PROGRESS: Completed Project	PROJECT REF: NA
PROJECT TITLE: Smart Optical Sensors
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Optical sensors measure temperature, distances, gas concentrations, and many others. In general, we can group optical sensors into three categories: single element sensors, 2D sensor arrays, and fiber based sensors. The single element sensor detects the optical properties of device or material. The sensor can be a passive or active element. The passive element can be used to measure brightness or temperature. Active elements send out a signal and detect the reflected signal in most cases. The reflective sensor, encoders, and light barriers fall into this category. The 2D sensor arrays include CCD or CMOS cameras. Application is typically related to imaging. Fiber based optical sensors detect the optical properties of silica fiber to measure a physical parameter at a remote location. One example is an optical fiber with a Bragg grating within the fiber. Traditional optical sensors include the optoelectronic chip in a simple housing. Nowadays, customers prefer to use smart optical sensors where an optoelectronic interface circuit chip (OEIC) is integrated within the sensor housing The OEIC processes information and generates a standard electrical signal output. Applications of the smart optical sensor technology include finger sensors and optical keyboards for industrial applications.
FOCUS AREA(S): Opto-electronics
KEYWORDS: Opto-electronics; Optical sensors
COLLABORATION: Flexible and on a case-by-case basis
STATUS PATENT: Patent Pending	PATENT NO: NA
ORGANIZATION: ASTRI
CONTACT PERSON: Jonathan Leung	EMAIL: klleung@astri.org
TEL: (852) 3406 2980	FAX: (852) 3406 2801
WEBSITE: http://www.astri.org	DATE: