Optical fiber with microgratings for increased measurable strain range
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsMark E. Froggatt, Dawn K. Gifford, Alexander K. Sang
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Abstract
An optical fiber with one or more microgratings is disclosed. Methods and apparatus are described for making an optical fiber with one or more microgratings. Methods and apparatus are described for an optical fiber with one or more microgratings. Optical sensing methods and an optical sensing system effectively decouple strain range from the laser tuning range, permit the use of a smaller tuning range without sacrificing strain range, and compensate for ambiguity in phase measurements normally associated with smaller tuning ranges.
Claims20
An optical sensor comprising:
- an optical fiber including multiple cores;
- first microgratings inscribed in the multiple cores at a common first location along a length of the optical fiber;
- and
- second microgratings inscribed in the multiple cores at a common second location along the length of the optical fiber;
- wherein each of the first and second microgratings has a grating length of no more than 50 μm.
A method of manufacturing an optical sensor, the method comprising:
- providing an optical fiber including multiple cores;
- inscribing first microgratings in the multiple cores at a common first location along a length of the optical fiber;
- and
- inscribing second microgratings in the multiple cores at a common second location along the length of the optical fiber;
- wherein each of the first and second microgratings has a grating length of no more than 50 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.