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Title: Fiber optic hydrophone

Abstract

A miniature fiber optic hydrophone based on the principles of a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The hydrophone, in one embodiment, includes a body having a shaped flexible bladder at one end which defines a volume containing air or suitable gas, and including a membrane disposed adjacent a vent. An optic fiber extends into the body with one end terminating in spaced relation to the membrane. Acoustic waves in the water that impinge on the bladder cause the pressure of the volume therein to vary causing the membrane to deflect and modulate the reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the membrane surface and the cleaved end of the optical fiber disposed adjacent to the membrane. When the light is transmitted down the optical fiber, the reflected signal is amplitude modulated by the incident acoustic wave. Another embodiment utilizes a fluid filled volume within which the fiber optic extends.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Livermore, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869294
Patent Number(s):
5311485
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01H - MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
fiber; optic; hydrophone; miniature; based; principles; fabry-perot; interferometer; embodiment; shaped; flexible; bladder; defines; volume; containing; air; suitable; gas; including; membrane; disposed; adjacent; extends; terminating; spaced; relation; acoustic; waves; water; impinge; pressure; therein; vary; causing; deflect; modulate; reflectivity; cavity; formed; surface; cleaved; optical; light; transmitted; reflected; signal; amplitude; modulated; incident; wave; utilizes; fluid; filled; volume containing; amplitude modulated; membrane surface; fluid filled; embodiment utilizes; fabry-perot interferometer; spaced relation; optic fiber; acoustic wave; disposed adjacent; fiber optic; optical fiber; acoustic waves; cavity formed; suitable gas; reflected signal; fabry-perot cavity; containing air; shaped flexible; optic hydrophone; /367/

Citation Formats

Kuzmenko, Paul J, and Davis, Donald T. Fiber optic hydrophone. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Kuzmenko, Paul J, & Davis, Donald T. Fiber optic hydrophone. United States.
Kuzmenko, Paul J, and Davis, Donald T. Sat . "Fiber optic hydrophone". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869294.
@article{osti_869294,
title = {Fiber optic hydrophone},
author = {Kuzmenko, Paul J and Davis, Donald T},
abstractNote = {A miniature fiber optic hydrophone based on the principles of a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The hydrophone, in one embodiment, includes a body having a shaped flexible bladder at one end which defines a volume containing air or suitable gas, and including a membrane disposed adjacent a vent. An optic fiber extends into the body with one end terminating in spaced relation to the membrane. Acoustic waves in the water that impinge on the bladder cause the pressure of the volume therein to vary causing the membrane to deflect and modulate the reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the membrane surface and the cleaved end of the optical fiber disposed adjacent to the membrane. When the light is transmitted down the optical fiber, the reflected signal is amplitude modulated by the incident acoustic wave. Another embodiment utilizes a fluid filled volume within which the fiber optic extends.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record: