Disclosed is a method of measuring a surface refractive index of a strengthened glass including causing light to enter a surface layer of the strengthened glass through a liquid provided with a refractive index equivalent to that of a surface of the surface layer; a process of causing the light to be emitted from the strengthened glass through the liquid; converting two types of light components into two types of emission line sequences; capturing an image of the two types of emission line sequences; measuring positions of respective emission lines of the two types of emission line sequences from the image; and calculating refractive indexes of a surface of the strengthened glass corresponding to the two types of light components, or refractive index distributions of the strengthened glass in a depth direction from the surface corresponding to the two types of light components.

An optical sensor device for detection of a characteristic of a liquid substance comprises a device body having an inner surface and an outer surface, one portion of the outer surface of the device body being designed to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the device body being designed to be isolated from the liquid substance.

Associated to the device body is a detection arrangement, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the device body is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the device body in the first portion. The first portion of the device body is shaped to contribute to propagation of the given optical radiation, from the emitter to the receiver, in such a way that the given optical radiation is propagated through the first portion of the device body towards the receiver, at an angle and/or with an intensity that are/is variable as a function of a characteristic of the liquid substance.

The detection arrangement comprises an optical module, which includes a structure for support and electrical connection of the emitter and the receiver, which is configured as a part separate from the device body. The supporting and electrical-connection structure includes a plurality of bodies made of electrically insulating material overmoulded on electrical-connection elements made of electrically conductive material.

A sensor device for a container of a liquid substance comprises a body with a housing portion having a closing structure, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The housing portion is pre-arranged for assembly on the container, in such a way that a portion of the outer surface of the body faces the inside of the container to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the body is isolated from the inside of the container. Associated to the body is a first arrangement for detection of the level of the substance. Associated to the body of the device is a second arrangement for detection of a characteristic of the liquid substance, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the body of the device is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the body at the first portion. The first portion of the body of the device is shaped to contribute to propagation of the given optical radiation from the emitter to the receiver, in such a way that the given optical radiation is propagated through the first portion of the body of the device towards the receiver, at an angle and/or with an intensity that are/is variable as a function of the characteristic of the liquid substance.

The present disclosure relates to light arrangement for an optical device for measurement of an index of refraction, having a light source, a fiber bundle arrangement for transmitting light from the light source, a diffusing member, and imaging optics for transmitting the light to a measuring window. In order to provide for an arrangement which is durable and accurate even when used for measuring hot specimens where the light source is positioned far from the measuring window, the fiber bundle arrangement includes a novel combination of a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle.

The present disclosure relates to light arrangement for an optical device for measurement of an index of refraction, having a light source, a fiber bundle arrangement for transmitting light from the light source, a diffusing member, and imaging optics for transmitting the light to a measuring window. In order to provide for an arrangement which is durable and accurate even when used for measuring hot specimens where the light source is positioned far from the measuring window, the fiber bundle arrangement includes a novel combination of a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle.

A plasmonic sensor includes at least a substrate and a thin film metallic glass formed on the substrate. The dielectric constant (.sub.r) of the thin film metallic glass is negative. Since the thin film metallic glass with negative .sub.r is used in the plasmonic sensor, the material cost can be significantly reduced, the mechanical property can be improved, and the optoelectronic property can be increased. Since the thin film metallic glass is a kind of supercooled alloy with amorphous structure, it can be applied for imprinting deformation and amorphous without grain boundary scattering.

A sensor device for a container of a liquid substance comprises a body with a housing portion having a closing structure, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The housing portion is pre-arranged for assembly on the container, in such a way that a portion of the outer surface of the body faces the inside of the container to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the body is isolated from the inside of the container. Associated to the body is a first arrangement for detection of the level of the substance.

Associated to the body of the device is a second arrangement for detection of a characteristic of the liquid substance, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the body of the device is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the body at the first portion. The first portion of the body of the device is shaped to contribute to propagation of the given optical radiation from the emitter to the receiver, in such a way that the given optical radiation is propagated through the first portion of the body of the device towards the receiver, at an angle and/or with an intensity that are/is variable as a function of the characteristic of the liquid substance.

The present invention relates to the technological field of optical systems and refers to a device for identifying, at least one fluid, especially, fuel fluids in vehicle tanks. The device in question includes an optical guide having interaction surfaces and an emitter element emitting light beams and at least one receiving element of light beams. The information received from the receiving element includes the reflection emitted by interaction surfaces which are at the submersed region of the optical guide and indicates the type of fluid stored in the reservoirfor example: ethanol, gasoline or a mix of both. The interaction surfaces are inclined at different angles to provide total reflection for fluids with a different refractive index, including blends of fluids, to allow determination of the type of fluids according to the reflection by the interaction surfaces.

An electricity measuring type surface plasmon resonance sensor includes: a plasmon resonance intensifying sensor chip in which a prism and a sensor chip including an electrode, a silicon semiconductor film, and a plasmon resonance film electrode arranged in this order are arranged in an order of the prism, the electrode, the silicon semiconductor film, and the plasmon resonance film electrode; and an electric measuring apparatus which directly measures a current or voltage from the electrode and the plasmon resonance film electrode.

A method for monitoring an oil level in a machine includes transmitting a light beam into an optical system to be reflected or refracted to a receiver to generate a reception signal. The light beam is emitted at a set transmission power, and an oil deficiency is recognized when the reception signal exceeds a predefined level value. The transmission power of the light beam is settable between a minimum and a maximum transmission power, and contamination of the optical system is analyzed by: (a) the transmitter transmits a first light beam at the maximum transmission power to generate a first reception signal, and (b) analyzing the difference between the first reception signal and a second reception signal generated by a light beam at less than the maximum transmission power, the magnitude of the difference representing a measure of the degree of contamination of the optical system.