Fiber optic transducer and method
First Claim
1. An optical fiber transducer for detecting mechanical movement, comprising:
- a length of a single optical fiber defining two extremities and having an intermediate portion thereof formed to define a region of bend having a variable radius of curvature that develops perturbance responsive to change of curvature;
an optical transmitter being optically coupled to one extremity of said optical fiber and transmitting light into said optical fiber;
a light detector means being optically coupled to the opposite extremity of said optical fiber and being capable of detecting the intensity of light being emitted from said opposite extremity of said optical fiber, said light detector means being responsive to the change to light intensity that results from change of curvature of said bend and thus being responsive to the physical phenomenon inducing said change in the radius of curvature of said bend; and
signal generating means being coupled to said light detector means and generating electrical signals that are responsive to the intensity of light being detected by said light detector means, said electrical signals being representative of the state of perturbance of said optical fiber in said region of bend.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting and measuring mechanical movement that is directly or indirectly representative of a physical phenomenon. The method and apparatus involve the use of at least one optical fiber that defines a region of bend having a curvature, the radius of which varies in direct relation with the particular mechanical movement that is induced by the physical phenomenon. Light is introduced into one extremity of the optical fiber and propagates through the fiber where the intensity of the light emitted or radiating from the opposite extremity of the fiber is measured. Differentiation between introduced light and emitted light determines the degree of perturbance caused by the region of bend and is thus representative of the physical phenomenon that alters the radius of curvature at the region of bend.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An optical fiber transducer for detecting mechanical movement, comprising:
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a length of a single optical fiber defining two extremities and having an intermediate portion thereof formed to define a region of bend having a variable radius of curvature that develops perturbance responsive to change of curvature; an optical transmitter being optically coupled to one extremity of said optical fiber and transmitting light into said optical fiber; a light detector means being optically coupled to the opposite extremity of said optical fiber and being capable of detecting the intensity of light being emitted from said opposite extremity of said optical fiber, said light detector means being responsive to the change to light intensity that results from change of curvature of said bend and thus being responsive to the physical phenomenon inducing said change in the radius of curvature of said bend; and signal generating means being coupled to said light detector means and generating electrical signals that are responsive to the intensity of light being detected by said light detector means, said electrical signals being representative of the state of perturbance of said optical fiber in said region of bend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of detecting mechanical movement and providing signals representative of such movement, said method comprising:
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providing single strand optical fiber means which is oriented in such manner as to define a region of bend intermediate the extremities thereof; introducing light into one extremity of said optical fiber means; positioning said optical fiber means in physical fiber moving relation with a movable object in such manner that movement of said movable object causes alteration of the curvature of said region of bend and thus alters the total internal reflection of said optical fiber means resulting in alteration of the intensity of light radiating from the opposite entremity of said optical fiber means, the intensity of emitted light being a variable signal the variations of which represent mechanical movement of said object; detecting changes in the intensity of said light being emitted from said opposite extremity of said optical fiber; and converting the intensity of light signals being received into electrical signals responsive to the intensity of light signals and providing electrical output signals representing light intensity. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification