Optical sensors and optical fibre networks for such sensors
US5062686A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3624
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical sensor includes elongate light transmission means such as an optical fibre (13). A lens (16) of at least nearly half-pitch length is positioned with one of its focal planes substantially at a mouth (13a) of the optical fibre to receive and focus a diverging cone of light emergent therefrom. A reflector (20) is disposed substantially at another focal plane of the lens to reflect the focused light back to the mouth of the fibre. Detection means (14) in the path of the light between the mouth and the reflector is arranged to influence the light in response to an external condition in a manner whereby the reflected light received back at the fibre mouth may be monitored to detect the influence and thereby the condition. An optical fibre network has an incident fibre (40) and a detection fibre (42) coupled to plural optical components (60) via respective optical fibres (62) associated with the components and one or more optical fibre couplers (64, 68, 69). The network further includes means (44) to transmit along the incident fibre incident signals of close but discrete wavelengths, and means (82) associated with each of said respective optical fibres (62) to reflect a portio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.