Environmental and physical parameter sensors incorporating polymer-covered fiber field access blocks
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting presence of a measurand, comprising:
- a fiber field access block;
a measurand sensitive layer overlying said fiber field access block; and
means for detecting changes in a parameter selected from the group of thickness and index of refraction of said measurand sensitive layer caused by interaction with said measurand; and
wherein said fiber field access block has a clad fiber positioned such that a portion of said fiber is exposed to said measurand sensitive layer and any cladding on said portion of said fiber is thinner than required to prevent an evanescent wave from escaping said fiber.
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting presence of a measurand includes a measurand sensitive layer overlying a fiber field access block. The fiber field access block has a clad fiber positioned such that a portion of the fiber is exposed to the measurand sensitive layer and any cladding on that portion of the fiber is thinner than required to prevent an evanescent wave from escaping the fiber. An optical source and an optical detection component are coupled to the fiber. Changes in the measurand sensitive layer, which are caused by interaction with the measurand, alter the phase velocity matching conditions of the fiber and measurand sensitive layer and can be measured by evaluating shifts in the output signals resulting from presence of the measurand.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting presence of a measurand, comprising:
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a fiber field access block; a measurand sensitive layer overlying said fiber field access block; and means for detecting changes in a parameter selected from the group of thickness and index of refraction of said measurand sensitive layer caused by interaction with said measurand; and wherein said fiber field access block has a clad fiber positioned such that a portion of said fiber is exposed to said measurand sensitive layer and any cladding on said portion of said fiber is thinner than required to prevent an evanescent wave from escaping said fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting analytes, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fiber field access block having a clad fiber positioned in said fiber field access block such that a portion of said fiber is exposed to an outer surface of said fiber field access block and any cladding on said portion of said fiber is thinner than required to prevent an evanescent wave from escaping said fiber; applying a measurand sensitive layer over said outer surface of said fiber field access block; positioning said fiber field access block in an environmental matrix; providing an optical signal through said fiber; and measuring an optical signal produced from said fiber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification