Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Luna Innovations Inc.

Matthew S Wolfe

Mark Earl Froggatt

Kevin M Marsden

Brian Joseph Soller

Eric E Sanborn

Alexander K Sang

Example embodiments add an optical amplifier to a multi-channel, continuously swept OFDR measurement system, adjust amplified swept laser output power between rising and falling laser sweeps, and/or utilize portions of a laser sweep in which OFDR measurements are not typically performed to enhance the integrity of the OFDR measurement system, improve the performance and quality of OFDR measurements, and perform additional measurements and tests.

Methods and apparatus for OFDR interrogator monitoring and optimization

Example embodiments add an optical amplifier to an multi-channel, continuously swept OFDR measurement system, adjust amplified swept laser output power between rising and falling laser sweeps, and/or utilize portions of a laser sweep in which OFDR measurements are not typically performed to enhance the integrity of the OFDR measurement system, improve the performance and quality of OFDR measurements, and perform additional measurements and tests.

A hinged tool includes a first member; a second member pivotally connected to the first member at a pivot; and an optical fiber. The optical fiber is fixed to the first member at a load application region and fixed to at least one of the pivot and the second member at a location such that the optical fiber bends when the first member and the second member are pivoted with respect to one another. A method of using a hinged tool includes measuring fiber strain in an optical fiber fixed to the hinged tool, and determining at least one of tool strain applied to the hinged tool and a degree of pivoting of the hinged tool using the fiber strain.

Fiber optic sensing of tool strain or tool angle

A heterodyne optical signal analyzer (HOSA) permits accurate reconstruction of an optical input signal (Es) in the time domain. In one embodiment, a vector representation of the light is used to account for two polarization states of the optical signal. The components of a heterodyne optical signal analyzer (), including optical couplers (), all have errors and offsets. For example, optical power detectors () are very sensitive to changes in polarization of the optical signal (Es) and of the reference signal (Er). Several HOSA calibration procedures including detector calibration, vector calibration, and reference signal calibration are described.

Heterodyne optical spectrum analyzer

A fiber optic measurement device including an optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) performs polarization diversity detection without using a polarizing beam splitter.

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Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

Matthew S Wolfe