Optical fiber water sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical fiber water sensor, comprising:
- a substrate having a curved mandrel formed on a side thereof;
an optical fiber disposed adjacent the mandrel and being oriented such that it can be deflected around a curved contour of the mandrel upon being urged toward the mandrel;
a liquid swellable material disposed adjacent the optical fiber and oriented such that upon coming in contact with a liquid the material swells and urges the optical fiber around the curved contour, the curved contour having a radius of curvature smaller than a minimum bend radius of the fiber, wherein the minimum bend radius is less than 7 millimeters, the fiber being bent about a sector angle greater than 30°
, and the liquid swellable material when saturated introduces a loss in the optical fiber which is less than 1.25 db.
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Abstract
An optical fiber water sensor includes a mandrel having a convex or concave shape adjacent to an optical fiber which is adjacent to a water swellable material held in a reservoir. Upon coming in contact with water, the material swells and deforms a section of the optical fiber about a contour defined by the mandrel thus attenuating a signal propagating through the fiber which is detected by an optical detector to indicate the presence of water.
60 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical fiber water sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having a curved mandrel formed on a side thereof; an optical fiber disposed adjacent the mandrel and being oriented such that it can be deflected around a curved contour of the mandrel upon being urged toward the mandrel; a liquid swellable material disposed adjacent the optical fiber and oriented such that upon coming in contact with a liquid the material swells and urges the optical fiber around the curved contour, the curved contour having a radius of curvature smaller than a minimum bend radius of the fiber, wherein the minimum bend radius is less than 7 millimeters, the fiber being bent about a sector angle greater than 30°
, and the liquid swellable material when saturated introduces a loss in the optical fiber which is less than 1.25 db. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 17)
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6. An optical fiber water sensor, consisting essentially of:
- a substrate having a curved mandrel formed on a side thereof;
an optical fiber disposed adjacent the mandrel and being oriented such that it can be deflected around a curved contour of the mandrel upon being urged toward the mandrel; a liquid swellable material disposed adjacent the optical fiber and oriented such that upon coming in contact with a liquid the material swells and urges the optical fiber around the curved contour, the curved contour having a radius of curvature smaller than a minimum bend radius of the fiber, wherein the minimum bend radius is less than 7 millimeters, the fiber being bent about a sector angle greater than 30°
, and the liquid swellable material when saturated introduces a loss in the optical fiber which is less than 1.25 db. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a substrate having a curved mandrel formed on a side thereof;
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12. An optical fiber water sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having a curved mandrel formed on a side thereof; an optical fiber disposed adjacent the mandrel and being oriented such that it can be deflected around a curved contour of the mandrel upon being urged toward the mandrel; a liquid swellable material disposed adjacent and along a length of the optical fiber and oriented such that upon coming in contact with a liquid the material swells and urges the optical fiber around the curved contour, the curved contour having a radius of curvature smaller than a minimum bend radius of the fiber, wherein the minimum bend radius is less than 7 millimeters, the fiber being bent about a sector angle greater than 30°
, and the liquid swellable material when saturated introduces a loss in the optical fiber which is less than 1.25 db. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification