OPTICAL FUEL VAPOR DETECTOR UTILIZING THIN POLYMER FILM AND FUEL LEAK MONITOR SYSTEM

摘要

A fuel vapor detector system having a simple and low-cost structure, which is essentially safe, and a fuel leak monitor system using the detector. The fuel vapor detector includes a light source (2) having a light-emitting body; a detector (10) including a sensor (8) having a substrate (6) with a polymer coating (4) that changes its thickness and/or refractive index when coming into contact with a fuel vapor, the detector being disposed in such a manner that light from the light source is incident perpendicularly on it; a lighttransmitting output portion (12) for allowing light from the light source (2) to pass therethrough and to allow it to be incident on the detector (10), and receiving reflected light from the sensor (8), the output portion being placed between the light source and the detector; and a photodetector for receiving reflected light from the sensor (8) and generating a signal corresponding to reflected light.