Optical Fiber Sensor for Measuring Physical Properties of Liquid

A physical property of a liquid or of any optical fiber is measured using optical fiber interferometer. A conductive material is disposed upon the surface of a region of a light transmitting optical fiber and the region having the conductive material is disposed in the liquid. Light energy is applie...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bobb, Lloyd C, White, Barbara J, Davis, Jon P
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
FIBER OPTICS
Fiber Optics and Integrated Optics
FIBER OPTICS TRANSMISSION LINES
INTERFEROMETRY
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
LIQUIDS
OPTICAL DETECTORS
OPTICAL INTERFEROMETERS
Optics
PAT-CL-250-227.19
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
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Description
Summary:A physical property of a liquid or of any optical fiber is measured using optical fiber interferometer. A conductive material is disposed upon the surface of a region of a light transmitting optical fiber and the region having the conductive material is disposed in the liquid. Light energy is applied to one end of the fiber and transmitted light is received at the other end of the fiber. Electrical energy is applied to the conductive material disposed upon the surface of the fiber to heat the region of the fiber and cause a change in the optical path length of the light transmitted through the fiber. The physical property of the liquid or optical fiber is determined in accordance with the change in the optical path length of the received light caused by applying the electrical energy to the conductive material. A series of short energy pulses is provided and the average phase change is determined. The conductive material is gold and it encircles the fiber. The gold may be disposed on the jacket of the fiber or the jacket may be removed before disposing the gold. Supersedes PAT-APPL-460 435, AD D015 052.