Pressure sensor utilizing microbending of a fiber optic cable woven through a ladder shaped structure
First Claim
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1. A pressure sensor comprising:
- a plurality of parallel axially spaced members having a first portion disposed above an axis defined therethrough and a second portion disposed below said axis;
means for retaining said members in parallel axially spaced relation;
a light conduit disposed in contact with said parallel axially spaced members so as to alternatively engage first and second portions of sequential parallel axially spaced members;
a light source connected to an end of said conduit for directing a known quantity of light into said conduit;
a light detector connected to an opposing end of said conduit for detecting the quantity of light transmitted therethrough;
said conduit defining an undeformed transmission property characterized by a first transmission loss providing a first magnitude light quantity incident upon said light detector and a deformed transmission property characterized by a second transmission loss providing a second magnitude light quantity;
means for comparing the quantity of light transmitted therethrough to a threshold value; and
means for indication upon said second quantity becoming less than said threshold value.
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Abstract
A pressure detector including a fiber optical cable woven through a ladder-like structure which is then encapsulated and surrounded by a cover. Light transmitted through the fiber optic cable is diminished to a value less than a threshold value upon the occurrence of microbending caused by pressure applied at any location along the length thereof. The rungs of the ladder-like structure are sized and spaced to provide a proper locus about which microbending may be produced. In addition, the rungs may be round in cross-section and/or otherwise shaped to enhance the sensitivity of the system.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A pressure sensor comprising:
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a plurality of parallel axially spaced members having a first portion disposed above an axis defined therethrough and a second portion disposed below said axis; means for retaining said members in parallel axially spaced relation; a light conduit disposed in contact with said parallel axially spaced members so as to alternatively engage first and second portions of sequential parallel axially spaced members; a light source connected to an end of said conduit for directing a known quantity of light into said conduit; a light detector connected to an opposing end of said conduit for detecting the quantity of light transmitted therethrough; said conduit defining an undeformed transmission property characterized by a first transmission loss providing a first magnitude light quantity incident upon said light detector and a deformed transmission property characterized by a second transmission loss providing a second magnitude light quantity; means for comparing the quantity of light transmitted therethrough to a threshold value; and means for indication upon said second quantity becoming less than said threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification