• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.456-460
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• 2021

In this study, a Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) sensor with an externally exposed optical cavity is proposed for improving sensitivity. NDIR CO₂ sensors with high performance must use a lamp-type infrared (IR) source with a strong IR intensity. However, a lamp-type IR source generates high thermal energy that induces thermal noise, interfering with the accuracy of the CO₂ concentration measure. To solve this problem, the optical cavity of the NDIR CO₂ sensor is exposed to quickly dissipate heat. As a result, the proposed NDIR CO₂ sensor has a shorter warm-up time and a higher sensitivity compared to the conventional NDIR CO₂ sensor.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.331-336
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• 2021

The Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) gas sensor has high selectivity, measurement reliability, and long lifespan. Thus, even though the NDIR gas sensor is expensive, it is still widely used for carbon dioxide (CO₂) detection. In this study, to reduce the cost of the NDIR CO₂ gas sensor, we proposed the new optical waveguide structure design based on ready-made gas pipes that can improve the sensitivity by increasing the initial light intensity. The new optical waveguide design is a structure in which a part of the optical waveguide filter is inclined to increase the transmittance of the filter, and a parabolic mirror is installed at the rear end of the filter to focus the infrared rays passing through the filter to the detector. In order to examine the output characteristics of the new optical waveguide structure design, optical simulation was performed for two types of IR-source. As a result, the new optical waveguide structure can improve the sensitivity of the NDIR CO₂ gas sensor by making the infrared rays perpendicular to the filter, increasing the filter transmittance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1065-1066
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• 2011

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.446-450
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• 2021

Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors typically use an optical filter that transmits a discriminating 4.26 ㎛ wavelength band to measure carbon dioxide (CO2), as CO2 absorbs 4.26 ㎛ infrared. The filter performance depends on the transmittance and full width at half maximum (FWHM). This paper presents the fabrication, sensitivity, and selectivity characteristics of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR)-based Fabry-Perot filter with a simple structure for CO2 detection. Each Ge and SiO2 films were prepared using the RF magnetron sputtering technique. The transmittance characteristics were measured using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The fabricated filter had a peak transmittance of 59.1% at 4.26 ㎛ and a FWHM of 158 nm. In addition, sensitivity and selectivity experiments were conducted by mounting the sapphire substrate and the fabricated filter on an NDIR CO2 sensor measurement system. When measuring the sensitivity, the concentration of CO2 was observed in the range of 0-10000 ppm, and the selectivity was measured for environmental gases of 1000 ppm. The fabricated filter showed lower sensitivity to CO2 but showed higher selectivity with other gases.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.36-40
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• 2009

In this paper we discuss about the practical implementation of a combined CO and CO2 dual sensor module that is adapted by NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) method that measures the absorbance of gas like CO and CO2 by using gas particles' characteristics that absorb specific wave lengths of infrared ray. NDIR has a long life time, excellent measurement and precision compared to the existing contact types or chemical types of CO2 sensors. Since optical cavity technology that had been developed until now can measure CO2 only we research and develop an optimal optical cavity design and density-temperature calibration technologies that can measure CO and CO2 at the same time and is important to decide the performance of the sensor module according to well-designed wave guides of the different length.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.279-285
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• 2001

The capnograph system for determining the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood of a patient was developed based on the NDIR(non-dispersive infrared) absorption technology. NDIR gas analyzing method requires an optical absorption chamber and signal processing hardware. In this paper, we have designed and implemented NDIR type $CO_2$ gas chamber in consideration of the time response characteristics and lamp chopping frequency. And we have implemented signal processing hardware using two infrared sources to reduce the thermal background effect. The implemented gas chamber and signal processing hardware were tested in the temperature variation experiment and human expiratory experiment. The results showed that the system could produce a stable output signal and a good $CO_2$ gas concentration curve like a typical capnogram.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.250-254
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• 2021

A highly sensitive and selective non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) carbon dioxide gas sensor requires achieving high transmittance and narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM), which depends on the interface of the optical filter for precise measurement of carbon dioxide concentration. This paper presents the design, simulation, and fabrication of a Fabry-Perot filter based on a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) for a low-cost NDIR carbon dioxide sensor. The Fabry-Perot filter consists of upper and lower DBR pairs, which comprise multilayered stacks of alternating high- and low-index thin films, and a cavity layer for the resonance of incident light. As the number of DBR pairs inside the reflector increases, the FWHM of the transmitted light becomes narrower, but the transmittance of light decreases substantially. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the relationship between the FWHM and transmittance according to the number of DBR pairs. The DBR is made of silicon and silicon dioxide by RF magnetron sputtering on a glass wafer. After the optimal conditions based on simulation results were realized, the DBR exhibited a light transmittance of 38.5% at 4.26 ㎛ and an FWHM of 158 nm. The improved results substantiate the advantages of the low-cost and minimized process compared to expensive commercial filters.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.32 no.A
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• pp.35-38
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• 2012

We present a novel non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) $CO_2$ gas sensor with a light source emitting collimated light. Using this thermopile, we also have successfully developed a small, sensitive NDIR $CO_2$ detector module for accurate air quality monitoring systems in energy-saving building and automotive applications. The novel sample cavity comprising specular reflectors around the light bulb is configured to uniformly emit collimated light into the entrance aperture of the cavity in order to enhance the sensitivity of NDIR $CO_2$ detector.

• 전자공학회논문지 IE
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2008

In this paper, we propose a minute signal detection algorithm for a development of optical analyzer, using the non-dispersive infrared method with multi gas filter correlation wheel, that can measure various environmental air-pollution materials (CO, SO2, NOx, etc.) in real-time. The MCT(mercury cadmium telluride) sensor can detect minute signals those show and absorption characteristic of each environmental pollution materials. In the proposed method, a corresponding data of each environmental pollution materials can be separated by an external trigger and threshold values in the measured continuous signals.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1470-1471
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• 2008

We present a front-side micromachined thermopile with high sensitivity in the 3-5${\mu}m$ window, and discuss its application to a novel non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) $CO_2$ gas sensor with a light source emitting collimated light. The micromachined thermopile shows a measured sensitivity of 30 mV/W and a $D^*$ of $0.3{\times}10^8cm^{\surd}Hz/W$. Using this newly fabricated thermopile, we also have successfully developed a small, sensitive NDIR $CO_2$ detector module for accurate air quality monitoring systems in energy-saving building and automotive applications. The novel sample cavity comprising specular reflectors around the light bulb is configured to uniformly emit collimated light into the entrance aperture of the cavity in order to enhance the sensitivity of NDIR $CO_2$ detector.