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US 4,901,584 AGranted
Method of measuring locally specific pressures
OwnerWolfgang Brunner, Ludwig V. Zechinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of measuring locally specific pressures with an instrument that employs a matrix of intersecting columns and lines, each consisiting of pressure-transmitting conductors. The conductors are optical fibers. The column-associated optical fibers and the line-associated optical fibers are arrayed such that a locally specific pressure at their point of intersection produces an area of contact of different size. Light is introduced at at least one end of only a single column-associated or line-associated optical fiber. The amount of light coupled in at the points of intersection is read out at all optical fibers intersecting these optical fibers. The result is a locally specific distribution of pressure.
Claims18
A method for measuring locally predetermined pressures comprising the steps:
- forming a matrix of intersecting columns and rows of pressure-transmitting conductors in form of optical fibers;
- arraying the optical fibers of said columns and the optical fibers of said rows with points of intersection;
- producing areas of contact at said points of intersection dependent on local pressures at said points of intersection;
- introducing light at at least one end of only a single optical fiber of a column or a row;
- reading out the amount of light coupled at points of intersection of all optical fibers with said single optical fiber, said intersecting optical fibers being in contact;
- and measuring local pressures at points of intersection from variations of the areas of contact between the intersecting optical fibers, measurement of said pressures being dependent on the material of said optical fibers.
3 more elements
A method for measuring locally predetermined pressures comprising the steps:
- forming a matrix of intersecting columns and rows of pressure-transmitting conductors in form of optical fibers;
- arraying the optical fibers of said columns and the optical fibers of said rows with points of intersection;
- producing areas of contact at said points of intersection dependent on local pressures at said points of intersection;
- introducing light at at least one end of only a single optical fiber of a column or a row;
- reading out the amount of light coupled at points of intersection of all optical fibers with said single optical fiber, said intersecting optical fibers being in contact;
- and measuring local pressures at points of intersection from variations of th areas of contact between the intersecting optical fibers, measurement of said pressures being dependent on the material of said optical fibers, said intersecting optical fibers intersecting at a non-perpendicular angle.
3 more elements
A method for measuring locally predetermined pressures comprising the steps:
- forming a matrix of intersecting columns and rows of pressure-transmitting conductors in form of optical fibers;
- arraying the optical fibers of said columns and the optical fibers of said rows with points of intersection;
- producing areas of contact at said points of intersection dependent on local pressures at said points of intersection;
- introducing light at at least one end of only a single optical fiber of a column or a row;
- reading out the amount of light coupled at points of intersection of all optical fibers with said single optical fiber, said intersecting optical fibers being in contact;
- and measuring local pressures at points of intersection from variations of the areas of contact between the intersecting optical fibers, measurement of said pressures being dependent on the material of said optical fibers, said optical fibers having an index of refraction that is homogeneous over the cross-sections of said optical fibers, said intersecting optical fibers being interwoven and being embedded in an electrically conductive material for preventing non-intersecting optical fibers from becoming displaced and allowing intersecting optical fibers to come into contact;
- curving said optical fibers in at least one undulation between the points of intersection, intersecting optical fibers forming an angle therebetween within the range of 45.degree. to 90.degree.;
- said reading out step occurring at all columns or lines of optical fibers individually or in groups and simultaneously or sequentially;
- introducing light at both ends of each optical fiber through light-emitting diodes or rapid-action laser diodes;
- said reading out step being carried out with light detectors at both ends of an optical fiber, said detectors comprising p.i.n. diodes;
- positioning one source of light and one light detector at only one end of each optical fiber, only one source of light emitting light constantly and having an associated detector, and measuring said coupled-in light with all light detectors except the detector associated with said light source emitting light constantly;
- bending optical fibers in said columns at an acute angle at one end and extending the bent optical fibers onward to form said rows of optical fibers, the source of light and a light detector being positioned at the other end of the bent optical fibers;
- introducing and reading out signals representing results of said measurement step with long sheaves of optical fibers to a spatially remote location.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.