The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2013
Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc./safran Systemes D'atterrissage Canada Inc., Ajax, ON, CA;
Robert Kyle Schmidt, Cheltenham, GB;
Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc./Safran Systemes D'Atterrissage Canada Inc., Ajax, Ontario, CA;
Abstract
A proximity sensor for detecting non-contact detection of a target using a fiber optic strain sensor and a system for operating multiple such proximity sensors is disclosed. The proximity sensor includes an optic fiber that has an optic fiber strain sensor that is coupled to a mass that moves in response to the target. The mass can be a magnet that moves when a ferrous target is within the magnetic field of the magnet causing the magnet to move and apply strain to the optic fiber strain sensor. The optic strain sensor can include periodic variation in the refractive index of the optic fiber, such as a fiber Bragg grating. The proximity sensor can include a second fiber optic sensor that is sensitive to temperature or a second fiber optic strain sensor coupled to a second magnet that operates in opposition to the first magnet. A system coupling multiple proximity sensors can include an interrogator that has an optical power source and a detector, each coupled to a processor. The processor compares frequency information from the proximity sensor to a threshold to determine whether a target is in proximity to its corresponding proximity sensor.