# US 10,768,060 B2 · Optical waveguide system for 2-dimensional location sensing

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- Number: US 10,768,060 B2
- Document ID: US10768060B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/080,006
- Filed: 2017-02-24
- Published: 2019-02-28
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-26
- Assignees: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
- Applicants: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
- Inventors: Henricus Petrus Anna van den Boom; Antonius Marcellus Jozef Koonen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768060B2

## CPC

- G01L 1/243: {using means for applying force perpendicular to the fibre axis}
- G01L 1/247: {using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules (along a single optical fibre G01L1/242)}
- G01L 5/228: {using tactile array force sensors}
- G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels}
- G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen}
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the mechanical structure further includes a second rigid ring disposed such that the intersection point of the crossing sensor is vertically sandwiched between the first rigid ring and the second rigid ring;
wherein a hole of the second rigid ring laterally encloses the intersection point of the crossing sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 2, wherein the hole of the first rigid ring and the hole of the second rigid ring have substantially the same size and shape, and are substantially laterally aligned.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1,
wherein each row optical waveguide includes a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding,
wherein each column optical waveguide includes a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding,
wherein the waveguide claddings of both the row optical waveguides and the column optical waveguides are intact at one or more of the crossing sensors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1,
wherein each row optical waveguide includes a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding,
wherein each column optical waveguide includes a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding,
wherein the waveguide claddings of one or both of the row optical waveguides and the column optical waveguides are at least partially removed at one or more of the crossing sensors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1,
wherein each row optical waveguide is an optical fiber having a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding surrounded by a protective jacket,
wherein each column optical waveguide is an optical fiber having a waveguide core surrounded by a waveguide cladding surrounded by a protective jacket,
wherein the protective jackets of both the row optical waveguides and the column optical waveguides are removed at one or more of the crossing sensors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein one or more of the crossing sensors further comprise a reflector to increase optical coupling when the crossing sensor is under pressure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein one or more of the crossing sensors further comprise a scatterer to increase optical coupling when the crossing sensor is under pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The optical waveguide pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the row and column optical waveguides are selected from the group consisting of: step-index plastic fibers and graded-index plastic fibers.