Optical coupler pressure or load sensor
First Claim
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1. An optical coupler pressure or load sensor comprising:
- (A) a light source capable of transmitting light through optical waveguides;
(B) a pressure or load sensing component comprising;
(i) a first optical waveguide comprising an unclad flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane through which light from the light source is transmitted,(ii) a second optical waveguide longitudinally aligned with the first optical waveguide comprising an optically transmitting material harder than the flexible aliphatic polyurethane of the first optical waveguide,(iii) a compressive means such that when the two optical waveguides are compressed under pressure or load, light from the first optical waveguide is transmitted into and through the second optical waveguide without deleteriously affecting the physical integrity of the optical waveguides;
(C) a means of transmitting light from the light source to the pressure or load sensing component;
(D) a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the second optical waveguide; and
(E) a means of transmitting light from the pressure or load sensing component to the light detector.
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Abstract
The invention is a durable, zero-based optical coupler pressure/load sensor which is immune from electromagnetic interference.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An optical coupler pressure or load sensor comprising:
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(A) a light source capable of transmitting light through optical waveguides; (B) a pressure or load sensing component comprising; (i) a first optical waveguide comprising an unclad flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane through which light from the light source is transmitted, (ii) a second optical waveguide longitudinally aligned with the first optical waveguide comprising an optically transmitting material harder than the flexible aliphatic polyurethane of the first optical waveguide, (iii) a compressive means such that when the two optical waveguides are compressed under pressure or load, light from the first optical waveguide is transmitted into and through the second optical waveguide without deleteriously affecting the physical integrity of the optical waveguides; (C) a means of transmitting light from the light source to the pressure or load sensing component; (D) a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the second optical waveguide; and (E) a means of transmitting light from the pressure or load sensing component to the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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2. An optical coupler pressure or load sensor comprising:
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(A) a light source capable of transmitting light through optical waveguides; (B) a pressure or load sensing component comprising; (i) a first optical waveguide comprising an optically transmitting material through which light from the light source is transmitted, (ii) a second optical waveguide longitudinally aligned with the first optical waveguide comprising an unclad flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented core, which is less than the optically transmitting material of the first optical waveguide, and (iii) a compressive means such that when the two optical waveguides are compressed under pressure or load, light from the first optical waveguide is transmitted into and through the second optical waveguide without deleteriously affecting the physical integrity of the optical waveguides; (C) a means of transmitting light from the light source to the pressure or load sensing component; (D) a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the second optical waveguide; and (E) a means of transmitting light from the pressure or load sensing component to the light detector.
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Specification