SENSOR

• US 20180017485A1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: SAKAI, KOJI, KISHIMOTO, SHINICHI, WAKABAYASHI, DAISUKE
• Application Number:
  US15/542,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/058 Flat flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/5961 using arrays of sources and detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2835 specific substances contained in the oil or fuel

Abstract

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a sensor with high sensitivity or high target substance selectivity.

A sensor that includes a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing, a light-emitting element, and a photo-receptor element is provided. The sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element. A wavelength of the light emitted from the light-emitting element falls within a range from 2.5 μm to 15 μm inclusive. A length of the internal space in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the structure should preferably be less than or equal to 1000 μm.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing;

a light-emitting element; and

a photo-receptor element,

wherein the sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element, and

a wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting element falls within a range from 2.5 μ

m to 15 μ

m inclusive.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein a length of the internal space in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the structure is less than or equal to 1000 μ

m.

3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein, in the internal space, an optical path length of the light is less than or equal to 1000 μ

m.

4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate bonding at respective peripheral portions of the internal space.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a first end in an extension direction of the internal space, and a second end on an opposite side of the structure from the first end, the first end being closed, the second end being open so that the detection target is capable of entering and exiting.

8. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein the second end includes an inflow port and an outflow port for the detection target.

9. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein a distance from the light-emitting element to the first end in the structure is shorter than a distance from the light-emitting element to the second end in the structure.

10. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a printed substrate,

wherein the light-emitting element, the photo-receptor element, and the structure are sealed with a sealing body, the sealing body being mounted on the printed substrate.

11. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element includes two or more light sources each having a different wavelength.

12. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting mirror or a lens capable of concentrating light emitted from the light-emitting element.

13. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the internal space is made up of a groove of the structure, the groove having an anti-reflection film on a side lying closer to the light-emitting element.

17. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a member for absorbing light emitted from the light-emitting element.

18. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a heater for heating the detection target flowed into the internal space.

20. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein

the internal space is made up of one or both of a first groove in the first substrate and a second groove in the second substrate, and

a face of the second substrate, which lies opposite to the internal space, has a convex portion.

21. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the internal space is made up of one or both of a first groove in the first substrate and a second groove in the second substrate, and faces of the first substrate and the second substrate, which lie opposite to the internal space, each have a convex portion.

22. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the internal space is made up of a first groove in the first substrate and a second groove in the second substrate, the first groove being formed in an arc shape.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A sensor comprising:

a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing;

a light-emitting element; and

a photo-receptor element,

wherein the sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element, and

the structure is made up of a semiconductor substrate.

16. A sensor comprising:

a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing;

a light-emitting element; and

a photo-receptor element,

wherein the sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element, and

a length of the internal space in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the structure is less than or equal to 1000 μ

m.

19. A sensor comprising:

a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing;

a light-emitting element; and

a photo-receptor element,

wherein the sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element, and

the structure has a function capable of heating the detection target flowed into the internal space.

23. A sensor comprising:

a structure having an internal space into which a detection target is capable of flowing;

a light-emitting element; and

a photo-receptor element,

wherein the sensor is disposed so that light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the internal space to reach the photo-receptor element, and

the light is concentrated onto the photo-receptor element by a lens portion included in the structure.