Optical sensor

摘要

An optical sensor (10) comprises an optical cavity defined by a dielectric body and responsive to one or more physical environmental conditions, and a waveguide (70) having a terminal end spaced apart from the optical cavity such that light is optically coupled from the terminal end of the waveguide (70) to the optical cavity. The waveguide (70) is arranged such that, in use, it is maintained at a first temperature that would not damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity when the dielectric body is maintained at a second temperature sufficient to damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity.

主权项

1. An optical sensor comprising:
an optical cavity defined by a dielectric body and responsive to one or more physical environmental conditions; a waveguide having a terminal end spaced apart from the optical cavity such that light is optically coupled from the terminal end of the waveguide to the optical cavity; and a collimator for collimating the light emitted from the waveguide; a spacer extending between the dielectric body at a proximal end of the spacer and towards the terminal end of the waveguide; the spacer arranged such that the distance between the terminal end of the waveguide and the optical cavity is sufficient such that, in use, the waveguide is maintained at a first temperature that would not damage the mechanical or optical properties of the waveguide, and the dielectric body is maintained at a second temperature, higher than the first temperature, that would be sufficient to damage the mechanical or optical properties of the waveguide; and an interrogator coupled to the waveguide and arranged to detect changes in the properties of the optical cavity.