Optical wave guide band edge sensor and method
First Claim
1. An optical guided wave band edge sensor for the determination of the deformation of an optical wave guide, which sensor comprises:
- (a) an optical wave guide means which comprises an optical slab or film having an inlet and an outlet to provide a guided optical path for radiant energy and which wave guide means has a known guiding interface and wherein one part of said interface is physically deformable relative to another part of said interface;
(b) a broad-band, radiant energy means to provide radiant energy to the inlet of the optical wave guide means;
(c) means to deform physically the optical wave guide means; and
(d) detecting means to detect continuously the change in the mode critical wavelength of the first, second or higher order, mode from the output of the optical wave guide means in relationship to the change in physical deformation of the optical wave guide means.
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Abstract
An optical wave guide sensor which comprises: a broad-band, radiant energy source; an optical wave guide, such as an optical fiber, rectangular slab or thin film, having a guiding interface and an inlet an outlet, the inlet receiving the radiant energy and the wave guide deformable from one part to another of the guide; and a spectral intensity detector at the wave guide outlet to measure the change in the wavelength of the energy critically reflected from the guiding interface on deformation of the wave guide. A method of measuring the deformation of an optical wave guide and/or a parameter causing such deformation, which method comprises: measuring the change in the mode band edge critical wavelength of the first, second or higher mode of the radiant energy throughput of the wave guide as a function of the deformation of the wave guide.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An optical guided wave band edge sensor for the determination of the deformation of an optical wave guide, which sensor comprises:
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(a) an optical wave guide means which comprises an optical slab or film having an inlet and an outlet to provide a guided optical path for radiant energy and which wave guide means has a known guiding interface and wherein one part of said interface is physically deformable relative to another part of said interface; (b) a broad-band, radiant energy means to provide radiant energy to the inlet of the optical wave guide means; (c) means to deform physically the optical wave guide means; and (d) detecting means to detect continuously the change in the mode critical wavelength of the first, second or higher order, mode from the output of the optical wave guide means in relationship to the change in physical deformation of the optical wave guide means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor apparatus for the determination of selected parameters, which apparatus comprises:
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(a) an optical wave guide means which comprises a single mode optical fiber having an inlet and an outlet to provide a guided optical path for radiant energy and having a known guiding interface and wherein one part of said optical fiber and said interface is physically deformable relative to another part; (b) a broad-band radiant energy means to provide radiant energy to the inlet of the optical wave guide means; (c) moveable means to deform physically the optical wave guide, the movement of said means related to a selected parameter to be measured; and (d) detecting means to detect continuously from the output of the optical wave guide means the change in the critical wavelength of the radiant energy through the change in physical deformation of the optical wave guide means and thereby to measure the selected parameter to be measured.
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11. A method for measuring the extent of physical deformation of an optical wave guide which provides a guided optical path for radiant energy and having a known guiding interface and an inlet and an outlet for the radiant energy which method comprises:
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(a) passing radiant energy through the optical wave guide from the inlet to the outlet; (b) deforming physically at least a portion of the optical wave guide and the guiding interface to provide a change in the critical wavelength of the radiant energy in the optical wave guide; and (c) detecting continuously the change in the critical wavelength at the outlet of the optical wave guide as a function of the physical deformation of the optical wave guide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification