Patent · US Expired

Optical fiber distribution system for an optical fiber sensor

US4907857A · kind A · utility

288Cited by
18References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 14, 1989
Grant dateMar 13, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 14, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/7786
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for distributing signals within a sensor system used for monitoring the presence of a specific analyte in a composition by means of an analyte-sensitive indicator molecule is disclosed. The sensor system includes a signal-generating component, a single-fiber sensor tip that houses the indicator molecule and a signal-measuring component. In one embodiment, the signal-generating component generates a first optical signal of a wavelength that is sensitive to the indicator molecule, and a second optical signal of a wavelength that is predictably altered by the indicator molecule. The distribution system includes lengths of optical fiber, a dividing connector, a mixing connector, a transmitting connector and a tip connector. The dividing connector connects at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to receive intermediate signals. The mixing connector connects a mixing fiber to the intermediate fibers to receive the intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal. The transmitting connector connects a transmitting fiber to the mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of the mixed signal, and connects a comparison fiber to the mixing fi…

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