substance and is configured for measuring a gas concentration of the gas or substance concentration of the substance, the method comprising:
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forming a light guide having at least one input coupling portion and at least one output coupling portion by processing a substrate formed of a light-guiding material, the at least one input coupling portion configured to couple-in the light beam and to face the light source, and the at least one output coupling portion configured to decouple the light beam and to face the measuring unit; and arranging the light guide in a holding device by clamping the light guide between at least one first holding element and at least one second holding element of the holding device; and forming the light guide and the holding device by processing the substrate, wherein the light guide is shaped on the holding device and/or the holding device is shaped on the light guide.
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Specification