High intensity fabry-perot sensor

Abstract

In a Fabry-Perot interferometer based sensor if insufficient light reflected from the sensor re-enters the fiber, the results from the Fabry-Perot interferometer-based sensor are compromised. Accordingly, a sensor assembly is provided that comprises an optical fiber having an optical axis, a lens in optical communication with the optical fiber, the lens having an optical axis and the lens capable of transmitting a beam of light, a reflective surface, the reflective surface spaced from the lens such that the beam of light transmitted from the lens is capable of reflecting from the reflective surface back to the lens, and an alignment device capable of aligning the beam of light transmitted from the lens substantially perpendicular with the reflective surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 662,202 filed on Mar. 16, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 774,289 filed on Feb. 17, 2006, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to sensors for measuring the absolute length of a gap in a Fabry-Perot interferometer, and more particularly to a Fabry-Perot sensor that provides a more intense signal. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The use of Fabry-Perot interferometers to measure the absolute length of a gap is known. Use of a ball lens to collimate light shining on a Fabry-Perot interferometer is needed for sensors measuring gaps exceeding about 30 μm in order to maintain a uniform optical path length for all light rays and to assure a high percentage of the light reflected by the interferometer is captured b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]FIG. 2 is a concept drawing of sensor assembly with ball lens and Fabry-Perot gap, wherein the two surfaces of the window are plane parallel (where one

Problems solved by technology

As a result, if insufficient light reflected from the sensor re-enters the fiber, the results from the Fabry-Perot interferometer-based sensor are compromised.

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