Dual Fiber Grating and Methods of Making and Using Same
OwnerDaniel Homa, Brooks Childersinventors
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Abstract
A multiple-layer fiber-optic sensor is described with dual Bragg gratings in layers of different materials, so that the known temperature and strain response properties of each material may be utilized to simultaneously correct the sensor output for temperature and strain effects.
Claims13
A fiber optic sensor for use in simultaneously measuring temperature and strain variations, comprising
- a first layer, comprising a first material and a first Bragg grating,
- a second layer concentric with said first layer and comprising a second material and a second Bragg grating, wherein said first Bragg grating and said second Bragg grating are essentially identically patterned and are co-located along the longitudinal axis of the fiber optic sensor, and
- a third layer concentric with and intermediate said first layer and said second layer, wherein said third layer comprises a material different than said first and second layers.
A method of constructing a fiber optic sensor for simultaneously measuring temperature and strain deviations, comprising the steps of
- providing a fiber optic preform,
- depositing a first layer of a first photosensitive material on a surface of said preform, wherein after deposition said first layer comprises a first exposed surface,
- depositing an intermediate layer of an essentially non-photosensitive material on said first exposed surface, wherein after deposition said intermediate layer comprises a second exposed surface,
- depositing a second layer of a second photosensitive material on said second exposed surface,
- pulling said preform into a fiber optic,
- forming essentially identically-patterned Bragg gratings in said first layer and said third layer at essentially the same longitudinal position along said fiber optic.
A method of determining strain and temperature imposed on a sensor by its environment, wherein said sensor comprises at least two essentially concentric Bragg gratings formed in different materials, comprising the steps of observing essentially simultaneous responses from said Bragg gratings, and mathematically resolving values for temperature and strain imposed on said sensor from the responses of said Bragg gratings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.