US 11,733,165 B2
Optical sensor, method and use of the sensor
Ralf Bernhard, Stuttgart (DE); and Manfred Jagiella, Notzingen (DE)
Assigned to Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG, Gerlingen (DE)
Filed by Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG, Gerlingen (DE)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/388,138.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 120 591.0 (DE), filed on Aug. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0042909 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 33/18 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/645 (2013.01) [G01N 33/1833 (2013.01); G01N 2201/062 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical sensor for determining a concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a medium, the sensor comprising:
a light source adapted to emit transmitted light having a wavelength of less than 300 nm into the medium;
a detector configured to receive and detect at least received light from the medium, the received light having a wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm, wherein the transmitted light is converted into the received light via fluorescence in the medium as a function of the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and wherein the detector is configured to generate a detector signal in response to the received light; and
a data processing unit configured to determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using the detector signal, wherein the data processing unit is further configured to control the light source as to modulate the emitted transmitted light, and wherein the data processing unit controls the light source according to a duty cycle.