Fiber optic pressure transducers and pressure sensing system incorporating same

A fiber optic sensing system for measuring pressure or transverse strain, comprising:

• a) a light source;
• b) a spectral analyzer;
• and
• c) a fiber optic transducer including
• i) a fiber optic core having al least one grating formed along at least one portion thereof,
• ii) a first cladding surrounding said core,
• iii) birefringence means for enhancing birefringence in said core, and
• iv) pressure responsive means for converting isotropic pressure forces to anisotropic forces on said core, wherein
• said light source is arranged to direct light into said core and said spectral analyzer is arranged to detect light exiting said core.

A method of measuring pressure or transverse strain, comprising:

• a) optically coupling a fiber optic grating transducer to a light source;
• b) directing light from the light source into the core of the fiber optic grating transducer;
• c) optically coupling a spectral analyzer to the fiber optic grating transducer;
• and
• d) measuring the width of one or more spectral peaks detected by the spectral analyzer to determine the pressure or transverse strain ambient to the fiber optic grating transducer.

A method of measuring pressure or transverse strain, comprising:

• a) obtaining a fiber optic grating transducer having birefringence means for enhancing birefringence in the core and pressure responsive means for converting isotropic pressure forces to anisotropic forces on the core;
• b) optically coupling the fiber optic grating transducer to a light source;
• c) directing light from the light source into the core of the fiber optic grating transducer;
• d) optically coupling a spectral analyzer to the fiber optic grating transducer;
• and
• e) measuring the separation of two spectral peaks detected by the spectral analyzer to determine the pressure or transverse strain ambient to the fiber optic grating transducer.