the benefits of cleaning optical sensors?

Hi guys,

Would you please help me with this question..
Q: The benefits of removal of dirt and grime around optical sensors?

I can say:
1/ If there is too much dust, it will break down and by keeping it clean the sensor will live longer.
2/ Higher sensitivity to light, and more reliable.
3/ If it damaged or broke down, it would probably cost you to replace your device or the whole system and to save your time as well.
4/ Ensuring high accuracy of data, and more efficient.

What else?

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated..

I can only say I agree with point 2.
The others are a bit nebulous / wrong.

I would also add a caveat that 'improper' cleaning methods of optics could result is worst performance/damage then if no attempt at cleaning was done.

Lefty

thanks for response

actually, I've got these points by searching on the internet and I'm not sure, therefore I need your help to answer this question..

It helps to know what sort of optical sensor we are talking about here.
An image sensor, colour sensor, or light sensor.

Grumpy_Mike:
It helps to know what sort of optical sensor we are talking about here.
An image sensor, colour sensor, or light sensor.

the third one (the light sensor)

Well I would defiantly say just number 2 on the original list.
Dirt will act just to reduce the sensitivity.