Optical fiber substrate useful as a sensor or illumination device component

• US 20080253712A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hursey W. Randolph, John G. Lever, Philbrick Allen, Randolph S. Kohlman
• Original Assignee: Hursey W. Randolph, John G. Lever, Philbrick Allen, Randolph S. Kohlman
• Inventors: Kohlman, Randolph S., Lever, John G., Hursey, W. Randolph, Allen, Philbrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/292 Conjugate, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/165 with yarns stitched through one or more layers or tows, e.g. stitch-bonded fabrics layered products not united by stitch loops B32B5/22
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/04 in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/06 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/08 Ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/12 Carbon; Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/02 Wool
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/02 polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/021 aromatic polyamides, e.g. aramides
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02412 including several arrays of unbent yarn, e.g. multiaxial fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0243 enhancing functional properties
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/02 Reinforcing materials; Prepregs
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/086 Details about the embedment of the optical fiber within the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 : the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 : the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/102 : Woven scrim
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/107 : Comprising at least two chemically different fibers

Abstract

This disclosure generally pertains to a method for manufacturing a distributed optical fiber scrim comprising a functional optical fiber, the functional optical fiber scrim thus manufactured, and composites in which an optical fiber scrim is incorporated. The present disclosure describes a variety of textile scrims, particularly adhesively bonded nonwoven scrim materials, each comprising at least one optical fiber with a continuous path across at least the length or width of the fabric. Such optical fiber scrims may be useful as sensor components (for example, as a detector of breakage, strain, pressure, or torque), as illumination components (for example, in a variety of light-providing applications), or as data-distribution components, either alone or in combination with other materials, such as fabrics, films, foams, and the like.

Claims

1. An optical circuit and sensor system comprising:

an optical fiber scrim comprising at least one warp yarn set having at least two yarns and at least one crossing yarn that crosses said warp yarn set in a sinuous path across the width of said warp yarn set, wherein at least one of said crossing yarns is an optical fiber, and wherein said optical fiber has a change in light transmission characteristics when exposed to one or more sources selected from the group consisting of mechanical agents, chemical agents, moisture, temperature, pH changes, biological sources, neutrons, and ionizing radiation;

a light source and coupling connected to the optical fiber in the optical fiber scrim such that the light from the light source is directed through the coupling into the optical fiber; and

,

a detector connected to the optical fiber at the end opposite to the light source, wherein the detector measures the light emitted from the optical fiber.

2. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber scrim has a construction selected from the group consisting of an adhesively bonded laid scrim, a thermally bonded laid scrim, a woven scrim, a weft-inserted warp knit scrim, a multi-axial knit scrim, a stitch-bonded scrim, and a cross-plied scrim.

3. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said warp yarn set has yarns that are present in an amount of between about 1 yarn per every 60 inches and about 25 yarns per inch.

4. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 3, wherein said warp yarn set has yarns that are present in an amount of between about 1 yarn per 30 inches and about 12 yarns per inch.

5. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber has a core made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and polymers.

6. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical fiber is of a type selected from the group consisting of single mode fibers, multi-mode fibers, light pipes, photosensitive fibers, polarization-maintaining fibers, multiple step-indexed fibers, graded index fibers, reduced cladding fibers, high index fibers, wave-guiding films, and photonic lattice fibers.

7. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 6, wherein said optical fiber is a single-mode fiber.

8. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical fiber comprises a compressible sheath.

9. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein more than one optical fiber crosses said warp yarn set.

10. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber scrim comprises a plurality of said crossing yarns, said crossing yarns being selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, ceramics, fiberglass, aramids, cotton, wool, metal, carbon, and combinations thereof.

11. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said warp yarn set comprises yarns selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, ceramics, fiberglass, aramids, cotton, wool, metal, carbon, optical fibers, and combinations thereof.

12. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 11, wherein said warp yarn set further comprises at least one optical fiber.

13. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical film scrim has a square pattern construction.

14. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein the smallest radius of curvature of said optical fiber within said sinuous path is greater than about 0.1 inches.

15. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 14, wherein the smallest radius of curvature of said optical fiber within said sinuous path is greater than about 0.5 inches.

16. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber scrim has a tri-axial pattern construction.

17. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 16, wherein said tri-axial optical fiber scrim has a construction in which said crossing yarns are present in an amount of between about one of said crossing yarns per six inches and about four of said crossing yarns per inch in an upward diagonal direction and a downward diagonal direction.

18. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber scrim is an adhesively bonded scrim.

19. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 18, wherein said warp yarn set contains yarns only at the selvage areas of said optical fiber scrim and wherein said optical fiber scrim is attached to a flexible carrier sheet, said carrier sheet being selected from the group consisting of films, foils, nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, and knit fabrics.

20. The optical circuit and sensor system of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber scrim comprises at least 2 different types of optical fibers.