# US 10,117,584 B2 · Multi-functional sensor assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,584 B2 - Document ID: US10117584B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/078,180 - Filed: 2016-03-23 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-09 - Assignees: Korea Institute of Science and Technology - Applicants: Korea Institute of Science and Technology - Inventors: Jinseok Kim; Yong-Won Song; Jinwoo Jeong; Hyowon Moon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117584B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light} - A61B 5/6885: {Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure} - G01D 5/35316: {using a Bragg gratings} - G01D 5/3538: {using a particular type of fiber, e.g. fibre with several cores, PANDA fiber, fiber with an elliptic core or the like} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 2034/2061: {using shape-sensors, e.g. fiber shape sensors with Bragg gratings} - A61B 2562/0266: Optical strain gauges - A61B 2562/0271: Thermal or temperature sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A sensor assembly has a flexible body, and a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) sensor inserted into the body, the FBG sensor includes an optical fiber extending in a length direction of the body and a plurality of lattices disposed in the optical fiber, a variation of a wavelength spectrum of light, caused by a variation of an interval of the plurality of lattices, is detected, and at least one of force information applied to the body and temperature information of the body is extracted together with refraction information of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor assembly, comprising: a flexible body; and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors disposed inside the flexible body, wherein the FBG sensors each comprise an optical fiber extending axially with respect to the flexible body, and lattices disposed in the optical fiber, wherein the FBG sensors comprise a force-detecting FBG sensor, and wherein a front end of the force-detecting FBG sensor protrudes from a front end face of the flexible body such that a lattice of the force-detecting FBG sensor is exposed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors comprise a temperature-detecting FBG sensor, and wherein a front end of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor is recessed from the front end face of the flexible body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors comprise a temperature-detecting FBG sensor, and wherein a front end of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor is disposed inside a recess of the flexible body such that the front end of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor does not contact the flexible body, wherein the recess is in fluid communication with an exterior of the flexible body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensor assembly according to claim 3, wherein a lattice of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor is disposed inside the recess. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sensor assembly according to claim 3, wherein a diameter of the recess is greater than a diameter of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors comprise a temperature-detecting FBG sensor for detecting the temperature information, and wherein a temperature detection lattice unit comprising at least two lattices with a same interval is formed at a front end portion of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lattice is formed with a uniform lattice interval. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors comprise at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors for detecting the refraction information, wherein a plurality of lattices is formed at the refraction-detecting FBG sensor over the entire length of the optical fiber, wherein an n (n≥2, natural number) number of the plurality of lattices are grouped to form a plurality of refraction lattice units, wherein an n number of lattices are disposed with a same interval in a single refraction lattice unit among the plurality of refraction lattice units, and wherein the refraction lattice units have different intervals between lattices from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors are disposed eccentrically from a central axis of the flexible body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors further comprise a temperature-detecting FBG sensor, and at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the FBG sensors comprise at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors for detecting refraction information, wherein at least one of the at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors constitute a temperature-detecting FBG sensor for detecting temperature information, and wherein at least another one of the at least three refraction-detecting FBG sensors constitutes the force-detecting FBG sensor, which is for detecting the force information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a laser-irradiating optical fiber disposed inside the flexible body and configured to conduct laser light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flow-detecting FBG sensor disposed inside the flexible body. ### Claim 14 A sensor assembly, comprising: a flexible body; and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors disposed inside the flexible body, and comprising a temperature-detecting FBG sensor, wherein the FBG sensors each comprise an optical fiber extending axially with respect to the flexible body, and lattices disposed in the optical fiber, and wherein a front end of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor is disposed inside a recess of the flexible body open to an exterior of the flexible body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein the temperature-detecting FBG sensor does not contact an interior surface of the recess. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein a lattice of the temperature-detecting FBG sensor is disposed inside the recess and retruded from an end face of the flexible body.