Pressure sensor utilizing a polyurethane optical fiber
First Claim
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1. An optical fiber pressure sensing device comprising:
- (A) a light source capable of transmitting light through the optical fiber(s);
(B) a means of transmitting light from the light source to the pressure sensing component;
(C) a pressure sensing component comprising;
(i) at least one unclad optical fiber in which the core is comprised of a flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane through which light from the light souce is transmitted, and(ii) a means of compressing the optical fiber(s) such that when the optical fiber(s) is compressed under pressure, the intensity of light passing through the optical fiber(s) varies inversely with the pressure applied without deleteriously affecting the physical integrity of the optical fiber(s);
(D) a means of transmitting light from the pressure sensing component to the light detector; and
(E) a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the optical fiber(s).
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Abstract
The invention is a pressure sensing device utilizing a polymer optical fiber with a core comprised of a flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane. The use of an optical fiber based pressure sensor eliminates the electromagnetic interference problems associated with conventional electronic pressure sensors. Use of polyurethane as the core material for the optical fiber results in an optical fiber with high flexibility, thus making the inventive pressure sensing device more rugged and durable than other optical fiber based pressure sensors.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical fiber pressure sensing device comprising:
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(A) a light source capable of transmitting light through the optical fiber(s); (B) a means of transmitting light from the light source to the pressure sensing component; (C) a pressure sensing component comprising; (i) at least one unclad optical fiber in which the core is comprised of a flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane through which light from the light souce is transmitted, and (ii) a means of compressing the optical fiber(s) such that when the optical fiber(s) is compressed under pressure, the intensity of light passing through the optical fiber(s) varies inversely with the pressure applied without deleteriously affecting the physical integrity of the optical fiber(s); (D) a means of transmitting light from the pressure sensing component to the light detector; and (E) a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the optical fiber(s). - 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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Specification