Enhanced microbend sensor
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorScott Robertson Bickham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical fiber sensor includes a first single mode fiber, a second single mode fiber, and a multimode fiber positioned between, and coupled to, the first single mode fiber and the second single mode fiber. The multimode fiber includes a graded-index core with an outer diameter between about 35 μm and about 45 μm. A numerical aperture of the core is between about 0.15 and about 0.25. The multimode fiber includes a cladding with an outer diameter between about 70 μm and about 90 μm. A coupling strength of an LP01 mode of the first single mode fiber to each of an LP02 mode and an LP03 mode of the multimode fiber is at least about 0.25.
Claims20
An optical fiber sensor, comprising:
- a first single mode fiber comprising a core and a cladding;
- a second single mode fiber comprising a core and a cladding;
- and
- a multimode fiber positioned between, and coupled to, the first single mode fiber and the second single mode fiber, the multimode fiber comprising:
- a graded-index core having an outer diameter between about 35 μm and about 45 μm, wherein a numerical aperture of the core is between about 0.15 and about 0.25;
- a cladding having an outer diameter between about 70 μm and about 90 μm;
- and
- wherein a coupling strength of an LP01 mode of the first single mode fiber to each of an LP02 mode and an LP03 mode of the multimode fiber is at least about 0.25.
An optical fiber sensor, comprising:
- a first single mode fiber comprising a core and a cladding;
- a second single mode fiber comprising a core and a cladding;
- and
- a multimode fiber positioned between, and coupled to, the first single mode fiber and the second single mode fiber, the multimode fiber comprising:
- a graded-index core having an outer radius of about 20 μm, wherein a numerical aperture of the core is about 0.20;
- a cladding having an outer radius of about 40 μm;
- and
- wherein an LP01 mode of the first single mode fiber is closely matched to a central positive lobe of an LP02 mode of the multimode fiber such that a coupling strength of the LP01 mode of the first single mode fiber to each of an LP02 mode and an LP03 mode of the multimode fiber is at least about 0.25.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.