Fluorescent optical position sensor

Weiss, Jonathan D.

Title: Fluorescent optical position sensor

Abstract

A fluorescent optical position sensor and method of operation. A small excitation source side-pumps a localized region of fluorescence at an unknown position along a fluorescent waveguide. As the fluorescent light travels down the waveguide, the intensity of fluorescent light decreases due to absorption. By measuring with one (or two) photodetectors the attenuated intensity of fluorescent light emitted from one (or both) ends of the waveguide, the position of the excitation source relative to the waveguide can be determined by comparing the measured light intensity to a calibrated response curve or mathematical model. Alternatively, excitation light can be pumped into an end of the waveguide, which generates an exponentially-decaying continuous source of fluorescent light along the length of the waveguide. The position of a photodetector oriented to view the side of the waveguide can be uniquely determined by measuring the intensity of the fluorescent light emitted radially at that location.

Inventors:: Weiss, Jonathan D.

Issue Date:: 2005-11-15

Research Org.:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1175552

Patent Number(s):: 6965709

Application Number:: 10/437,876

Assignee:: Sandia Corporation

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01D - MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE

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G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
G01J1/58 - using luminescence generated by light

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01D - MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE
G01D5/3538 - {using a particular type of fiber, e.g. fibre with several cores, PANDA fiber, fiber with an elliptic core or the like}
G01D5/35348 - {using stimulated emission to detect the measured quantity}
G01D5/268 - {using optical fibres

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
G01F23/292 - Light {, e.g. infra-red or ultra-violet}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats


                    Weiss, Jonathan D. Fluorescent optical position sensor.  United States: N. p., 2005. 
        Web.

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                    Weiss, Jonathan D. Fluorescent optical position sensor.  United States.

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                    Weiss, Jonathan D. Tue .  
        "Fluorescent optical position sensor".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175552.

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@article{osti_1175552,

  title        = {Fluorescent optical position sensor},

  author       = {Weiss, Jonathan D.},

  abstractNote = {A fluorescent optical position sensor and method of operation. A small excitation source side-pumps a localized region of fluorescence at an unknown position along a fluorescent waveguide. As the fluorescent light travels down the waveguide, the intensity of fluorescent light decreases due to absorption. By measuring with one (or two) photodetectors the attenuated intensity of fluorescent light emitted from one (or both) ends of the waveguide, the position of the excitation source relative to the waveguide can be determined by comparing the measured light intensity to a calibrated response curve or mathematical model. Alternatively, excitation light can be pumped into an end of the waveguide, which generates an exponentially-decaying continuous source of fluorescent light along the length of the waveguide. The position of a photodetector oriented to view the side of the waveguide can be uniquely determined by measuring the intensity of the fluorescent light emitted radially at that location.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2005},

  month        = {11}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Impurity-doped fiber-optic shock position sensor
journal, January 1994

Weiss, J. D.
Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 12, Issue 10
https://doi.org/10.1109/50.337504

Fluorescent optical liquid-level sensor
journal, August 2000

Weiss, Jonathan D.
Optical Engineering, Vol. 39, Issue 8
https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1305539

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