Optical microphone

Patent · Tue Jan 11 04:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:20013920

Veligdan, J T

An optical microphone includes a laser and beam splitter cooperating therewith for splitting a laser beam into a reference beam and a signal beam. A reflecting sensor receives the signal beam and reflects it in a plurality of reflections through sound pressure waves. A photodetector receives both the reference beam and reflected signal beam for heterodyning thereof to produce an acoustic signal for the sound waves. The sound waves vary the local refractive index in the path of the signal beam which experiences a Doppler frequency shift directly analogous with the sound waves.

• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 20013920
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
ACOUSTICS
BEAM SPLITTING
DESIGN
LASERS
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
PHOTODETECTORS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
REFRACTIVE INDEX
SOUND WAVES