Nutech Ventures

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Ut-battelle, Inc.

Ming Han

Weilin Hou

Guigen Liu

Matthew L Reinke

Qiwen Sheng

An in-line fiber-optic sensing element, a system, and methods for detecting strain using a fiber optic sensor are described that include using at least two chirped grating structures. In an implementation, an in-line fiber-optic sensing element that employs example techniques in accordance with the present disclosure includes an optically transmissive fiber including a core and an outer layer; a Fabry-Perot cavity defined by a portion of the optically transmissive fiber and two chirped fiber-Bragg grating structures, where the two chirped grating structures are separated and are configured to reflect light.

In-line fiber sensing, noise cancellation and strain detection

A fiber optic sensor, a process for utilizing a fiber optic sensor, and a process for fabricating a fiber optic sensor are described, where a double-side-polished silicon pillar is attached to an optical fiber tip and forms a Fabry-P&#xe9;rot cavity. In an implementation, a fiber optic sensor in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes an optical fiber configured to be coupled to a light source and a spectrometer; and a single silicon layer or multiple silicon layers disposed on an end face of the optical fiber, where each of the silicon layer(s) defines a Fabry-P&#xe9;rot interferometer, and where the sensor head reflects light from the light source to the spectrometer. In some implementations, the fiber optic sensor may include the light source coupled to the optical fiber, a spectrometer coupled to the optical fiber, and a controller coupled to the high-speed spectrometer.

Fiber-optic temperature and flow sensor system and methods

The present disclosure is directed to a fiber optic bolometer device. In an implementation, a fiber optic bolometer device includes an optical fiber and a silicon layer that comprises a Fabry-P&#xe9;rot interferometer. The silicon layer includes a first surface and a second surface. The fiber optic bolometer device includes a reflective dielectric film disposed over the first surface of the silicon layer where the reflective dielectric film is adjacent to an end face of the optical fiber. The fiber optic bolometer device also includes an absorptive coating disposed over the second surface of the silicon layer (e.g., the surface distal to the end face of the optical fiber).

Fiber optic bolometer

A fiber optic sensor, a process for utilizing a fiber optic sensor, and a process for fabricating a fiber optic sensor are described, where a double-side-polished silicon pillar is attached to an optical fiber tip and forms a Fabry-P&#xe9;rot cavity. In an implementation, a fiber optic sensor in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes an optical fiber configured to be coupled to a light source and a spectrometer; and a single silicon layer or multiple silicon layers disposed on an end face of the optical fiber, where each of the silicon layer(s) defines a Fabry-P&#xe9;rot interferometer, and where the sensor head reflects light from the light source to the spectrometer. In some implementations, the fiber optic sensor may include the light source coupled to the optical fiber; a spectrometer coupled to the optical fiber; and a controller coupled to the high speed spectrometer.

An in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor is disclosed. In an implementation, the in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor includes an optically transmissive fiber, a reflector, a microstructured fiber defining a channel therein for receiving a fluid, and a Fabry-Perot cavity in fluid communication with the microstructured fiber. The microstructured fiber can be retained between the optically transmissive fiber and the reflector. The Fabry-Perot cavity defined by a material and configured to receive a gas having an index of refraction that changes in a known way with temperature and pressure changes in fluid communication with the channel of the microstructured fiber. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a chamber defined between the optically transmissive fiber and the microstructured fiber for connecting in fluid communication with a vacuum/pressure source for changing pressure. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a sensor for determining an optical interferometric reflection spectrum associated with the Fabry-Perot cavity.

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Ming Han