Magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensing system
First Claim
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1. A magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensing system comprising:
- a light source;
a magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor;
a polarizer disposed between said light source and said magnetooptic Kerr effect stress sensor wherein said light source directs a light beam toward said polarizer and said polarizer passes light having a first predetermined polarization said such that the light having the first predetermined polarization is incident upon said magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor;
a polarization splitter disposed to intercept light specularly reflected from said stress sensor wherein said polarization splitter passes at least a portion of the light incident thereon and reflects at least a portion of the light incident thereon wherein said polarization splitter is oriented to mix in a predetermined manner portions of the light signal having the first polarization with portions of the light signal having a second different polarization;
a first detector disposed to receive the portion of the light signal which passes through said polarization splitter; and
a second detector disposed to receive the portion of the light signal which is reflected by said polarization splitter.
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Abstract
A sensor system including a magnetooptic sensing element, a light source, at least one polarizer and at least one detector disposed about the sensing element. The sensing element has a first characteristic such that the sensing element provides a response to an applied external stress.
64 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensing system comprising:
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a light source; a magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor; a polarizer disposed between said light source and said magnetooptic Kerr effect stress sensor wherein said light source directs a light beam toward said polarizer and said polarizer passes light having a first predetermined polarization said such that the light having the first predetermined polarization is incident upon said magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor; a polarization splitter disposed to intercept light specularly reflected from said stress sensor wherein said polarization splitter passes at least a portion of the light incident thereon and reflects at least a portion of the light incident thereon wherein said polarization splitter is oriented to mix in a predetermined manner portions of the light signal having the first polarization with portions of the light signal having a second different polarization; a first detector disposed to receive the portion of the light signal which passes through said polarization splitter; and a second detector disposed to receive the portion of the light signal which is reflected by said polarization splitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A stress sensing system comprising:
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a light source; a magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor wherein said magnetooptic Kerr effect stress sensor comprises a magnetic film having first and second opposing surfaces and having a uniaxial anisotropy field characteristic of a predetermined intensity, wherein the magnetic film has at least one domain having a magnetization characteristic which rotates in response to application of an applied stress; a polarizer disposed between said light source and said magnetooptic Kerr effect stress sensor wherein said light source directs a light beam toward said polarizer and said polarizer passes light having a first predetermined polarization said such that the light having the predetermined polarization is incident upon said magnetooptic Kerr effect stress sensor; and a first detector disposed to receive the portion of the light signal reflected from said magneto-optic Kerr effect stress sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification