Distance measuring device with magneto-optical effect and measuring chain incorporating same
First Claim
1. Device for measuring the distance separating two members which can be displaced one with respect to the other comprising a permanent magnet fixed on a first surface of one of the members and a first electro-optical device fixed on a second surface of the other member, the first electro-optical device comprising:
- a beam source configured to emit an optical beam along a first path extending along the second surface and leading to an optical assembly, a Faraday-effect magneto-optical film disposed with optical components configured to act as a polarizer and an analyser along a second path inside the optical assembly, the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film also being disposed in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the first and second surfaces of the two members are in proximity to one another, the optical beam entering the optical assembly and traveling along the second path to interact with the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film and the optical components and then exiting from the optical assembly, and a photodetector disposed to receive the optical beam exiting from the optical assembly and configured to transform the optical beam luminous intensity into an electric signal whose amplitude depends on the distance separating the first and second surfaces of the two members when they are proximate to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magneto-optical effect distance measuring device and measuring rig incorporating the device. The device can measure the distance separating two members which can be displaced one with respect to the other by the magneto-optical effect. A permanent magnet is fixed on one of the members and an electro-optical device is fixed on the other member. The electro-optical device includes a diode emitting an optical beam. Further, a Faraday-effect magneto-optical film is disposed, on the one hand, between a polarizer and an analyser and, on the other hand, in the magnetic field of the magnet when the two members are in proximity to one another, the optical beam passing through the assembly. A diode receives the optical beam retransmitted by the analyzer so as to transform the luminous intensity of the beam into an electrical signal whose amplitude depends on the distance separating the two members when they are in proximity to one another. Such a device may find particular application to monitoring the closure of aircraft doors.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Device for measuring the distance separating two members which can be displaced one with respect to the other comprising a permanent magnet fixed on a first surface of one of the members and a first electro-optical device fixed on a second surface of the other member, the first electro-optical device comprising:
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a beam source configured to emit an optical beam along a first path extending along the second surface and leading to an optical assembly, a Faraday-effect magneto-optical film disposed with optical components configured to act as a polarizer and an analyser along a second path inside the optical assembly, the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film also being disposed in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the first and second surfaces of the two members are in proximity to one another, the optical beam entering the optical assembly and traveling along the second path to interact with the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film and the optical components and then exiting from the optical assembly, and a photodetector disposed to receive the optical beam exiting from the optical assembly and configured to transform the optical beam luminous intensity into an electric signal whose amplitude depends on the distance separating the first and second surfaces of the two members when they are proximate to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Rig for measuring distance between two members which can be displaced one with respect to the other, comprising:
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a source configured to emit an optical beam;
a single optical fiber coupled at a first end to said source to receive and transmit the optical beam along the single optical fiber;
a photodetector coupled to said first end of the single optical fiber and configured to transform the luminous intensity of the optical beam received from a return of the optical beam transmitted along the single optical fiber into an electrical signal whose amplitude depends on the distance separating the two members when they are in proximity to one another a specified number N of magneto-optical effect sensors coupled to a second end of the single optical fiber, each sensor comprising a permanent magnet fixed on a first one of the members and an electro-optical device fixed on a second one of the members, each electro-optical device comprising, a Faraday-effect magneto-optical film disposed along an optical path in the electro-optical device between a polarizer and a reflector, the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film also being disposed in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the two members are in proximity to one another, the optical beam being transmitted from the single optical fiber along the optical path through the polarizer and the Faraday-effect magneto-optical film to the reflector to be reflected and returned through the polarizer acting as an analyser and back to the single optical fiber, and a sensor optical fiber of specified length which is different for each sensor optical fiber of each electro-optical device so as to provide a different temporal shift for each sensor optical fiber, with each sensor optical fiber being coupled at a first sensor optical fiber end to the polarizer and coupled at a second sensor optical fiber end to the second end of the single optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification