Optical temperature sensor
OwnerGustav Schweiger, Frank Janettainventors
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Abstract
The invention relates to a fiber-optic temperature sensor which is provided with a preferably spherical microparticle with a diameter in the range of from 5 to 100 micrometers as the optical resonator. Said microparticle is linked with optical waveguides for coupling light in or out. A laser diode (1) incites optical resonances in the microparticle, the wavelengths of these resonances depending on the diameter of the microparticle. Due to the thermal expansion of the microparticle, said diameter in turn depends on the temperature. The temperature sensor is calibrated so that the resonance wavelengths can be correlated with corresponding temperature values.
Claims12
A temperature sensor with an optical resonator connected with one or more light wave conductors (2, 7), characterized in that a micro-particle (4) is employed serving as the optical resonator, whereby on the one hand, the light of a laser diode (1) is coupled into the microparticle (4) via the ends of the light wave conductors (2, 7), said ends being shaped into thin tips (3, 6), and, on the other hand, the light is decoupled from the microparticle (4) for the evaluation by means of an optical spectrometer (8).
Application of an optical micro-resonator for determining material stresses.
Application of an optical micro-resonator as an approximation sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.