APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL AGENT SENSING
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for chemical, biological and radiological agent sensing. The sensing apparatus includes a plurality of resonators each having a resonance frequency and an optical fiber coil. The optical fiber coils have cladding and an indicator embedded in the cladding that reacts to an agent (chemical or biological substance) or a dopant that darkens with radiation. The resonator circulates light through the coil and produces a resonance shape centered at the resonance frequency and measured via the input light. A predetermined change in the resonance shape indicates a presence of the agent in the environment.
10 Citations
26 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. (canceled)
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8. An apparatus for sensing one or more agents in an environment, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source configured to produce a first light beam; a controller capable of changing the path of said first light beam based on an electrical signal, the controller comprising; a first reflector in optical communication with the light source; a reflector controller configured to control orientation of said first reflector; a first receiving reflector capable of receiving light from said first reflector when said first reflector is oriented in a first predetermined orientation; and a second receiving reflector capable of receiving light from said first reflector when said first reflector is oriented in a second predetermined orientation, wherein the first and second receiving reflectors are capable of receiving light from the first and second resonators, respectively; a first optical resonator and a second optical resonator each capable of receiving light from said controller, said first and second optical resonators each comprising an optical fiber coil, said first and second optical resonators each configured to circulate a resonator light beam when said light is received from said controller; at least one photodetector in optical communication with said first and second optical resonators; and a processor in signal communication with the at least one photodetector and said controller, the processor configured to determine if one of one or more agents are present in the environment based on signals received from the at least one photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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24. (canceled)
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source configured to produce a first light beam; a controller capable of changing the path of said first light beam based on an electrical signal, said controller including a first waveguide, a first receiving waveguide, and a second receiving waveguide; a first optical resonator and a second optical resonator each capable of receiving light from said controller, said first and second optical resonators each comprising an optical fiber coil, said first and second optical resonators each configured to circulate a resonator light beam when said light is received from said controller; at least one photodetector in optical communication with said first and second optical resonators; and a processor in signal communication with the at least one photodetector and said controller, the processor configured to determine if one of one or more agents are present in the environment based on signals received from the at least one photodetector; wherein the controller is configured to control position of said first waveguide, said first receiving waveguide capable of receiving light from said first waveguide when said first waveguide is positioned in a first predetermined position by the controller, and said second receiving waveguide capable of receiving light from said first waveguide when said first waveguide is positioned in a second predetermined position by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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Specification