Shape memory sensor

摘要

The invention relates to a sensor for measuring an environmental effect, comprising a sensor material having an internal stress, which sensor material is designed to at least partially relax under the influence of the environmental effect. The sensor further comprising a detection unit for indirectly or directly detecting said relaxation. The invention also relates to a waveguide, comprising a grating in at least a portion of the waveguide, which waveguide comprises a coating, the coating comprising a polymer that contains reversible crosslinks that can be broken by the environmental effect in such a way that the polymer changes shape. The invention further relates to a sensor system comprising a waveguide, a light source, and a photo-detector.

主权项

1. A sensor for measuring an environmental effect, comprising a waveguide having a core, the core having a grating in a segment of the core,
the waveguide further having a coating comprising a polymeric sensor material, the polymeric sensor material having internal mechanical stress as a consequence of being in a deformed shape, which sensor material is configured to at least partially relax under the influence of the environmental effect by which relaxation the material changes shape from the deformed shape to a memory shape, the sensor further comprising a detection unit for indirectly or directly detecting said relaxation,wherein the grating is a fiber bragg grating.