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Compact Device for Sensing a Liquid with Energy Harvesting from Liquid Motion

  • US 20180164210A1
  • Filed: 12/13/2016
  • Published: 06/14/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A device for sensing a pre-determined liquid, comprising a sensing unit, the sensing unit comprising:

  • a light emitting diode (LED) array for emitting light, the LED array comprising plural LEDs;

    a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the LED array, the reflector including an opening for allowing a part of the emitted light to exit the reflector and form a probe light beam for sensing the liquid, the reflector being shaped to be substantially similar to one half of an ellipsoid except on the opening, the ellipsoid having a first focus and a second focus, wherein the LED array is located at the first focus so that the emitted light incident on the reflector is reflected to the second focus, causing the emitted light after reflection to be refocused at the second focus;

    a first photodetector (PD) located at the second focus and used for measuring an intensity of the refocused emitted light to thereby yield a reference intensity;

    a second PD for measuring an intensity of the probe light beam received after the probe light beam passes through the liquid to thereby yield a measured intensity;

    a substrate on which the LED array and the first PD are mounted, wherein the reflector is located on the substrate such that an enclosed space between the reflector and the substrate is formed; and

    a sealer formed by filling the enclosed space with a substantially-transparent sealing material impermeable to the liquid for sealing the LED array and the first PD from the liquid, wherein the sealer is further prepared to have a convex surface on the opening, the convex surface being shaped to refract the emitted light incident on the opening to form the probe light beam such that the probe light beam is substantially collimated when the device is immersed in the liquid.

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