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US 6,429,421 B1Granted
Flexible fiber optic microbend device, with interlocking flexible fibers, sensors, and method use
AssigneeLuna Innovations Incorporated
InventorsScott A. Meller, Kent A. Murphy, Mark E. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible microbend device for attachment to an optical fiber is provided. The device comprises an upper bending element grid having at least one flexible element and a lower bending element grid having at least one flexible element. The upper bending element grid alternately engages the lower bending element grid. The flexible microbend device is attached to an optical fiber to form a sensor. The sensor may be either embedded in a host material or attached to a structure to detect various stresses or strains.
Claims17
A flexible microbend device for attachment to an optical fiber, the device comprising:
- an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- and
- wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid.
1 more element
A fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- an optical fiber positioned between each upper flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each lower flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- and
- wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid to form a sensor.
2 more elements
A fiber optic microbend sensor array comprising a plurality of flexible microbend devices attached to an optical fiber, wherein each flexible microbend device comprises:
- an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- and wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid.
A fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one flexible element and wherein each flexible element comprises a polyurethane elastomer;
- an optical fiber positioned between each flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- and
- wherein each flexible element of the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid to form a sensor.
2 more elements
A fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one flexible element;
- an optical fiber positioned between each flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- and
- wherein each flexible element of the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid to form a sensor, wherein the sensor is encapsulated in a material having mechanical properties that are different from those of the flexible elements and wherein the encapsulated material is selected from the group consisting of:
- silicone RTV;
- UV-cured epoxy;
- an elastomer;
- and polyurethane.
6 more elements
A fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- an optical fiber positioned between each upper flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each lower flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid to form a sensor;
- an optical coupler having a first end coupled to the optical fiber;
- a light source coupled to a second end of the optical coupler;
- a detector coupled to a third end of the optical coupler;
- and
- a reflector positioned at an end of the optical fiber opposite from the light source.
6 more elements
A method for measuring stress of force between two objects, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- an optical fiber positioned between each upper flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each lower flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid to form a sensor;
- an optical coupler having a first end coupled to the optical fiber;
- a light source coupled to a second end of the optical coupler;
- a detector coupled to a third end of the optical coupler;
- and
- a reflector positioned at an end of the optical fiber opposite from the light source;
- b) attaching the fiber optic microbend sensor to a surface of a structure;
- c) introducing optical power to the fiber optic microbend sensor;
- and
- d) monitoring reflected light with the detector.
11 more elements
A method for measuring stress or strain of a material, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a fiber optic microbend sensor comprising:
- a flexible microbend device comprising an upper bending element grid having at least one upper flexible element and wherein at least one upper interlocking member is positioned at an end of each upper flexible element;
- and a lower bending element grid having at least one lower flexible element and wherein at least one lower interlocking member is positioned at an end of each lower flexible element;
- an optical fiber positioned between each upper flexible element of the upper bending element grid and each lower flexible element of the lower bending element grid;
- wherein each upper interlocking member mates with each respective lower flexible element and each lower interlocking member mates with each respective upper flexible element, wherein the upper bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the lower bending element grid and wherein the lower bending element grid alternately engages each flexible element of the upper bending element grid to secure the upper bending element grid to the lower bending element grid to form a sensor;
- an optical coupler having a first end coupled to the optical fiber;
- a light source coupled to a second end of the optical coupler;
- a detector coupled to a third end of the optical coupler;
- and
- a reflector positioned at an end of the optical fiber opposite from the light source;
- b) embedding the fiber optic microbend sensor in a host material;
- c) introducing optical power to the fiber optic microbend sensor;
- and
- d) monitoring reflected light with the detector.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.