Project Title:

Integrated Optic Spacesuit Atmospheric Quality Monitor

  94-1	12.01	3088

  Integrated Optic Spacesuit Atmospheric Quality Monitor

Abstract:

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a compact, 
lightweight, low-power, self-referenced integrated optic oxygen 
concentration sensor based on sol-gel-derived porous channel 
waveguides The proposed technology employs a novel 
photolithographic technique that uses commonly available materials 
and straightforward processing to produce active porous waveguides 
in silica-based sol-gel films and monoliths. These porous 
waveguides will be used to monitor oxygen concentration within 
spacesuits and in space vehicles during extravehicular activities 
(EVA). During the proposed Phase I effort, POC will prove the 
practicality of this technique by using it to produce an integrated 
optic oxygen sensor. A compact, low power optoelectronic system 
using a phase fluorimeter approach will be designed to be used with 
the integrated optic sensor.

The U.S. military, aerospace, and private industry have a critical 
need for miniature, lightweight, low-power, multi-element chemical 
sensors. The success of the proposed project will contribute to the 
development of a sol-gel fabrication technique for use in 
integrated optic chemical sensors.

Key words

Physical Optics Corporation
Research and Development Division
20600 Gramercy Place, Suite 103
Torrance, California  90501