Fiber optic pressure sensor
First Claim
1. An optical fiber pressure sensor comprising:
- an optically transmissive fiber,a layer of optically lossy material concentrically clad to the optical fiber and coaxially oriented therewith, anda compliant layer, having a dispersion of granular particles therein, concentrically clad to the lossy layer and coaxially oriented with the optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement for an optical fiber pressure sensor is described. This sensor is comprised of two coating layers concentrically clad to and coaxially oriented with an optical fiber. The first coating layer is comprised of a relatively hard optically lossy material which absorbs any light radiating outwardly from the optical fiber. The second coating layer is comprised of a compliant material in which granular particles have been uniformly dispersed. In response to any pressure laterally applied to the sensor, the compliant coating layer imparts micro-bends, onto the optical fiber, which, in turn, couple light from propagating modes to non-propagating modes. As a result, the amplitude (or power) of the light exiting the optical fiber advantageously decreases in response to this pressure.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An optical fiber pressure sensor comprising:
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an optically transmissive fiber, a layer of optically lossy material concentrically clad to the optical fiber and coaxially oriented therewith, and a compliant layer, having a dispersion of granular particles therein, concentrically clad to the lossy layer and coaxially oriented with the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An arrangement for a pressure detector comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber pressure sensor having (1) an optically transmissive fiber, (2) a layer of optically lossy material concentrically clad to the optical fiber and coaxially oriented therewith, and (3) a compliant layer having a dispersion of granular particles therein, concentrically clad to the lossy layer, and coaxially oriented with the optical fiber, (b) means for producing light and injecting the light into one end of the optical fiber, and (c) means for detecting any light exiting from the other end of the optical fiber, and, in response to a pre-determined change in the exiting light, producing an indication that pressure has been applied to the optical fiber pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification