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:
Feb. 23, 1993
Filed:
May. 22, 1990
Bernd D Zimmermann, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Richard O Claus, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Kent A Murphy, Roanoke, VA (US);
David A Kapp, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US);
Center for Innovative Technology, Herndon, VA (US);
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a strain sensor. The strain sensor is comprised of an optical wave guide, a device for providing optical pulses to the optical wave guide and a device for sensing localized strain in the optical waveguide. The sensing device determines shifts in arrival times of the optical pulses at the sensing device that correspond to the localized strain. The apparatus includes a light source, a light detector, and a waveguide connecting the source with the detector. The apparatus also includes means for generating light pulses from the source through the waveguide and means for repeatedly propagating at least one of the light pulses in a closed loop. The light source detects arrival times of the light pulses.