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US4928005A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multiple-point temperature sensor using optic fibers

Assignee: Thales SA
•
Filing: 1989-01-24
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Granted: 1990-05-22
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Expires: 2009-01-24
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Abstract

Abstract A multiple-point temperature sensor, with optic fibers, uses the effect of variation in the birefringence in a birefringent optic fiber as a function of temperature. This sensor has a plane polarized, wide spectrum source coupled to a monomode optic fiber for preservation of polarization, along one of the neutral axes, with weak coupling points distributed along this fiber. A polarizer at 45° to the neutral axes of the fiber is placed at the output of this sensing fiber. The output radiation is analyzed by spectroscopy, for example in a Michelson interferometer, capable of being swept, associated with a detector. The interferometer shifts needed to detect the extreme values of the transmission function are measurements of temperature deviations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Herve Lefevre
  • 👤 Jean-Pierre Bettini
  • 👤 Serge Botti
  • 👤 Marc Turpin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/32; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/344

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
A multiple-point temperature sensor using optic fibers, comprising: a wide band optical source, of the pulse-modulated, plane polarized, super-luminescent diode type; A birefringent, monomode, sensing optic fiber on which there have been created localized, weak coupling points, spaced out along the fiber, the input face of which is coupled to the source, the polarization axis of the source being aligned with a neutral axis of the fiber; polarization means coupled to the output face of the fiber, to align the polarizations of the waves transmitted by the fiber (and make their interference possible); a device for spectroscopic analysis, coupled to the output of the polarization means, to analyse the radiation transmitted and to form the transmission function of the sensor; and processing means which, using the transmission function, extract the measurements of the temperatures of the segments of fibers between coupling points
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
A multiple-point temperature sensor using optic fibers, comprising: a wide band optical source, of the pulse-modulated, plane polarized, super-luminescent diode type; A birefringent, monomode, sensing optic fiber on which there have been created localized, weak coupling points, spaced out along the fiber, the input face of which is coupled to the source, the polarization axis of the source being aligned with a neutral axis of the fiber; polarization means coupled to the output face of the fiber, to align the polarizations of the waves transmitted by the fiber (and make their interference possible); a device for spectroscopic analysis, coupled to the output of the polarization means, to analyse the radiation transmitted and to form the transmission function of the sensor; and processing means which, using the transmission function, extract the measurements of the temperatures of the segments of fibers between coupling points
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the polarization means are formed by a fiber polarizer, directly coupled to the sensing fiber with an axis at 45° to the neutral axis of the sensing fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 64 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the polarization means comprise a polarization preserving optic fiber coupled to the output face of the sensing fiber, its axes being oriented at 45° to the axes of birefringence of the sensing fiber, and an output polarizer, coupled to the polarization preserving fiber, with an axis that is the same as a neutral axis of this fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the localized coupling points are created on the fiber by elastic torsion and then local heating which relaxes the torsion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the device for analysis by spectroscopy is a Michelson interferometer, one returning mirror of which can be shifted along the optical axis of the radiation which it receives.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coupling points are evenly spaced out on the sensing fiber.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4699513A Cited
US4867565A Cited
GB2189880A Cited
US4861979A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-05-21 1993-11-20 1994-05-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-05-21 1997-11-20 1998-05-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-05-21 2001-11-20 2002-05-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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