Fiber-optic sensor device and method
US5995686A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor system includes an optical fiber sensor element which is connected to a light source at one end and a detector at the opposite end. The sensor element is an optical fiber which has a light transmitting core, a cladding layer surrounding the core, and an outer protective layer. The outer protective layer is removed along at least part of the length of the fiber to expose a portion of the cladding layer, and the exposed portion of the cladding layer is roughened to produce a plurality of surface scratches extending through at least part of the thickness of the cladding layer. The exposed, roughened portion of the cladding layer forms a sensor region through which light is lost from the core, and is exposed to a medium to be monitored so that the amount of light lost will be dependent on the refractive index of the medium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.