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Wavelength coded resonant optical sensor

  • US 4,775,214 A
  • Filed: 10/01/1986
  • Issued: 10/04/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical sensor system for providing an output signal representative of a sensed parameter, the optical sensor system comprising:

  • optical waveguide means for guiding a light beam, the optical waveguide means having an input and an output;

    optical resonator means optically coupled to the optical waveguide means between the input and the output, the optical resonator means defining first and second resonant cavities which exhibit first and second sets of resonant frequencies, respectively;

    the first and second cavities having characeteristics which are affected differently by changes in the parameter and which cause the first and second sets of resonant frequencies to vary differently in response to changes in the parameter, whereby a differential frequency shift occurs between resonant frequencies of the first and second sets which is a function of the parameter;

    means for providing a light beam to the input which has a frequency which varies with time through a frequency range which includes at least one resonant frequency of each of the first and second sets; and

    means responsive to the light beam from the output for providing the output signal as a function of a difference between resonant frequencies of the first and second sets.

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