Fiber-optic sensor probe for sensing and imaging

• US 20050069243A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Ukrainczyk, Ljerka
• Application Number:
  US10/954,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20050069243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/245 Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2552 reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements

Abstract

A method of making a fiber-optic sensor probe includes stripping a region of a buffered fiber to expose an underlying optical fiber and separating the optical fiber to form two fiber-optic sensor probes by simultaneously applying heat and axial tension to the optical fiber.

Claims

1. A method of making a fiber-optic sensor probe, comprising:

stripping a region of a buffered fiber to expose an underlying optical fiber; and

separating the optical fiber to form two fiber-optic sensor probes by simultaneously applying heat and axial tension to the optical fiber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying heat comprises allowing a core of the optical fiber at a point where the heat is applied to diffuse.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a reflective coating on a distal end of at least one of the fiber-optic sensor probes.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an anti-reflective coating on a distal end of at least one of the fiber-optic sensor probes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each fiber-optic sensor probe comprises a convex surface having a radius of curvature in a range from 5 to 30 μ

m.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each fiber-optic sensor probe comprises a convex surface having a radius of curvature in a range from 5 to 20 μ

m.

7. A fiber-optic sensor probe, comprising:

an optical fiber having a distal end formed into a lens, the lens having a radius of curvature in a range from 5 to 30 μ

m.

8. A method of making a fiber-optic sensor probe, comprising:

stripping a region of a buffered fiber to expose an underlying optical fiber; and

separating the optical fiber to form two fiber-optic sensor probes by simultaneously applying heat and axial tension to the optical fiber; and

applying heat to a distal end of at least one of the fiber-optic sensor probes such that surface tension pulls the distal end into a spherical surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein applying heat comprises allowing a core of the optical fiber at a point where the heat is applied to diffuse.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising applying a reflective coating on a distal end of at least one of the fiber-optic sensor probes.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising applying an anti-reflective coating on a distal end of at least one of the fiber-optic sensor probes.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising embedding the distal end of the fiber-optic sensor probe in a sensing material having at least one optical property that changes in response to a selected stimulus.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a radius of curvature of the spherical surface is in a range from 30 to 500 μ

m.

14. A fiber-optic sensor probe, comprising:

an optical fiber having a distal end formed into a lens, the lens having a radius of curvature in a range from 30 to 500 μ

m.

15. The fiber-optic sensor probe of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the lens is embedded in a sensing material having at least one optical property that changes in response to a selected stimulus.

16. The fiber-optic sensor probe of claim 14, wherein a reflective coating is formed on at least a portion of the lens.

17. The fiber-optic sensor probe of claim 14, wherein an anti-reflective coating is formed on at least a portion of the lens.