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US 2009/0266977 A1Published application
Photonic proximity sensor and scalable photonic sensing system
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDanial L. Kosht, Stephen M. Emo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photonic proximity sensor and photonic sensor system are provided. The photonic proximity sensor includes a first light source, a second light source, and a magneto-optic device. The magneto-optic device receives light emitted from the first and second light sources, and is responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the light from one of the sources significantly more than the light from the other light source.
Claims20
A photonic proximity sensor, comprising:
- a first light source operable to emit first light of a first wavelength and at a first duty cycle;
- a second light source operable to emit second light of a second wavelength and at a second duty cycle;
- a magneto-optic device coupled to receive the first light and the second light, the magneto-optic device configured to polarize the first light and the second light and responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the polarized first light;
- a target movable relative to the magneto-optic device to cause the variations of the magnetic field;
- and
- a first photodetector coupled to receive at least the polarized first light and operable, in response thereto, to supply a first signal of a first amplitude magnitude that varies at least with the rotation of the polarized first light.
3 more elements
A photonic sensor, comprising:
- a first light source operable to emit first light of a first wavelength and at a first duty cycle;
- a second light source operable to emit second light of a second wavelength and at the first duty cycle;
- a magneto-optic device coupled to receive the first light and the second light, the magneto-optic device configured to polarize the first light and the second light and responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the polarized first light;
- a magnet disposed adjacent the magneto-optic device to supply the magnetic field;
- a target movable relative to the magneto-optic device and the magnet to cause the variations of the magnetic field;
- a first photodetector coupled to receive the polarized first light and operable, in response thereto, to supply a first signal of a first amplitude magnitude that varies with the rotation of the polarized first light;
- a second photodetector coupled to receive the polarized second light and operable, in response thereto, to supply a second signal of a second amplitude magnitude;
- a position determination circuit coupled to receive the first signal and the second signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a position signal of a third amplitude magnitude representative of target position.
5 more elements
A photonic sensor system, comprising:
- a plurality of photonic sensors, each photonic sensor configured to sense a physical phenomenon that differs from that of at least one other photonic sensor, each photonic sensor including a magneto-optic device that is responsive to variations of a magnetic field, caused by the physical phenomenon it is configured to sense, to rotate polarized light;
- and
- an interface module coupled to each of the photonic sensors, the interface module responsive to at least the rotated polarized light received from each photonic sensor to supply a plurality of signals representative of each sensed physical phenomenon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.