OPTICAL POTENTIOMETER AND MANIPULATOR

摘要

Disclosed is an optical potentiometer (101) that includes a metal pipe (114) having a closed end, a metal pipe (112) into which the metal pipe (114) is inserted so that the metal pipe (114) is movably guided in the longitudinal direction thereof, a light source (122) and an optical fiber (118) which supply light to the interior of the metal pipe (114), and an optical power meter (124) which detects changes in the amount of light reflected from the interior of the metal pipe (114). The metal pipe (114) is provided with a slit (132) extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. The optical power meter (124) detects the changes in the amount of light reflected from the interior of the metal pipe (114) caused by changes in the opening amount of the slit (132) due to the movement of the metal pipe (114) in the longitudinal direction thereof.