Fiber optic sensor for detecting mechanicl quantities

US4848871A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Helmut Seidel · Starnberg, DE
• Peter Deimel · Langenpreising, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 3, 1988
• Grant date: Jul 18, 1989
• Expiry date: Oct 3, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D5/268
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A fiber optic sensor for the detection of mechanical quantities comprising a light source, a first fiber optic waveguide coupled to the light source, the front face of the first waveguide being ground at a 45.degree. angle to the axis of the fiber and mirrored, a second fiber optic waveguide arranged parallel to the first waveguide, the front face of the second waveguide being ground at a 45.degree. angle to the axis of the fiber and mirrored, the two mirrored faces being held opposite to one another, and a photoelement receiver coupled to the other end of the second waveguide. At least one of the waveguides can move either along the fiber axis or around the fiber axis relative to the other waveguide, the motion varying the light received by the receiver and thereby indicating the magnitude of the mechanical quantity.