Optical sensing devices

Patent 6590665 Issued on July 8, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 16, 2021. 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.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Active multipoint fiber laser sensor
Patent #: 5513913
Issued on: 05/07/1996
Inventor: Ball, et al.

Optical waveguide sensor arrangement having guided modes-non guided modes grating coupler
Patent #: 5641956
Issued on: 06/24/1997
Inventor: Vengsarkar, et al.

Fiber optic interferometric strain gauge assembly using an intensity ratio
Patent #: 5909273
Issued on: 06/01/1999
Inventor: Malvern

Optical sensor for detecting chemical substances dissolved or dispersed in water
Patent #: 6277330
Issued on: 08/21/2001
Inventor: Liu, et al.

Measurement of distributed strain and temperature based on higher order and higher mode Bragg conditions Patent #: 6278810
Issued on: 08/21/2001
Inventor: Sirkis, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Institut National d'Optique

Application

No. 810765 filed on 03/16/2001

US Classes:

356/480, Resonant cavity250/227.14, Condition responsive light guide (e.g., light guide is physically affected by parameter sensed which results in light conveyed to the photocell)356/477Using fiber or waveguide interferometer

Examiners

Primary: Kim, Robert H.
Assistant: Kiknadze, Irakli

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Merchant & Gould P.C.

International Class

G01B 009/02

Foreign Application Priority Data

2000-03-17 CA

Abstract

An optical sensor is provided. The sensor includes an optical fiber having a free extremity on which a polymer layer is deposited normal to the longitudinal axis. A light source injects a analytical light beam in the fiber, which is reflected by the polymer layer. The reflected beam is analyzed by a spectrum analyzer, which determines the thickness of the polymer layer based on the Fabry-Perot effect. This thickness is related to a substance to be detected. An optical nose made from a plurality of such sensors is also provided, and may be used to detected a variety of substances.