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US 2003/0118266 A1Published application
Chiral fiber sensor apparatus and method
AssigneeChiral Photonics, Inc.
InventorsVictor Il?apos;ich Kopp, Azriel Zelig Genack
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AssigneeChiral Photonics, Inc.
InventorsVictor Il?apos;ich Kopp, Azriel Zelig Genack
Estimating the term…
A chiral fiber sensor implemented in a chiral fiber is provided that mimics advantageous optical properties of a cholesteric liquid crystal structure. In a passive sensor embodiment the chiral fiber sensor of the present invention includes a chiral fiber element configured to shift its reflection band in response to a change in a particular external condition (such as temperature, pressure and axial twist). The chiral fiber element is subjected to a broadband emission while monitoring its refection or the transmission spectrum. Changes in the monitored spectrum indicate changes in the particular external condition. In an active sensor embodiment, the chiral fiber element is configured as an optically pumped chiral laser having a lasing wavelength that shifts in response to a change in a particular external condition (such as temperature, pressure and axial twist). The lasing wavelength is monitored and shifts in the wavelength indicate changes in the particular external condition. In both embodiments a chiral defect may be introduced into the chiral fiber element to enable the inventive passive or active sensor to be tuned. Optionally, a secondary sensor (for example another inventive chiral fiber sensor) is provided in addition to the inventive chiral fiber sensor, such that outputs of both sensors can be compared by a monitoring device to derive changes in a difficult to monitor external condition.
A chiral fiber sensor comprising:
A chiral fiber sensor comprising:
A method for sensing changes in least one of a plurality of external conditions, comprising the steps of:
A chiral fiber sensor comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.