Optical Sensors

1 Introduction

Part I: Components for Optical Sensors
1. Light Sources
1.1 Thermal Light Sources
1.2 Line Sources
1.3 Light Emitting Diodes
1.4 The Laser
2. Photodetectors
2.1 Photomultipliers
2.2 Photodiodes: Types and Detector Circuits
2.3 Imaging Sensors
2.4 Other Detector Types
2.5 Detector Noise: Characteristics and Reduction
3. Optical Elements
3.1 Mirrors, Lenses and Optical Fibres
3.2 Dispersive Elements: Prisms and Gratings
3.3 Optical Filters
3.4 Polarizers, Retardation Plates and Polarizing Prisms
3.5 Light Modulators

Part II: Examples for Optical Sensors
1. Switches
1.1 Light Barriers
1.2 Rain Sensor
2. Spatial Dimensions
2.1 Distance
2.2 Displacement
2.3 Velocity
2.4 Angular Velocity
3. Strain Measurement
4. Optical Thermometers
4.1 Thermopile Detectors
4.2 Fibre Sensors
5. Species Determination and Concentration
5.1 Polarimetry
5.2 Spectrometry
5.3 Smoke Detectors and Dust Monitors
6. Surface Analysis
6.1 Whole-Field Techniques
6.1.1 Holographic Interferometry
6.1.2 Laser Speckle Interferometry
6.1.3 Structured-Light Techniques
6.2 Scanning Techniques
6.2.1 Laser Triangulation Sensors
6.2.2 Conoscopic Holography
6.2.3 Confocal Sensors
6.2.4 White-Light Interferometry
6.2.5 Near-Field Optical Microscopy
6.2.6 Scanning Tunneling and Atomic-Force Microscopy
6.2.7 Vision: Surface Analysis by Optical Correlation

Summary
Glossary
References

Jörg Haus obtained his academic degrees from the Physics Department of the University of Giessen, Germany. He then gained more than 10 years of experience in the fields of high-precision metrology and optical sensors. Dr. Haus has been responsible for several research and product development projects in the field of optical sensors. He currently holds the position of product manager for optical microscopes at a German company. Dr. Haus has authored numerous original publications on grating-optical sensors and contributed to Wiley-VCH's 'Encyclopedia of Applied Physics' and 'Optics Encyclopedia'.

"Throughout the text there are numerous references, many of which relate to product data sheets. This overview is extremely useful, and the volume is full of interesting and helpful information. It lives up to its promise of being a comprehensive overview". (Materials World, 1 January 2011). “This book provides an overview of the necessary components and the range of applications from light barriers to high resolution surface scanning interferometers. This is a valuable introduction to optical sensors". (Materials World, 1 October 2010)

"This book serves as a good introduction to optical sensors. It covers the basics of light sources, detectors, various optical elements, and goes through some concepts about optical sensors and techniques ... Teachers and general readers may find the material useful in preparing for classroom presentations and for general understanding of the optical sensor principles." (Contemporary Physics, 7 November 2011)
"Throughout the text there are numerous references, many of which relate to product data sheets. This overview is extremely useful, and the volume is full of interesting and helpful information. It lives up to its promise of being a comprehensive overview". (Materials World, 1 January 2011).

"This book provides an overview of the necessary components and the range of applications from light barriers to high resolution surface scanning interferometers. This is a valuable introduction to optical sensors". ( Materials World , 1 October 2010)