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:
Jan. 15, 1985
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1982
Arthur R Nelson, Stow, MA (US);
Aetna Telecommunications Laboratories, Westboro, MA (US);
Abstract
An optical sensing system for detecting a physical parameter such as acceleration, temperature or pressure through parameter induced motion of an optical element in a fiber optic path. The motion of the optical element varies the light transmission through the path in which the optical element defines the relationship between motion and alteration in light transmission. In one embodiment the optical element includes a focusing system between an input and an output optical fiber to result in an increase in sensitivity by enhancement of the effect of motion of the optical element of the amount of light transmitted to the output fiber. The optical element may include or be attached to a mass to provide acceleration sensitivity for use in geophysical exploration. In addition, the optical element can be adapted to provide acceleration sensitivity in one direction in combination with insensitivity to acceleration in an orthogonal direction of particular use in such geophysical exploration. The optical element operates either by refraction or reflection and motion is imparted directly to the refracting or reflecting element or to an aperture applied thereto. The linearity between motion of the optical element and amount of light attenuation can be adjusted by the geometry of the system to provide a high degree of linearity or not as desired. The transmitted light can be detected in a ratioing mode in order to avoid effects of variation in light source intensity.