Integrated optics waveguide accelerometer with a proof mass adapted to exert force against the optical waveguide during acceleration

• US 6,018,390 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rice Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rice Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzpatrick, Colleen, Vali, Victor, Youmans, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Turner, Samuel A.
• Application Number:
  US09/014,111
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 356/345, 250/227.19, 250/227.27, 385/12, 385/14, 73/514.01
• US Class Current: 356/477
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/004 using fibre optic sensors light guides per se G02B6/00, acousto-optical devices specially adapted for gating or modulating in optical wave guides G02F1/125
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/093 by photoelectric pick-up

Abstract

A sensor, an optical accelerometer, which is sensitive enough for the measurement of nano-g'"'"'s as well as thousands of g'"'"'s. The sensor is created by an optical waveguide coil which is secured to a substrate. At one end of the waveguide coil, a mirror reflects the emitting light back into the waveguide coil. Positioned along one side of the substrate, a proof mass is adapted to exert force against and deform the optical waveguide coil during acceleration of the sensor. An identical optical waveguide coil is secured to the opposing side of the substrate with its associated proof mass positioned on the side of the substrate opposite the other side'"'"'s proof mass. A beamsplitter communicates light into the ends of the two waveguide coils and then a monitor uses the light being emitted from the ends of the coils to measure the g'"'"'s being applied.

Claims

1. An accelerometer comprising:

a) a substrate having a first planar side and a second planar side;

b) a first optical waveguide coil secured to the first planar side of said substrate, said first optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end;

c) a first mirror positioned at the second end of said first optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect light back into said first optical waveguide coil;

d) a second optical waveguide coil secured to the second planar side of said board member, said second optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end;

e) a second mirror positioned at the second end of said second optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect light back into said second waveguide optical coil;

f) a light source emitting light;

g) a beamsplitter receiving light from said light source and directing a fraction of said light into said first end of said first optical waveguide coil and directing a fraction of said light into said first end of said second optical waveguide coil;

h) an optical detector receiving combined light from said beamsplitter;

i) a first proof mass positioned on the first side of said substrate and adapted to exert a force against and deform a portion of said first optical waveguide coil;

j) a second proof mass positioned on the second side of said substrate and adapted to exert a force against and deform a portion of said second optical waveguide coil.

2. The accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein said beamsplitter splits said light substantially equally between the first end of said first optical waveguide coil and the first end of the second optical waveguide coil.

3. The accelerometer according to claim 2, further including:

a) a first guide member slidably securing the first proof mass against said first optical waveguide coil; and

,

b) a second guide member slidably securing the second proof mass against said second optical waveguide coil.

4. The accelerometer according to claim 3,

a) wherein said first guide member is adapted to press said first proof mass against the first optical waveguide coil;

and,

b) wherein said second guide member is adapted to press said second proof mass against the second optical waveguide coil.

5. An optical accelerometer comprising:

a) a sensing member having,

1) a substrate having a first planar side and a second planar side,

2) a first interferometer sensing arm secured to the first planar side of said substrate and having,

A) an optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end,

B) a mirror positioned at the second end of said optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect light back into said optical waveguide coil,

C) a proof mass adapted to exert a pressure force against and deform a portion of said optical waveguide coil during acceleration of said sensor;

3) a second interferometer sensing arm secured to the second planar side of said substrate and having,

A) an optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end,

B) a mirror positioned at the second end of said optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect light back into said optical waveguide coil,

C) a proof mass adapted to exert a pressure force against and deform a portion of said optical waveguide coil during acceleration of said sensor;

b) a beamsplitter adapted to

1) split light entering a first portal between the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm, and to the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm, and,

2) interfere light received from the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm and from the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm, to a second portal; and

,

c) a light source communicating light to said first portal of said beamsplitter.

6. The optical accelerometer according to claim 5, wherein said beamsplitter splits said light substantially equally between the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm and the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm.

7. The optical accelerometer according to claim 6, wherein said beamsplitter is secured to said substrate.

8. The optical accelerometer according to claim 5, further including an optical detector receiving light from the second portal of said beamsplitter and generating a signal representative of a phase change in received light.

9. The optical accelerometer according to claim 8, wherein said optical detector is secured to said substrate.

10. The optical accelerometer according to claim 8, wherein said light source is secured to said substrate.

11. The optical accelerometer according to claim 5, further including:

a) a first guide member slidably securing the proof mass of said first sensor against the optical waveguide coil of said first interferometer sensing arm; and

,

b) a second guide member slidably securing the proof mass of said second sensor against the optical waveguide coil of said second interferometer sensing arm.

12. The optical accelerometer according to claim 11,

a) wherein said first guide member presses the proof mass of said first sensor against the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm;

and,

b) wherein said second guide member presses the proof mass of said second sensor against the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm.

13. The optical accelerometer according to claim 5, further including:

a) an output port adapted to communicate light from the second end of the optical waveguide coil of said first interferometer sensing arm to an apparatus external to said substrate; and

,

b) an output port adapted to communicate light from the second end of the optical waveguide coil of said second interferometer sensing arm to an apparatus external to said substrate.

14. An accelerometer sensor comprising:

a) a substrate member; and

,

b) a first interferometer sensing arm secured to a first planar side of said substrate member and having,

1) an optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end,

2) a mirror positioned at the second end of said optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect emitting light back into said optical waveguide coil, and,

3) a first proof mass adapted to exert a pressure force against and deform a portion of said optical waveguide coil during acceleration of said sensor.

15. The sensor according to claim 14, further including a second interferometer sensing arm secured to a second planar side of said substrate member having,

a) an optical waveguide coil having a first end and a second end;

b) a mirror positioned at the second end of said optical waveguide coil and adapted to reflect light back into said optical waveguide coil; and

,

c) a second proof mass adapted to exert a pressure force against and deform a portion of said optical waveguide coil during acceleration of said sensor.

16. The sensor according to claim 15, wherein a difference between a length of said first interferometer sensing arm and a length of the second interferometer sensing arm is approximately one-eighth a wavelength.

17. The sensor according to claim 15, further including a beamsplitter secured to said substrate and adapted to:

a) split light entering a first portal thereof between the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm, and the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm; and

,

b) communicate light received from the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm and from the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm, to a second portal of said beamsplitter.

18. The sensor according to claim 17, further including a light source communicating light to said first portal of said beamsplitter.

19. The sensor according to claim 17, wherein said beam-splitter splits said light substantially equally between the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the first interferometer sensing arm and the first end of the optical waveguide coil of the second interferometer sensing arm.

20. The sensor according to claim 17, further including an optical detector receiving light from the second portal of said beamsplitter and generating a signal representative of a phase change in received light.

21. The sensor according to claim 17, further including:

a) a first mass guide slidably securing the first proof mass against the optical waveguide coil of said first interferometer sensing arm; and

,

b) a second mass guide slidably securing the second proof mass against said optical waveguide coil of said second interferometer sensing arm.

22. The sensor according to claim 21, wherein said first mass guide and said second mass guide are adapted to apply force to the first and second proof mass to engage the first and second optical waveguide coil respectively.

23. The sensor according to claim 14, further including:

a) an input port adapted to receive light from an external source and communicate light to said first end of said optical waveguide coil of said first interferometer sensing arm; and

,

b) an output port adapted to communicate light from the second end of said optical waveguide coil of said first interferometer sensing arm to an apparatus external to said substrate member.

24. The sensor according to claim 15, further including:

a) an input port adapted to receive light from an external source and communicate light to the first end of said optical waveguide coil of said second interferometer sensing arm; and

,

b) an output port adapted to communicate light from the second end of said optical waveguide coil of said second interferometer sensing arm to an apparatus external to said substrate member.