Provided is a white-cell type non-dispersive infrared gas sensor and more particularly, a non-dispersive infrared carbon dioxide gas sensor deposited with a hydrophobic thin film. To this end, in a carbon dioxide gas sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide included in gas, the gas sensor is a white-cell type, in the white-cell, first and second reflectors 120 and 130 are disposed to face a third reflector 140, a light source 110 is provided at one side of the third reflector 140 and a first detector 150 and a second detector 160 are provided at the other side. Further, a first hydrophobic thin film 122 may be deposited on the entire reflection surface of the first reflector 120, a second hydrophobic thin film 132 may be deposited on the entire reflection surface of the second reflector 130, and a third hydrophobic thin film 142 may be deposited on the entire reflection surface of the third reflector 140.

A method is provided of obtaining a vapor phase spectrum of a compound. The method comprises providing an isolated condensed phase sample of the compound, vaporizing the sample and supplying the vapor to an absorption cell of a spectrometer. A rate at which vapor enters the absorption cell is determined and a steady state concentration of vapor in the absorption cell is established. The spectrum of the vapor is then measured.

An electromagnetic wave sensor cover, applied to an electromagnetic wave sensor including a transmission unit and a reception unit, includes a cover main body portion that covers the transmission unit and the reception unit. The cover main body portion includes: a base material formed of a resin material and having a transmission property of an electromagnetic wave from the transmission unit; an undercoat layer formed on a rear surface of the base material and having the transmission property of the electromagnetic wave from the transmission unit; a heater portion that is formed of copper in a band shape on a rear surface of the undercoat layer, is configured to generate heat by being energized, and adheres to the base material via the undercoat layer; and a SiO.sub.2 coating film having the transmission property of the electromagnetic wave from the transmission unit and covering the heater portion.

A monitoring system for monitoring a process includes a housing with a viewing panel. The viewing panel includes a view port. An emitter generates light and illuminates an observation zone of the process. A detector is disposed within the housing and is configured to detect light entering the housing through the view port and create a plurality of images of the process in the observation zone. A thermal regulation system is configured to generate heat in the vicinity of the viewing panel of the housing so as to increase the temperature of at least the view port above ambient temperature.

A heating device for a spectrometry measurement apparatus, wherein it is in the form of a supple optical article, the article comprising a supple flexible support having a top face and a bottom face, the top face being covered with a reflective material in order to form an optical-reflection layer, a flexible heating element being disposed on at least one of the faces of the support.

A gas sensing apparatus (48) comprises a gas sensor arranged to use light to sense presence of a gas; an optical element (12, 40) arranged so that said light impinges thereon; and a thermoelectric heat pump (2, 24) having a cold side (6, 36) and a hot side (8, 34). The thermoelectric heat pump (2, 24) is configured to transfer heat energy from said cold side (6, 36) to said hot side (8, 34) in response to a supply of electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric heat pump (2, 24). The hot side (8, 34) of the thermoelectric heat pump (2, 24) is in thermal contact with the optical element (12, 40).

A sensor includes a body having an internal space allowing fluid to flow into the internal space, a light-emitting device that emits light passing through; first and second light-receiving devices that receive the light that has passed through the internal space, a first optical filter disposed between the first light-receiving device and the light-emitting device and configured to pass the light therethrough, a second optical filter disposed between the second light-receiving device and the light-emitting device and configured to pass the light therethrough, and a controller. The controller is configured to change the light emitted from the light-emitting device, and to compare a ratio between first and second outputs before the change of the light to a ratio between the first and second outputs after the change of the light.

An efficient absorption spectroscopy system is provided. The spectroscopy system may be configured to measure solid, liquid or gaseous samples. Vacuum ultra-violet wavelengths may be utilized. Some of the disclosed techniques can be used for detecting the presence of trace concentrations of gaseous species. A preferable gas flow cell is disclosed. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used with a gas chromatography system so as to detect and identify species eluted from the column. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used in conjunction with an electrospray interface and a liquid chromatography system so as to detect and identify gas phase ions of macromolecules produced from solution. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used to characterize chemical reactions. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used in conjunction with an ultra short-path length sample cell to measure liquids.

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging apparatus main body for imaging an observation target contained in a container; and a liquid droplet adhesion determination unit that acquires pattern information of liquid droplets adhering to a bottom surface on an outer side of the container based on an image of the observation target imaged by the imaging apparatus main body and determines whether or not the liquid droplets adhere to the bottom surface based on the pattern information. In a case where the liquid droplet adhesion determination unit determines that the liquid droplets adhere to the bottom surface on the outer side of the container, the imaging apparatus main body images the observation target again after performing liquid droplet removal processing.

A method, system and optical sensor assembly for optically inspecting an object located in an environment having airborne particulate matter or vapor capable of coating an optically transparent window of an optical sensor of the assembly are provided. The method includes creating a positive dynamic boundary layer of air in front of and immediately adjacent an outer surface of the window. The layer of air has a pressure sufficient to protect the window from undesirable accumulation of the particulate matter or droplets of the vapor on the outer surface, thereby allowing the sensor to have an unobstructed view of the object.