1. Jon Kristian Hagene Norsk Elektro Optikk AS (NEO) Norway
Microelectronics in gas sensing and glimpses of other electro optic activities
Jon Kristian Hagene
Norsk Elektro Optikk AS (NEO)
Norway
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2. Norsk Elektro Optikk AS, NEO
NEO is a SME located in Norway
Founded in 1985, working within the field of electro-optics
Main fields of work is tuneable diode laser spectroscopy, pipeline inspection/digital imaging/underwater optics and hyperspectral imaging
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NEO History
Offspring from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (1985)
Early idea to do research for the offshore oil and gas industry, underwater optics, but oil price dropped 50% in 1985/86
Space projects for the European Space Agency, ESA. From start to mid nineties, new space activity in recent years.
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NEO History
First gas monitor prototype in 1990
Laser based (TDLAS) in sales from 1995
Underwater optics/pipeline inspection back in the mid nineties as well as recent years
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5. Current projects, micro/nano
LaserGas III, 3rd generation TDLAS. Funding: own + “Skattefunn”
Optical Microphone, photoacoustic spectroscopy, SINTEF main actor, NEO industrial partner for gas sensing, Funding of SINTEF: NRC, NEO: own
CLARITY, System on a chip, NEO industrial partner in European project. Funding: EU, FP7. (3 years)
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LASERGAS III
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LaserGas III
Gas monitoring very important for NEO
3rd generation TDLAS gas monitor
move from 2nd harmonic detection (partly analogue processing) to more digital processing
miniaturised electronics
more approvals, Ex-d, SIL2 etc.
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8. LaserGas III stack & portable
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Transmitter part
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Receiver part
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11. Applications / development
Currently many industrial applications, process control, emissions monitoring, safety systems etc.
Adding new applications in food industry and medical based on LG3 platform
Near future: move from Near IR to Mid IR
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OPTICAL MICROPHONE
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13. Objective with new development
Stronger gas absorption lines in Mid IR give better sensitivity, detect new gases
However, detectors might be a problem: noisy and/or expensive
Developing other detection techniques...
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“Optical microphone“
Co-operation with SINTEF, Norway (patent)
SINTEF funded by the Research Counsil of Norway
Intermediate step using a quartz tuning fork to measure gas (QEPAS)
Final version will be using a micro machined “microphone” to boost gas detection sensitivity
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15. What is a Quartz tuning fork?
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16. Photo Acoustic Spectroscopy

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Key elements of QEPAS
Laser modulated at 16 kHz (sine on top of ramp)
QTF mounted in small gas cell with micro resonator that gives up to 10X amplification
QTF resonance frequency 32 kHz
We are using existing electronics design (LGII, 2nd harmonic detection)
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QEPAS set-up
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19. QEPAS set-up mechanics
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Early QEPAS results
Got a very robust micro resonator design compared to others, industrial use possible
First version has a detection limit of 10 ppm for CH4 (methane), (best published results 2 ppm)
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21. 4. Photo-acoustics
Photoacoustic spectroscopy was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, ~1880
Key item: a sensitive microphone
The world’s most sensitive microphone is currently being developed by SINTEF
Detection of <1ppb concentration of gasses possible (comparable to GC-MS)
Patented SINTEF
optical microphone
Gas
Microphone
Sound
Infrared ight

22. Optical microphone summary
Use other lasers than we use today, from NIR to Mid IR, Quantuum cascade lasers (QCL)
Improved sensitivity and new gases
Optical detection instead of current noisy (and/or expensive) detectors
Enable new gas monitoring applications pushing technology forward
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“CLARITY”
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CLARITY, European Project, FP7
Recently started, duration 3 years
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Clarity project
Spectroscopy in Mid IR and detection in Near IR (8 um spectroscopy, um detectors (InGaAs))
Improved S/N ratio, better detection limits
Ultimate goal: a system on a chip
Compact uLtrA-efficient mid-infRared photonIc sysTems based on low noise quantum cascade laser sources, wide band frequencY converters and near-infrared photodetectors
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OTHER EO ACTIVITIES
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OPTOPIG
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Optopig HW and results
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TILEFISH
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30. TileFish a AUV LED Camera
(Left figure FFI)
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TileFish results
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WATSEN
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WatSen specification
Project for European Space Agency, ESA, «breadboard»
Open University, UK, main contractor, NEO main contractor for microscope part
ATR spectrometer 5.5um-10.8 um
Microscope 1280x1024 pixels
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34. WatSen Water Sensor for Mars
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THE END
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