Optical fibre pressure sensing apparatus employing longitudinal diaphragm
AssigneeNuron Limited
InventorMichael Ainger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for producing strain in an optical fibre proportional to dynamic pressure fluctuation in the surrounding substance. The apparatus includes a diaphragm having a first face that, in use, is exposed to dynamic pressure fluctuations in the substance, and a second, opposite face, the diaphragm being adapted to flex in response to dynamic pressure fluctuations applied to it. One or more optical fibres are mounted on either the first or the second face of the diaphragm, whereby strain is produced in the fibre when the diaphragm flexes.
Claims20
An apparatus for producing strain in at least one optical fibre proportional to dynamic pressure fluctuation in the surrounding substance, the apparatus comprising:
- a diaphragm having a first face that, in use, is exposed to dynamic pressure fluctuations in the substance, and a second, opposite face, the diaphragm being adapted to flex in response to dynamic pressure fluctuations applied to it;
- and
- at least one optical fibre mounted on either said first or said second face of the diaphragm, whereby strain is produced in the at least one fibre when the diaphragm flexes, wherein the length of the diaphragm is at least 1×102 times the width of the diaphragm and the at least one optical fibre extends longitudinally along the diaphragm and wherein the thickness of the diaphragm is in the range 0.5-50 mm.
A method for producing strain in an optical fibre responsive to dynamic pressure fluctuation in a substance by using an apparatus in which the optical fibre is mounted on a diaphragm, wherein the length of the diaphragm is at least 1×102 times the width of the diaphragm and the optical fibre extends longitudinally along the diaphragm and wherein the thickness of the diaphragm is in the range 0.5-50 mm, and the diaphragm oscillates in response to dynamic pressure fluctuations in the substance, the optical fibre being mounted on the diaphragm such that as the diaphragm oscillates the strain in the fibre during one half cycle of the oscillation is higher than the strain in the fibre during the other half cycle of the oscillation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.