| 摘要 |
OPTICAL FIBER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR AN OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR of the Invention A device for distributing signals within a sensor used for monitoring the presence of a specific analyte in a composition by means of an analytesensitive indicator molecule is disclosed. The sensor system includes a signalgenerating component generates a first optical of a wavelength that is and a signal-measuring component. In one preferred embodiment, the signalgenerating component generates a first optical signal of a wavelength that is sensitive to the indicator molecule, and a second optical signal of a wavelengththat is predictably altered by the indicator molecule. The distribution system includes lengths of optical fiber, a dividing connector, a mixing connector, a transmitting connector and a tip connector. The dividing connector connects at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals. At least one of the intermediate signals corresponds to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponds tothe wavelength of the second signal. The mixing connector connects a mixing fiber to the intermediate fibers to thereby receive the intermediate signals andblend them into a single mixed signal. The transmitting connector connects a transmitting fiber to the mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of the mixedsignal, and connects a comparison fiber to the mixing fiber to transmitting a portion of the mixed signal to the signal-measuring component. The tip connector connects the transmitting fiber to the sensor tip to thereby transmit a portion of the mixed signal to the sensor tip, and connects an indicator fiber to the sensor tip to thereby transmit a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component. The intensity ofthe intermediate signal corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector. The intensity of the intermediate signals corresponding to the wavelength of the first signal are bonded by the necessity of transmitting intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system. |
