Fiber optic sensor system for detecting surface wear
US8571813B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N3/56
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
One or more optical fibers (20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D), each with a second end (21) with a phosphor (26) disposed in a substrate (32) at a given depth (Dn) below a wear surface (34). A first photonic energy (52) is injected into a first end (19) of the optical fibers. The phosphor (26) emits a second photonic energy (54) into the fiber in response to the first photonic energy (52) incident on the phosphor from the fiber. When wear removes the phosphor (26) from one or more fibers, a detector (48, 49) detects a proportional reduction of the second photonic energy, indicating that wear has reached the given depth. A band-pass optical filter (46) may block wavelengths of the first photonic energy (52) from reflecting into the detector. The substrate temperature may be determined using a temperature-dependent emission of the phosphor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.