Methods and apparatus to determine strain on an optical core based on tracked change in phase
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsMark E. Froggatt, Justin W. Klein, Dawn K. Gifford, Stephen Tod Kreger
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Abstract
An accurate measurement method and apparatus using an optical fiber are disclosed. A total change in optical length in an optical core in the optical fiber is determined that reflects an accumulation of all of the changes in optical length for multiple segment lengths of the optical core up to a point on the optical fiber. The total change in optical length in the optical core is provided for calculation of an average strain over a length of the optical core based on the detected total change in optical length.
Claims21
A measurement method for an optical fiber having an optical core, comprising:
- tracking a change in phase associated with a strain on the optical core over a length of the optical core, where the tracked change in phase is proportional to a total change in optical length in the optical core of the optical fiber, the total change indicative of an accumulation of all changes in optical length for multiple segment lengths of the optical core up to a point on the optical core, and
- determining the strain over the length of the optical core based on the tracked change in phase.
An apparatus for making measurements of using an optical fiber having an optical core, comprising:
- detection circuitry configured to track a change in phase associated with a strain on the optical core over a length of the optical core, where the tracked change in phase is proportional to a total change in optical length in the optical core in the optical fiber, the total change indicative of an accumulation of all of the changes in optical length for multiple segment lengths of the optical core up to a point on the optical fiber, and
- processing circuitry configured to determine the strain over the length of the optical core based on the tracked change in phase.
A non-transitory storage medium storing a program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to make measurements using an optical fiber having an optical core by performing the following tasks:
- tracking a change in phase associated with a strain on the optical core over a length of the optical core, where the tracked change in phase is proportional to a total change in optical length in the optical core of the optical fiber, the total change indicative of an accumulation of all changes in optical length for multiple segment lengths of the optical core up to a point on the optical fiber, and
- determining the strain over the length of the optical core based on the tracked change in phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.