Methods and apparatus for mechanically enhancing the sensitivity of transversely loaded fiber optic sensors
US6218661A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L11/025
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention include an optical fiber with a Bragg grating formed along a portion of its core and a mechanical structure arranged adjacent to the Bragg grating for amplifying transverse strain on the fiber in the vicinity of the grating. In particular, the mechanical structure is designed to convert ambient pressure into transverse strain on the fiber in the vicinity of the grating. The methods of the invention include converting pressure into transverse strain on an optical fiber, amplifying the effect of pressure on the transverse strain, measuring pressure by determining the spacing between spectral locations related to peaks (or minimums) of light reflected from an optical grating subjected to transverse strain, and measuring the temperature of the grating by determining the locations of the spectral locations related to the peaks (or minimums) of light reflected from the grating. According to one embodiment, the mechanical structure includes a piston mounted in a transducer body through which the optical fiber passes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.