Optical force transducer
US10022190B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D5/353
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Force transducer (10) include two structural members (11, 12) spaced apart to define a gap (101) and being linked to each other. Optical fibers (13) are to the members and are freely suspended in the gap. The optical fibers are configured to provide a change in a detectable optical property responsive to a change in relative position between the two members in one or more predetermined degrees of freedom. Each of the optical fibers (13) is fixed to both structural members and continuous between the members to link the two structural members to each other. The optical fibers are substantially the only structure forming a link between the two structural members (11, 12), such that the arrangement of the optical fibers defines substantially the stiffness of the link between the two structural members in the one or more predetermined degrees of freedom, which stiffness is mainly, such as for at least 95%, determined by the optical fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.