Fiber optic temperature sensor utilizing a phosphor microsphere
US9599518B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K11/20
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a fiber optic temperature sensing system incorporating a thermal probe which utilizes a phosphor in the form of a microsphere is provided. The microsphere is situated in air so as to produce a lensing effect in both coupling the excitation light delivered to it by the fiber and coupling the fluorescence produced by the phosphor material back into the fiber. The thermal probe can be implemented in either a flexible or a rigid form. Materials for the phosphor microspheres include—but are not limited to—rare earth(s) doped single crystals, rare earth(s) doped ceramics, and ruby. When coupled to a suitable controller, these thermal probes can provide reliable temperature measurements even in environments characterized by strong electrical noise or electromagnetic interference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.