MULTI-GAS SENSOR

摘要

A multi-gas sensor is provided which modulates a polarized light beam over a broadband of wavelengths between two alternating orthogonal polarization components. The two orthogonal polarization components of the polarization modulated beam are directed along two distinct optical paths. At least one optical path contains one or more spectral discrimination means, with each spectral discrimination means having spectral absorption features of one or more gases of interest being measured. The combined polarization modulated beam is partitioned into one or more smaller spectral regions of interest where one or more gases of interest have an absorption band. The difference in intensity between the two orthogonal polarization components is then determined in each partitioned spectral region of interest as an indication of the spectral emission/absorption of the light beam by the gases of interest in the measurement path which of the concentration of the gases of interest.