Back to results
US 10,768,060 B2Granted
Optical waveguide system for 2-dimensional location sensing
AssigneeTechnische Universiteit Eindhoven
InventorsHenricus Petrus Anna van den Boom, Antonius Marcellus Jozef Koonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pressure sensing having 2-D resolution is provided by an array of optical waveguides having wave-guide intersections (e.g., intersecting rows and columns). Pressure induced cross-coupling between intersecting wave-guides is enhanced by including mechanical structures at each intersection that enhance local waveguide bending. For example, such structures can be rigid rings around the wave-guide intersections.
Claims9
An optical waveguide pressure sensor array comprising:
- two or more row optical waveguides;
- two or more column optical waveguides, wherein the row optical waveguides and the column optical waveguides are arranged in a planar array to define crossing sensors, wherein each crossing sensor includes one of the row waveguides in contact with one of the column waveguides at an intersection point;
- wherein each crossing sensor further includes a mechanical structure configured to enhance waveguide bending when pressure is applied to the crossing sensor;
- wherein the optical waveguide pressure sensor array is configured to sense pressure by providing light to the row optical waveguides and measuring light coupled to the column optical waveguides, or vice versa;
- wherein the mechanical structure includes a first rigid ring disposed in contact with one of the row or column optical waveguides;
- wherein a hole of the first rigid ring laterally encloses the intersection point of the crossing sensor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.