Pressure-compensated optical acoustic sensor
June 4, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesAcoustical modulator for fiber optic transmission Monomodal optical fibre hydrophone operating by the elastooptical effect Optical resonator single-mode fiber hydrophone High dynamic compliance hydrophone with hydrostatic pressure balancing Underwater transducer with depth compensation Fiber optical modulator and data multiplexer Fiber optic sensor lead fiber noise cancellation All-optical towed and conformal arrays Multi-channel fiber optic sensor system Optical fiber interferometer network InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 893478 filed on 06/04/1992US Classes:367/149, Exclusive-type receiver73/657, By frequency or phase shift356/478, Multiplexed sensor array356/482, For distance or displacement measurement367/151, With reflector367/172Transducer with pressure compensating meansExaminersPrimary: Eldred, J. WoodrowAttorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassH04R 001/02AbstractThere is described an optical acoustic sensor that is pressure-compensated for operation in high-pressure environments such as the deep sea and that may be employed in multi-sensor arrays. The sensor includes an acoustically responsive diaphragm that is illuminated by light conducted through an optical fiber and that reflects the light back into the fiber. Light waves reflected by the diaphragm and fiber end interfere, and the resulting interference is conducted by the optical fiber to a to a photodetector and associated signal processing electronics such as a phase generated carrier demodulator. Pressure compensation is provided to equalize the static pressure on both sides of the diaphragm. Additionally, an array of sensors is described that employs optical time division multiplexing.Other References
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