Packaged optical sensors on the side of optical fibers
First Claim
1. An optical sensor comprising an optical fiber for conveying a light beam, said optical fiber being provided with a first end for receiving said light beam and a second end opposed thereto, a core and a cladding surrounding said core, said optical fiber having a longitudinal portion extending between said first and second ends having a predetermined longitudinally curved permanent shape and an intrinsic flexibility to allow a temporary deformation thereof, said optical fiber further having a claddingless portion having a longitudinal, a radial and an azimuthal limited extent, said azimuthal extent being less than 180 degrees, said claddingless portion defining a shaped cavity extending on said longitudinal portion so as to project outwardly there from, said optical sensor further comprising a sensing material extending in said cavity for forming a directional sensing area therein having a limited azimuthal extent less than 180 degrees in optical contact relationship with said core adapted to provide a directional selective contacting sensing, the longitudinally curved permanent shape and the intrinsic flexibility of the longitudinal portion, in combination with the directional sensing area projecting outwardly there from, enhancing contact between said directional sensing area and a sensed area of a solid surface, providing for discrimination between parameters of surrounding fluid and parameters of said sensed area to be measured.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns an optical sensor located on a preferred azimuthal portion of the side of an optical fiber. An optical fiber having two opposite ends, a core and a cladding and at least one sensing area is disclosed. Each of the sensing areas is located between the two opposite ends and each has a longitudinal, a radial and an azimuthal portion of the fiber that has been removed and replaced by a sensing material. The sensing collected light is thus representative of a parameter to be measured, such as temperature. Placing the sensing material in a lateral side portion of the fiber increases the sensitivity of the sensor, particularly when it comes to contact temperature measurement in vivo.
95 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. An optical sensor comprising an optical fiber for conveying a light beam, said optical fiber being provided with a first end for receiving said light beam and a second end opposed thereto, a core and a cladding surrounding said core, said optical fiber having a longitudinal portion extending between said first and second ends having a predetermined longitudinally curved permanent shape and an intrinsic flexibility to allow a temporary deformation thereof, said optical fiber further having a claddingless portion having a longitudinal, a radial and an azimuthal limited extent, said azimuthal extent being less than 180 degrees, said claddingless portion defining a shaped cavity extending on said longitudinal portion so as to project outwardly there from, said optical sensor further comprising a sensing material extending in said cavity for forming a directional sensing area therein having a limited azimuthal extent less than 180 degrees in optical contact relationship with said core adapted to provide a directional selective contacting sensing, the longitudinally curved permanent shape and the intrinsic flexibility of the longitudinal portion, in combination with the directional sensing area projecting outwardly there from, enhancing contact between said directional sensing area and a sensed area of a solid surface, providing for discrimination between parameters of surrounding fluid and parameters of said sensed area to be measured.
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20. An optical sensing system comprising:
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at least one optical sensor, each comprising an optical fiber for conveying a light beam, said optical fiber being provided with a first end for receiving said light beam and a second end opposed thereto, a core and a cladding surrounding said core, said optical fiber having a longitudinal portion extending between said first and second ends having a predetermined longitudinally curved permanent shape and an intrinsic flexibility to allow a temporary deformation thereof, said optical fiber further having a claddingless portion having a longitudinal, a radial and an azimuthal limited extent, said azimuthal extent being less than 180 degrees said claddingless portion defining a shaped cavity extending on said longitudinal portion so as to project outwardly there from, said optical sensor further comprising a sensing material extending in said cavity for forming a directional sensing area therein having a limited azimuthal extent less than 180 degrees in optical contact relationship with said core adapted to provide a directional selective contacting sensing, the longitudinally curved permanent shape and the intrinsic flexibility of the longitudinal portion, in combination with the directional sensing area projecting outwardly there from, enhancing contact between said directional sensing area and a sensed area of a solid surface, providing for discrimination between parameters of surrounding fluid and parameters of said sensed area to be measured; a light source for injecting light into the first end of the optical fiber of each of said at least one optical sensor; a detector operatively connected to one of said ends of said optical fiber of each of said at least one optical sensor for detecting light coming from each sensing area; and an analyser operatively connected to said detector for analysing light coming from each sensing area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification