REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSOR

摘要

A reflective element for directing an optical signal into a fiber optic sensor having an optical fiber includes a plane containing a sharply defined straight line that separates between a first area of low reflectivity and a second area of high reflectivity. The plane is disposed parallel to a free end surface of the optical fiber so that the free end surface intersects the line of the reflective element, whereby relative movement between the free end surface of the optical fiber and the line in response to a physical change sensed by the fiber optic sensor induces variations in an optical signal reflected by the reflective element through the optical fiber, which variations allow measurement of the physical change.

主权项

1. A reflective element for a fiber optic sensor based on a single optical fiber, said reflective element comprising a plane containing a sharply defined straight line that separates between a first area of low reflectivity and a second area of high reflectivity, said plane being disposed parallel to a free end surface of the optical fiber so that said free end surface intersects said edge, whereby relative movement between the free end surface of the optical fiber and the edge in response to a physical change sensed by the fiber optic sensor induces variations in an optical signal reflected by the reflective element through the optical fiber, said variations allowing measurement of the physical change.