Fiber optic hydrophone sensors and uses thereof
US10466096B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/262
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensing method is based on using a special fiberoptic probe for detection of acoustic/ultrasound pressure in an immersion medium. The developed system is highly sensitive in detecting ultrasound waves up to 100 MHz, for imaging of micro structures and more. For applications up to 100 MHz, without spatial averaging corrections, the probe tip is modified by reducing the fiber diameter to 7 um or less. Also, to maximize acousto-optic interaction, the probe tip, not just its end face, may be coated with a thin layer of metallic material. This thin film coating satisfies partial transparency of the metallic coating. The coating thickness may range from 2 nm to 10 nm or others depending on the type of the coating material. The probe detects the pressure of acoustic and/or ultrasound waves propagating within an immersion medium, whenever the probe tip is immersed inside the medium, and having a reasonable immersion contact surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.