Optical proximity detector
First Claim
1. A proximity detector for detecting the proximity of a magnetic target comprising:
- a transceiver module comprising a light emitting source, an optical detector, and an optical coupler, wherein said optical coupler joins said light emitting source and said optical detector;
a sensor comprising an outer case housing a polarizer and a mirror with a Faraday material disposed therebetween; and
a multi-mode optical fiber connecting the optical coupler of said transceiver module to the polarizer of said sensor.
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Abstract
A proximity detector for detecting the position of a magnetic target having a transceiver module with a light emitting source, an optical detector, and a 2×2 optical coupler joining the light emitting source and optical detector is provided. A sensor having an outer case houses a collimating lens, a polarizer, a Faraday material, and a mirror. A multi-mode optical fiber connects the transceiver module to the sensor. Preferably, the proximity detector detects the position of the magnetic target, which is substantially axially spaced from the sensor, using a single polarizer aligned with a single Faraday material. Preferably, the Faraday material comprises an iron garnet material, and most preferably a bismuth iron garnet material.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A proximity detector for detecting the proximity of a magnetic target comprising:
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a transceiver module comprising a light emitting source, an optical detector, and an optical coupler, wherein said optical coupler joins said light emitting source and said optical detector;
a sensor comprising an outer case housing a polarizer and a mirror with a Faraday material disposed therebetween; and
a multi-mode optical fiber connecting the optical coupler of said transceiver module to the polarizer of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A proximity detector for detecting the proximity of a magnetic target comprising:
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a transceiver module having a light emitting source, an optical detector, and a 2×
2 optical coupler, wherein said 2×
2 optical coupler joins said light emitting source and said optical detector;
a sensor having a single polarizer and a mirror with a Faraday material disposed therebetween, wherein said polarizer, said mirror and said Faraday material are in alignment with each other; and
a single multi-mode optical fiber connecting the optical coupler of said transceiver module to said polarizer of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A proximity detector for detecting the proximity of a magnetic target comprising:
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a transceiver module having a light emitting source, a band pass filter, a first optical detector, and a first optical coupler, said first optical coupler joining said first optical detector and said light emitting source, and said band pass filter being disposed between said light emitting source and said first optical coupler;
a sensor having a single polarizer and a mirror, with a Faraday material being disposed therebetween, wherein said polarizer, said mirror and said Faraday material are in alignment with one another; and
a single multi-mode optical fiber connecting the first optical coupler of said transceiver module to said polarizer of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification