Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung

Wilfried Walch

Gerhard Hohberg

Andreas Dorsel

A transmitting and receiving arrangement for fiber-optic sensors includes a first radiation source L1 having radiation which is conducted via an optical switch having a wavelength-dependent transmission or reflection filter into the fiber FA going to the sensor head. The radiation returning from the fiber is conducted via the optical switch to a first detector D1. The arrangement further includes: a second detector D2 which is permanently optically coupled into the radiation path of the first radiation source L1; and, a second radiation source L2, which is switched on alternately to the first radiation source L1 and both detectors D1, D2 are subjected to the radiation of this radiation source.

Radiating and receiving arrangement for a fiber-optic sensor having dual

The invention is directed to an optical switch for a sensor. The optical switch conducts radiation emitted from a radiation source into a fiber leading to the sensor and conducts radiation returning from this fiber onto an optoelectric receiver. The optical switch includes a filter having wavelength-dependent transmission and reflection characteristics as well as optical components for collimating or focusing. The optical components together with the filter define a component unit in the form of an acute angle optical switch. The optical switch also has a first beam splitter mounted downstream of the component for collimating the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The beam splitter splits off a component of the radiation emitted by the radiation source as a reference beam and the reference beam is guided via deflecting prisms and spacers to a second beam splitter. The second beam splitter geometrically superposes the reference beam onto the measurement beam returning from the fiber via the optical switch. An air gap is provided ahead of the second beam splitter for accommodating a movable diaphragm therein which alternately interrupts the measurement beam or the reference beam.

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Aalen, Germany

Wilfried Walch