Compact portable double differential fiber optic Sagnac interferometer
US10323925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29347
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A compact and portable apparatus for measuring properties of objects utilizing a fiber optic Sagnac interferometer is enabled. The fiber optic Sagnac interferometer may be a double differential Sagnac interferometer. The interferometer core may be implemented with fiber optic components including polarization maintaining optical fiber, and by utilizing an auto-balanced avalanche photodetector. An optical switch may be incorporated to maintain relatively low average probe signal power while allowing optimal peak probe signal power. The compact and portable apparatus may be configured to measure ultrasonic vibrations, a displacement of an object surface in response to ultrasonic vibrations, and/or a vibration speed of the object surface. A wideband light source may be amplified and stabilized. A sensor head of the interferometer may incorporate a collimator adjustable to block a central portion of the projected probe beam thereby at least in part enabling in-plane and out-of-plane measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.