Optical fiber sensor for measuring physical properties of liquids
First Claim
1. A method for measuring a physical property of a liquid using a light transmitting optical fiber having an optical path length, comprising the steps of:
- (a) disposing a conductive material upon the surface of a region of said light transmitting optical fiber;
(b) disposing at least a portion of said fiber region having said conductive material in said liquid;
(c) applying light energy to a first end of said light transmitting optical fiber;
(d) thermally changing said optical path length in response to electrical energy applied to said conductive material while said fiber is disposed in said liquid;
(e) receiving transmitted light at a second end of a said optical fiber,(f) determining the change in said optical path length in accordance with said received light; and
,(g) determining said physical property of said liquid in accordance with said thermally changed optical path length.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A physical property of a liquid or of any optical fiber is measured using optical fiber interferometer. A conductive material is disposed upon the surface of a region of a light transmitting optical fiber and the region having the conductive material is disposed in the liquid. Light energy is applied to one end of the fiber and transmitted light is received at the other end of the fiber. Electrical energy is applied to the conductive material disposed upon the surface of the fiber to heat the region of the fiber and cause a change in the optical path length of the light transmitted through the fiber. The physical property of the liquid or optical fiber is determined in accordance with the change in the optical path length of the received light caused by applying the electrical energy to the conductive material. A series of short energy pulses is provided and the average phase change is determined. The conductive material is gold and it encircles the fiber. The gold may be disposed on the jacket of the fiber or the jacket may be removed before disposing the gold.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for measuring a physical property of a liquid using a light transmitting optical fiber having an optical path length, comprising the steps of:
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(a) disposing a conductive material upon the surface of a region of said light transmitting optical fiber; (b) disposing at least a portion of said fiber region having said conductive material in said liquid; (c) applying light energy to a first end of said light transmitting optical fiber; (d) thermally changing said optical path length in response to electrical energy applied to said conductive material while said fiber is disposed in said liquid; (e) receiving transmitted light at a second end of a said optical fiber, (f) determining the change in said optical path length in accordance with said received light; and
,(g) determining said physical property of said liquid in accordance with said thermally changed optical path length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification