Fiber optic sensor system for detecting surface wear

A sensor system that detects reduction wear in a surface, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers, each comprising first and second ends, the second ends of the optical fibers proximate each other at a respective plurality of depths in a substrate beneath a wear surface;
• a source of a first photonic energy directed into the first ends of the optical fibers;
• a re-emitter proximate the second ends of the optical fibers that emits a second photonic energy into said second ends in response to the first photonic energy incident on the re-emitter via the optical fibers;
• a detector that detects the second photonic energy emergent from the first ends of the first optical fibers;
• and
• a processor connected to the detector that calculates a wear depth in the wear surface according to a characteristic of the second photonic energy;
• wherein the second photonic energy comprises a different wavelength than the first photonic energy, the system further comprising an optical band-pass filter that blocks wavelengths of the first photonic energy emergent from the first end of the optical fiber before reaching the detector.

A sensor system that detects reduction wear in a surface, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers, each comprising first and second ends, the second ends of the optical fibers adjacent to each other at a respective plurality of depths in a substrate beneath a wear surface;
• a source of a first photonic energy directed into the first ends of the optical fibers;
• a re-emission material on the second end of each of the optical fibers that emits a second photonic energy into said second ends in response to the first photonic energy incident on the re-emission material via the optical fibers;
• a detector that detects the second photonic energy emergent from the first ends of the first optical fibers;
• and
• a processor connected to the detector that calculates a wear depth in the wear surface according to a characteristic of the second photonic energy;
• wherein the second photonic energy comprises a different wavelength than the first photonic energy, the system further comprising an optical band-pass filter that blocks wavelengths of the first photonic energy emergent from the first end of the optical fiber before reaching the detector.