Intrinsically self deforming fiber optic microbend pressure and strain sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor for measuring pressure or strain, said sensor consisting of an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and at least one sensing section formed by portions of said fiber being wound about said longitudinal axis so that said portions of said fiber are overlap each other in a series of helically wound figure eight configurations and wherein said at least one sensing section acts as an intrinsically self-deforming microbend deformer.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a sensor for measuring pressure and stra The sensor is formed by an optical fiber having at least one section wherein the fiber is twisted about itself. The at least one twisted section acts as an intrinsically self-deforming microbend deformer. The sensor further includes a source of light attached to a first end of the fiber and a power meter for measuring the amount of light lost in the at least one section. The optical fiber may have multiple twisted sections with different twist pitches and thus different sensitivities. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor may have two optical fibers twisted about each other.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A sensor for measuring pressure or strain, said sensor consisting of an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and at least one sensing section formed by portions of said fiber being wound about said longitudinal axis so that said portions of said fiber are overlap each other in a series of helically wound figure eight configurations and wherein said at least one sensing section acts as an intrinsically self-deforming microbend deformer.
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11. A sensor for measuring pressure or strain, which sensor is substantially immune to temperature variations, said sensor consisting of:
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first and second optical fibers; said first and second optical fibers extending along an axis; and said first and second optical fibers being helically wound about each other and about said axis so as to form a sensing section having a length commensurate with an area to be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification