Patent · US Expired

Fiber optic pressure sensor

US4701614A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 1984
Grant dateOct 20, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG08B13/186
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An arrangement for an optical fiber pressure sensor is described. This sensor is comprised of two coating layers concentrically clad to and coaxially oriented with an optical fiber. The first coating layer is comprised of a relatively hard optically lossy material which absorbs any light radiating outwardly from the optical fiber. The second coating layer is comprised of a compliant material in which granular particles have been uniformly dispersed. In response to any pressure laterally applied to the sensor, the compliant coating layer imparts micro-bends, onto the optical fiber, which, in turn, couple light from propagating modes to non-propagating modes. As a result, the amplitude (or power) of the light exiting the optical fiber advantageously decreases in response to this pressure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.