Three-parameter optical fiber sensor and system
US4986671A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P5/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A single sensor is provided as part of a fiberoptic probe to measure up to three parameters, namely pressure (or force or displacement), temperature, and heat flow or fluid velocity. A solid elastomeric optical element is formed at the end of optical fiber transmission medium, and adjacent light reflective and temperature dependent materials are formed on the resulting convex surface of the optical element. The amount of light reflected is proportional to the force or pressure against the element. The temperature dependent material is preferably a luminescent material. Over the luminescent material is formed a layer of material that is absorptive of infrared radiation, thereby allowing a determination of characteristics of heat or fluid flow by measuring the rate at which heat is carried away from the infrared heated layer. The sensor can be formed at the end of a single optical fiber, thereby having extensive applications where a very small sensor is required. One such application is a medical or clinical one, where the sensor is mounted in a catheter for providing pressure, flow and temperature of the blood in a blood vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.