Optical cavity sensor

A system for sensing conditions on an object, the system comprising:

• a sensor, the sensor comprising:
• a first at least partially reflective surface layer disposed adjacent the object in close conforming relationship with a surface of the object;
• an intermediate layer comprising a dielectric material;
• and
• a second at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate layer being disposed between the first at least partially reflective surface layer and the second at least partially reflective surface layer;
• wherein an area for sensing includes the first at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate surface layer comprising the dielectric material, and the second at least partially reflective surface layer;
• an energy source;
• a monitor;
• and
• a processor,
• wherein the energy source generates an energy wave and directs the energy wave to the sensor, at least a component of the energy wave is reflected by the first at least partially reflective surface layer and a component of the energy wave is transmitted through the first at least partially reflective surface layer and the intermediate layer comprising the dielectric material and is then reflected to the monitor, the components of the reflected energy wave received by the monitor, the monitor transmitting data representative of the components of the reflected energy wave to the processor, and the processor evaluating the components to determine conditions on the object.

A method for sensing conditions on an object, the method comprising:

• generating an energy wave from an energy source;
• directing the energy wave toward a sensor on the object, the sensor comprising a first at least partially reflective surface layer disposed adjacent the object in close conforming relationship with a surface of the object;
• an intermediate layer comprising a dielectric material;
• and a second at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate layer being disposed between the first at least partially reflective surface layer and the second at least partially reflective surface layer;
• reflecting at least a reflected energy component of the energy wave from the first at least partially reflective surface layer, wherein an area for sensing includes the first at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate surface layer comprising the dielectric material, and the second at least partially reflective surface layer;
• reflecting at least a component of the energy wave that has passed through the first at least partially reflective surface layer and the intermediate layer comprising the dielectric material by the second at least partially reflective surface layer;
• receiving the components of the reflected energy wave by a monitor;
• transmitting data representative of the components of the reflected energy wave from the monitor to a processor;
• and
• evaluating the component of the reflected energy to determine conditions on the object.

A method for forming a device to sense conditions on an object, the method comprising:

• providing an object;
• and
• disposing a device to sense conditions on the object in close conforming relationship with a surface of the object;
• the device comprises a first at least partially reflective surface layer disposed adjacent the object;
• an intermediate layer comprising a dielectric material;
• and a second at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate layer being disposed between the first at least partially reflective surface layer and the second at least partially reflective surface layer, wherein an area for sensing includes the first at least partially reflective surface layer, the intermediate surface layer comprising the dielectric material, and the second at least partially reflective surface layer.