Claims
- 1. An optical fiber sensor comprising:
a tubing, an optical fiber residing inside the tubing, and a membrane attached to the tubing; wherein the surface of the membrane is non-planar, smooth, and taut.
- 2. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane is convex as viewed from outside of the tubing.
- 3. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane is spherical.
- 4. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane is conical.
- 5. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane is of a wedge shape
- 6. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane is a part of an air-tight cavity, whereby the surface becomes resilient due to the air-cushion effect of the air-tight cavity.
- 7. The optical fiber sensor of claim 1, wherein said membrane is made of a partial surface of a whole spherical ball.
- 8. The optical fiber sensor of claim 7, wherein said spherical ball is solid.
- 9. The optical fiber sensor of claim 7, wherein said spherical ball is hollow.
- 10. A method for making an optical fiber sensor, wherein said sensor comprises a tubing, an optical fiber residing inside the tubing, and a membrane attached to the tubing; wherein the surface of the membrane is non-planar, smooth, and taut, the method comprising blowing a liquid-state material out of said tubing into a balloon-like shape; and solidifying said balloon-like shape.
- 11. The method of claim 10, including solidifying said balloon-like shape by applying heat.
- 12. The method of claim 10, including solidifying said balloon-like shape by ultra violet light exposure.
- 13. The method of claim 10, including solidifying said balloon-like shape by heating said liquid-state material until it becomes molten, wherein said balloon-like shape solidifies as it cools to a lower temperature.
- 14. The method of claim 10, wherein said liquid-state material comprises raw silicon rubber.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/935,368, titled “Low-Cost Fiber Optic Pressure Sensor,” filed Sep. 22, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
Government Interests
[0002] The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08935368 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Child |
10453346 |
Jun 2003 |
US |