Optical sensor probe information system

Abstract

Various embodiments of an optical sensor system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the optical sensor system includes an optical probe assembly having a probe assembly optical connector, an optical pathway, and an optical probe having a sensing element in thermal communication with an object to be measured. The optical probe is configured to emit an optical response signal in response to an optical excitation signal. The optical probe assembly further includes a data element including information representative of the optical probe assembly. A communication mechanism is provided that is configured to convey information representative of the optical probe assembly from the data element to a converter. The converter is configured to determine a characteristic of the object to be measured based on the information representative of the optical probe assembly conveyed from the data element and at least a portion of the optical response signal.

Description

OPTICAL SENSOR PROBE INFORMATION SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No 63 / 593,617 - entitled “Optical Sensor Probe Information System” filed on October 27, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein, following generally relates to optical sensors and, more particularly, information systems for optical sensor probes.BACKGROUND

[0002] Optical sensors are used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to the measurement of temperature, strain, pressure, position, distance, plasma intensity, ion energy, gas concentration, gas temperature, gas flow, chemical concentrations, gas species and the like, as well as the distribution and / or uniformity of such characteristics. Optical sensors have the advantage that they are immune to radio-frequency energy and high magnetic fields which is particularly advantageous in applications related to semiconductor manufacturing (for example to measure temperature and position of wafers, electrostatic chucks, shower heads and other components in the radio-frequency environments inside and around wafer processing chambers), high voltage environments, heating and curing, and test and measurement. Another advantage is the opportunity to physically separate the sensing element from the rest of the measurement system, for example, to allow characterization of very high temperature objects or moving / rotating objects, such as turbine blades; or to reduce the impact, for example thermal impact, of the measurement system on the object or system to be measured.

[0003] Optical sensor systems typically include an optical probe assembly including a fiber optic or other optical pathway configured to direct light from an environment or object to be sensed / measured or from sensing material(s) to a converter to determine one or more characteristics of the object, environment, or sensing material(s). These optical probe assemblies typically include an optical probe that may optically sample the environment and / or the sensing material(s). Insome cases, the sensing material(s) may be part of the optical probe while, in other cases, the optical probe and the sensing material(s) may be separate. In some cases, the optical probe assembly may include an optical connector and in some cases a separate fiber optic or other optical pathway may be used to optically connect the optical probe or optical probe assembly to the converter.

[0004] In some optical sensor systems, the optical fiber or other optical pathway may also direct light (a.k.a. an “optical excitation signal”) to the environment, object, and / or sensing material(s), for example to excite the sensing material(s) in the environment or to excite the sensing material(s), resulting in emission of light (a.k.a. an “optical excitation response signal”) from the environment or the sensing material(s) that is representative of one or more characteristics of the environment or the sensing material(s). For example, an optical sensor system may include an optical pump source (e.g., a laser or LED), whose emission is directed through the optical pathway to an optical probe containing a sensing material such as a phosphor, thereby exciting the phosphor to emit light. As the excited phosphor emits light, the temperature of the phosphor may be determined by observing one or more characteristics or changes in characteristics of the emitted light. The observed characteristics are used to determine the temperature of the environment or object to be measured.

[0005] The converter typically has at least two functional sections. The first section is an analysis section that generates the optional optical pump light (e.g., the optical excitation signal) and detects and analyzes the emitted light (e.g., the optical excitation response signal) and determines a sensed value. The second section is the power and communication section that provides power to the analysis section and supports one- or two-way communication to / from the analyzer section. In various embodiments these two sections may be physically separate or may be configured in the same enclosure, same circuit board or the like.

[0006] In many situations, optical sensor systems do not directly measure the desired characteristic(s), but instead measure a property of the environment or sensing material(s) that is related to, or proportional to, the characteristic. For example, in some optical temperature sensors, the time decay of thephosphorescence from the phosphor sensing element is dependent on temperature and a calibration between time decay and temperature may be determined and stored in the converter to convert time decay to a temperature value.

[0007] This approach has been successfully used in the production of many different types of optical sensor systems with the use of a single calibration curve for product families (known as "batch calibration”), or by individually matching calibration curves with the optical probe or optical probe assembly, (known as “matched calibration”). A characteristic of the batch calibration approach is that an upper limit is imposed on the system accuracy and measurement uncertainty based on the manufacturing capability of the optical probe assembly, the sensing material(s) and the converter as well as variations introduced in the optical path between the two. These variations may result in decreased reproducibility of the measured value between different probe assemblies, converters and other components that are nominally the same.

[0008] On the other hand, matched calibration systems can provide higher system accuracies and reduced uncertainty but are limited by the fact that the optical probes, the sensing elements, and the converter are not interchangeable, normally limiting the appeal of this approach. The non-interchangeable aspect of matched calibration systems imposes manufacturing challenges for the optical sensor system, for example in some cases requiring the converter and optical probe assembly to be manufactured physically together to generate the individual calibration curve and load it into the mating converter. In some cases, this may also apply to all or portions of the optical path between the two, for example a fiber optic cable and optional fiber optic extension cable.

[0009] The non-interchangeable aspect of matched calibration systems may also impose supply chain and manufacturing challenges for systems incorporating the optical sensor system. For example, this approach may make it difficult to store and / or manufacture sub-systems that separately incorporate the optical probe, optical probe assembly and / or converter in different locations, because of the need to match each optical probe or assembly to its specific converter. In many cases, converters may have a plurality of channels, further increasing this challenge sincethe optical probes or optical probe assemblies may not be interchangeable and each must be connected to a specific channel of the converter.

[0010] The optical probe or optical probe assembly in many optical sensor systems needs to be replaced more frequently than the converter, for example, because parts of it are etched or consumed, or become coated. A related situation is the case where a new optical probe or optical probe assembly is desired to be used with an existing converter. In both cases, the calibration curve of the original optical probe or optical probe assembly may not be the same as that of the replacement, resulting in a decrease in the system accuracy and an increase in measurement uncertainty.

[0011] It is an object of the embodiments described herein to address the abovenoted concerns by providing improved systems and methods for matched calibration optical sensor systems.SUMMARY

[0012] Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an optical sensor system that enables information specific to the optical probe assembly to be determined and provided to a convertor to which the optical probe assembly is optically connected. In this way, custom electro-optic connectors and / or separate opto-electronic modules for each optical probe can be avoided. Moreover, various embodiments are described which can be selected and utilized to suit a particular application, environment, manufacturing process, or usage scenario.

[0013] In one embodiment, the optical sensor system comprises an optical probe assembly comprising at least one optical probe, wherein the optical probe is configured to provide an optical response signal representative of a least one characteristic to be measured, at least one data element including system information representative of the optical probe assembly, at least one converter comprising at least one detector configured to receive at least a portion of the optical response signal from the optical probe and to provide at least one signal representative of the optical response signal, at least one reader and at least one communication mechanism configured to convey the system informationrepresentative of the optical probe assembly from the data element to the converter. The converter may be configured to determine the characteristic to be measured based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the optical probe assembly and at least a portion of the signal representative of the optical response signal. The data element may comprises at least in part a non-volatile data element. The converter may further comprise at least one light source configured to emit at least one optical excitation signal. The characteristics to be measured may include temperature, strain, pressure, position, distance, plasma intensity, ion energy, gas concentration, gas temperature, gas flow, chemical concentrations, and gas species.

[0014] The communication mechanism may comprise optically readable devices such as optical bar codes and Quick Response (QR) codes. When provided as such, the communication mechanism is operative to (i) provide at least one optically readable device, (ii) encode the system information representative of the optical probe assembly onto the optically readable device; (iii) provide at least one optical scanner, (iv) read the system information representative of the optical probe assembly on the optically readable device using the optical scanner, (v) configure a communication path between the optical scanner and the converter, and (vi) convey the system information representative of the optical probe assembly to the converter via the communication path. The converter may comprises the optical scanner, and the optical scanner may be separate from the converter.

[0015] In some embodiments, the communication mechanism comprises (i) storing the system information representative of the optical probe assembly on the data element, (ii) configuring at least one wired communication path between the data element and the reader, (iii) conveying the system information representative of the optical probe assembly via the wired communication path from the data element to the reader; and (iv) conveying the system information representative of the optical probe assembly from the reader to the converter. The data element may be provided as a memory card, a SD card, a mini SD card, a micro SD card, or a USB flash drive. The wired communication path protocol may include SPI, USB, EtherCAT, Ethernet, I2C, UART, Modbus, 4-20mA, internet protocol (IP), ortransmission control protocol (TCP), or other protocols. The communication mechanism may include wirelessly readable devices, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) chips, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards.

[0016] In some embodiments, the communication mechanism is operative to (i) provide a wirelessly readable device, (ii) encode the system information representative of the optical probe assembly onto the wirelessly readable device, (iii) provide at least one wirelessly readable device reader, (iv) read the system information representative of the optical probe assembly on the wirelessly readable device using the wirelessly readable device reader, (v) configure a communication path between the wirelessly readable device reader and the converter, and (vi) convey the system information representative of the optical probe assembly to the converter via the communication path. The converter may comprises the wirelessly readable device reader. In some embodiments, the communication mechanism is additionally configured to convey system information from the converter to the data element.

[0017] In some embodiments, configuration of the communication path between the wirelessly readable device reader and the converter comprises configuration of a wired communication path. In other embodiments, configuration of the communication path between the wirelessly readable device reader and the converter comprises configuration of a wireless communication path.

[0018] In some embodiments, the communication mechanism comprises (i) storing the system information representative of the optical probe assembly on the data element, (ii) configuring a wireless communication path between the data element and the converter; and (iii) conveying the system information representative of the optical probe assembly from the data element to the converter via the wireless communication path. The wireless communication path may include Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth, and infrared communication protocols.

[0019] In some embodiments, the optical sensor system may further include at least one extension cable, wherein the system information representative of the optical probe assembly comprises at least some information representative of theextension cable. The extension cable may include at least one extension cable data element configured to store information representative of the extension cable. The communication mechanism may also obtain and provide the information representative of the extension cable from the extension cable data element to the converter.

[0020] In some embodiments, the converter comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises at least one optical probe assembly and at least one data element, wherein the converter is configured to enable communication from the data element associated with the corresponding at least one optical probe assembly for each of the plurality of channels to the converter.

[0021] In other embodiments, the optical probe assembly comprises a first optical probe assembly and a second optical probe assembly, wherein the first optical probe assembly and the second optical probe assembly are configured to provide a first optical response signal and a second optical response signal respectively, wherein at least one of the first optical response signal and the second optical response signal are representative of at least one characteristic to be measured. In this embodiment, the data element comprises a first data element and a second data element, wherein the first data element includes system information representative of the first optical probe assembly and the second data element includes system information representative of the second optical probe assembly. The detector may include a first detector and a second detector configured to receive at least a portion of the first optical response signal and the second optical response signal from the first and second optical probes respectively, and to provide at least one signal representative of the first and second optical response signals respectively. The communication mechanism may be configured to convey the system information representative of the first optical probe assembly from first data element to the converter, and the system information representative of the second optical probe assembly from second data element to the converter, wherein the converter is configured to determine the first characteristic to be measured by the first probe assembly, based on at least a portion of the system information representative of thefirst optical probe assembly and at least a portion of the signal representative of the first optical response signal, and the second characteristic to be measured by the second probe assembly based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the second optical probe assembly and at least a portion of the signal representative of the second optical response signal. In some embodiments, the converter comprises at least one slot configured to receive the data element.

[0022] In other embodiments, the optical temperature sensor system includes at least one optical probe assembly comprising at least one optical probe having at least one sensing element positioned therein, wherein the sensing element is in thermal communication with at least one object to be measured and is configured to emit at least one optical response signal. The data element may be provided as a non-volatile data element including system information representative of the optical probe assembly. The optical temperature sensor system may further include at least one converter comprising at least one light source configured to emit at least one optical excitation signal, at least one detector configured to receive at least a portion of the optical response signal from the optical probe and to provide at least one signal representative of the optical response signal, at least one reader, at least one optical pathway. The optical pathway may be configured to convey at least a portion of the optical excitation signal from the converter to the sensing element and at least a portion of the optical excitation response signal from the sensing element to the converter. The optical sensor system may also include at least one communication mechanism configured to convey the system information representative of the optical probe assembly from the data element to the converter, wherein the converter is configured to determine a temperature of the object to be measured based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the optical probe assembly and at least a portion of the signal representative of the optical response signal.

[0023] In various embodiments, the system information representative of the optical probe assembly includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a calibration curve, a calibration equation, one or more calibration coefficients, a calibration look-up table, one or more temperature compensation factors orequations, an algorithm for performing calculation or conversion of optical data to desired measured values and / or one or more factors for such algorithms, one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize a temperature calculation for a specific probe, a pointer that points to information stored elsewhere, a serial number or other unique identifier of the optical probe assembly, the minimum and / or range or ranges to be measured by the optical probe, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe mount, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe or optical probe assembly, a date of manufacture, a date of first use of the optical probe, a location of a manufacturing site for the optical probe, a list of compatible converter equipment for the optical probe, the time that the optical probe has been in use, and the specifications of the probe.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 A shows a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an optical sensing system.

[0026] FIG. 1 B shows a partial cross-section of a temperature sensor system, according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 1 C shows a detail of the optical pathway of the embodiment of a temperature sensor system shown in FIG. 1 B.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a connection between a converter and an optical probe assembly with an integrated data element.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a connection between a converter and an optical probe assembly with a data element attached to a connector element.

[0030] FIG. 4A shows an end view of an embodiment of a multi-channel converter, each channel having a connector.

[0031] FIG. 4B shows an end view of an embodiment of a multi-channel converter, each channel having a connector and an adjacent slot.

[0032] FIG. 4C shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a connection made between an optical probe assembly and a channel of the multi-channel converter shown in FIG. 4A, with an antenna positioned to read data from an inserted data element.

[0033] FIG. 4D shows an end view of an embodiment of a multi-channel converter, wherein there are more channels than slots.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a start-up routine for a connected optical probe assembly.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical sensing system using a separate device as a reader.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical sensing system using a machine-readable code tagged to the optical probe assembly, the code being readable by the converter.

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical sensing system using a machine-readable code tagged to the optical probe assembly, the code being readable by a separate device, coupled to the converter via a network connection.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical sensing system using a machine-readable code tagged to the optical probe assembly, the code being readable by a separate device, coupled to the converter via network connections to an intermediate entity.

[0039] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a connection made between an optical probe assembly and a channel of the multi-channel converter shown in FIG. 4A, using a secure digital memory card inserted into a corresponding slot.

[0040] FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a connection made between an optical probe assembly and a separate reader device using a secure digital memory card attached to a tagged probe assembly.

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical probe assembly having a wireless transmitter and power source to wirelessly transmit data from the probe assembly to the converter.

[0042] FIG. 13 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensing system as shown in FIG. 1 A with an extension cable added to the optical probe assembly.

[0043] FIG. 14 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensing system configured for IR spectroscopy.

[0044] FIG. 15 shows various views of the attributes of an example embodiment of a fiber Bragg grating used for sensing applications.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise expressly stated, in the drawings the sizes, positions, etc., of components, features, elements, etc., as well as any distances therebetween, are not necessarily to scale, and may be exaggerated for clarity. Likewise, values and durations shown in graphical figures, (such as graphs of signal intensity over time), are not necessarily to scale. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thus, the same or similar numbers may be described with reference to other drawings even if they are neither mentioned nor described in the corresponding drawing. Also, even elements that are not denoted by reference numbers may be described with reference to other drawings.

[0046] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0047] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. As such, the singular forms “a,”“an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0048] It should be recognized that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Unless indicated otherwise, terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, one coupler could be termed a “first coupler” and similarly, another coupler could be termed a “second coupler”, or vice versa.

[0049] Unless indicated otherwise, spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “beneath,” “lower,” “above,” and “upper,” “opposing,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature, as illustrated in the figures. It should be recognized that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if an object in the figures, is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. An object may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly. A set of reference axes (e.g., X, Y, Z), directions, or coordinates, and the rotation around them (e.g., 0X, 0Y, 0Z) may be included in the figures for the purpose of orienting the reader to facilitate understanding of the figures and the specification, and do not necessarily indicate that any particular feature or element is aligned with, or is orthogonal to, any other feature or element.

[0050] The paragraph numbers used herein are for organizational purposes only, and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. It will be appreciated that many different forms, embodiments and combinations are possible without deviating from the teachings of this disclosure and so this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the example embodimentsset forth herein. Rather, these examples and embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0051] The embodiments described herein relate to the equipment, system configurations, and methods for distributed communication of system information between an optical probe (and / or optical probe assembly) and a converter and optionally other elements used to monitor, control or communicate with various components associated with the test or use environment. In various embodiments, the communicated system information may be used to support a matched calibration type of system, as described herein, resulting in optical sensing systems capable of improved accuracy and reduced uncertainty in measured values from one optical probe assembly to the next and from one optical sensing system to the next.

[0052] In various embodiments, system information may include, but is not limited to, calibration curve(s), calibration equations or functions, calibration coefficients that define calibration curve(s), calibration look-up table(s), for example describing the relationship between the measured value or values and the desired measured value or values, however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and in other embodiments, the system data may include other information. For example, the system information may include, but is not limited to, additional optical probe assembly or optical probe information such as a serial number or other unique identifier(s) of the optical probe, the minimum and / or range or ranges to be measured by the optical probe or optical probe assembly, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating ranges of the optical probe mount, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating temperature range of the optical probe or optical probe assembly, the date of manufacture of the optical probe, the location of manufacture of the optical probe, a list of compatible converter equipment, time (for example in hours) that the optical probe has been in use, or the like. In various embodiments operating ranges may include a variety of environmental characteristics such as temperature, pressure, humidity, constituents of a surrounding atmosphere (for example corrosive or toxic environments) and the like. The system information may also include information related to how the converterprocesses and calculates a desired measured value or values, for example one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the calculation of the desired value values from the measured value or values. The system information may also include a pointer or other reference (for example a URL or other address) that points to information stored elsewhere (for example in the converter, a web site, the cloud, an app or the like).

[0053] For example in the case of an optical temperature probe, system information may include, but is not limited to, the minimum and / or maximum allowable temperature ranges to be measured by the optical temperature probe, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating temperature range of the optical probe mount, the optical temperature probe calibration curve, one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the temperature calculation for a specific temperature probe or temperature probe assembly from the measured value, for example, a value or range for the optical excitation signal intensity, the optical excitation response signal intensity the decay time and / or other parameters.

[0054] In various embodiments, the communication of system information may be from the optical probe assembly to the converter, however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and in other embodiments the communication of system information may also be from the converter to the optical probe assembly, to and / or from the optical probe to other equipment and then to the converter or to and / or from the converter to other equipment and then to the optical probe assembly. In various embodiments, system information communicated from the converter to the optical probe assembly may include any or all of the information described herein that may be communicated from the optical probe assembly to the converter, as well as additional information related to the converter or operational parameters during use, for example the time that the optical probe assembly and / or converter has been in use (for example in hours, days or the like), the maximum and / or minimum ranges that have been measured by the probe, a serial number or other unique identifier(s) of the converter, or the like. The contents of the system information are not a limitation of the principles described herein.

[0055] In various embodiments, a distributed communication system may include a separate data element configured to store, receive, convey, communicate, and / or transmit system data.

[0056] FIG. 1A shows an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 100, which includes at least one converter 110 and at least one optical probe assembly 125. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical probe assembly 125 includes at least one optical probe 120 that includes at least one optional mount 127 and at least one sensing element 124 disposed at the distal end of the optical probe 120 and placed in thermal communication with at least one object, surface or environment to be measured. The optical probe assembly 125 further includes at least one optical pathway 130 configured to direct light from the converter 110 to the optical probe 120 and / or from the optical probe 120 to the converter 110. The optical pathway 130 may be provided as a light guiding device such as an optical fiber, optical fiber bundle, optical waveguide, light guide, light pipe, or the like or any combination thereof. The optical probe assembly 125 may also include at least one probe assembly optical connector 122 (also referred to herein as the “probe-side connector 122” or the “connector 122”). The optical probe assembly 125 further includes at least one computing or storage device, or optically or electrically readable device, such as at least one data element 140 that is attached, coupled or otherwise connected to the probe-side connector 122 or the optical pathway 130, or integrated into or attached onto the probe-side connector 122 or other component of the optical probe assembly 125. In this embodiment, such a connection, attachment, or integration physically ties the data element 140 and its contents to a particular probe assembly 125, for example, to enable matched calibration when coupled to the converter 110 and the information contained by the data element 140 having been read. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the optical probe assembly 125 may include more than one data element 140.

[0057] In various embodiments the data element 140 may be configured as a non-volatile storage device with the ability to retain the system information without the application of power to data element 140. In such embodiments system information may be stored on data element 140 in one location or at one time, theprobe assembly 125 or parts of probe assembly 125 containing data element 140 may be moved to a different location or stored for a period of time without the application of power to data element 140 and subsequently communicate system information from data element 140 to converter 110.

[0058] The data element 140 may store various information representative of the optical probe assembly 125, the optical probe 120, the optical pathway 130, (also referred to herein as “system data” or “probe information or “system information”) or other information representative of the optical sensor system 100 (also referred to herein as “system information” or “system data”) that is encoded on the data element 140. As discussed herein, such information may include, but is not limited to, for example, calibration curve(s), calibration equations or functions, calibration coefficients that define calibration curve(s), compensation factors or curves (for example related to thermal effects as discussed herein) calibration look-up table(s), for example, describing the relationship between the measured value or values and the desired measured value or values, algorithms for performing calculation or conversion of optical data to desired measured values, factors for such algorithms and the like, one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the temperature calculation for the specific probe, a pointer that points to information stored elsewhere (for example in the converter, a web site, the cloud, an app or the like). however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and in other embodiments, the system data may include other information. For example, the system information may include, but is not limited to, additional optical probe assembly or optical probe information such as a serial number or other unique identifier(s) of the optical probe, the minimum and / or range or ranges to be measured by the optical probe or optical probe assembly, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe mount, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe or optical probe assembly, the date of manufacture, the date of first use, the location of manufacturing site of the optical probe, a list of compatible converter equipment, time (for example, in hours) that the optical probe has been in use, or the like. In various embodiments operating ranges may include a variety of environmental characteristics such as temperature, pressure, humidity, constituents of a surrounding atmosphere (forexample corrosive or toxic environments) and the like. The system data may also include information related to how the converter processes and calculates a desired measured value or values, for example, one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the calculation of the desired value values from the measured value or values. The system data may also include a pointer or other reference (for example, a URL or other address) that points to information stored elsewhere (for example, in the converter, a web site, the cloud, an app or the like).

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the converter 110 includes at least one converter-side optical connector 112 (also referred to herein as the “converter-side connector 112”, or the “connector 112”), which is configured to optically couple to the probe-side connector 122, thereby placing the optical pathway 130 in optical communication with the converter 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the converter 110 may include multiple converter-side connectors 112 to permit multiple optical probe assemblies 125 to be connected thereto in a multi-channel configuration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various types of connectors for optical systems may be utilized and in some cases connection systems may be utilized that do not include connectors or the optical pathway 130 and / or on the converter 110. In the single-channel converter embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the converter 110 includes at least one reader 150 that is configured to read system information, that is information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 or other components of the overall optical sensor system 100 from the data element 140 coupled to or otherwise associated with the optical probe assembly 125 that has been connected to the converter 110. When provided as such, in some embodiments, the data element 140 and the reader 150 together comprise and function as a communication mechanism configured to communicate (also referred to herein as “convey”) system information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 from the data element 140 to the converter 110 without passing through a connector or pathway that couples the optical probe assembly 125 to the converter 110 (e.g., the converter-side connector 112 and the probe-side connector 122).

[0060] In other embodiments, the communication mechanism may include various process steps that are used to configure the data element 140 and the reader 150 to operate. For example, in one embodiment, the communication mechanism may include storing the system information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 on the data element 140, configuring a wireless communication path between the data element 140 and the reader 150, and conveying the system information from the data element 140 to the reader 150 via the wireless communication path. So, the communication mechanism is configured to convey the system information to the converter 110 by storing the system information on the data element 140, configuring a wireless communication path between the data element 140 and the converter 110, and by conveying the system information from the data element 140 to the converter 110 via the wireless communication path.When configured as such, the converter 110 may determine at least one characteristic of the object to be measured 50 based on at least a portion of the system information (for example information representative of the optical probe assembly 125) and at least a portion of the signal representative of the optical response signal 165. In various embodiments, the wireless communication path may comprise Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared communications (described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 6).

[0061] As discussed below (and shown in FIG. 13 for optical sensing system 1300), in various embodiments, the optical sensing system 100 or 1300 may also include one or more optional extension cables 1310 to extend the length of the optical pathway 130, for example, an optional optical fiber with or without one or more optical connectors positioned between the optical probe 120 and the converter 110.

[0062] Referring back to FIG. 1A, the data element 140 may include one or more integrated circuits configured to store, receive and / or transmit probe and / or system information. For example, in some embodiments, the data element 140 may be a wirelessly readable device such as a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, an optically readable device (e.g., an optical bar code or a Quick Response (QR code)), a Subscriber Identity Module orSubscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, an eSIM (embedded-SIM) chip or card, a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), or the like or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, the data element 140 may also be a memory element (e.g., memory card), for example a SD card, mini SD card, micro SD card, a flash drive, or the like or any combination thereof. The specific type or configuration of the data element 140 may be chosen to suit particular applications and scenarios and these examples are not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments the data element 140 may be configured as a non-volatile storage device with the ability to retain the system information without the application of power to the data element 140.

[0063] The reader 150 may include one or more integrated circuits configured to store, receive and / or transmit system information, for example information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 or system 100. In various embodiments, the reader 150 may include at least one module or sub-system that is configured to interact with the data element 140 according to a particular mode, methodology or protocol, depending on the technology used by the data element 140. The reader 150 may be provided as an NFC reader, an RFID reader, an optical scanner, or a slot / port configured to receive a memory device such as an SD card, a micro SD card, a USB storage element, etc. It is understood that, in various embodiments, the term “reader” may include any component or system that is configured to store probe / system information, receive probe / system information and / or transmit probe / system information and thereby would include the requisite hardware and / or software to operate accordingly. In some applications a reader may be a connector.

[0064] In configurations where the data element 140 is provided as an NFC chip, the communication mechanism may be configured to, may be operable to, or may be operative to provide the NFC chip, encode the system information onto the NFC chip, provide at least one NFC reader, read the system information on the NFC chip using the NFC reader, configure at least one communication path between the NFC reader and the converter 110, and convey the system information to the converter 110 via the communication path. In some embodiments, the configuration of the communication path between the NFC reader and the converter 110 comprisesconfiguration of at least one wireless communication path. In other embodiments, the configuration of the communication path between the NFC reader and the converter 110 comprises configuration of at least one wired communication path. In some embodiments, the NFC reader may be separate from the converter 110. In various embodiments, the system information may be encoded or stored on the NFC chip by a system independent of the optical sensing system 100, however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure and in other embodiments the NFC reader associated with the controller 110 may be configured to encode or store system information on the NFC chip.

[0065] In configurations where the data element 140 is provided as at least one RFID chip, the communication mechanism may be operable to provide the RFID chip, encode the system information onto the RFID chip, provide at least one RFID reader, read the system information on the RFID chip using the RFID reader, configure at least one communication path between the RFID reader and the converter 110, and convey the system information to the converter 110 via the communication path. In some embodiments, the configuration of the communication path between the RFID reader and the converter 110 comprises at least one configuration of a wired communication path. In other embodiments, the configuration of the communication path between the RFID reader and the converter 110 comprises configuration of a wireless communication path. In some embodiments, the converter 110 comprises the RFID reader. In various embodiments, the system information may be encoded or stored on the RFID chip by a system independent of the optical sensing system 100, however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure and in other embodiments the RFID reader associated with the controller 110 may be configured to encode or store system information on the RFID chip.

[0066] In some embodiments, the communication mechanism is configured to convey the system information to the converter 110 via one of the optically readable devices (e.g., the optical bar code or the QR code listed above). In configurations where the data element 140 is provided as an optically readable device, the communication mechanism may be configured to, operable to, or operative toprovide the optically readable device, encode the system information onto the optically readable device 140, provide at least one optical scanner, read the system information on the optically readable device using the optical scanner, configure at least one communication path between the optical scanner and the converter 110, and convey the system information to the converter 110 via the communication path. The optical scanner may be integrated into the converter 110 or may be separate from the converter 110.

[0067] In other embodiments, the communication mechanism is configured to convey the system information to the converter 110 by storing the system information on the data element 140, configuring at least one wired communication path between the element 140 and the converter 110, and conveying the system information to the converter 110 from the data element 140 to the converter 110 via the wired communication path. The wired communication path may use SPI, USB, EtherCAT, Ethernet, I2C, UART, Modbus, 4-20mA, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP) or any other communication protocol.

[0068] In various embodiments, the converter 110 may contain non-volatile memory or means of information storage for storing system information, to maintain the system information in the converter 110 even if the power to the converter is cycled, without having to again convey the system information from the data element 140 to the converter 110 in case of a power outage or power cycling.

[0069] FIG. 1 B shows a schematic view of an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 190 including at least one converter 110 and an optical probe assembly 125. The optical probe assembly 125 includes a probe-side connector 122, an optical path 130, and at least one optical probe 120 configured to measure one or more characteristics of an object to be measured 50 (also referred to herein as the “object 50”). The probe-side connector 122 also includes a data element 140 as described above with respect to FIG. 1 A. The converter 110 includes at least one light source 218 configured to emit or otherwise provide at least one optical excitation signal 160 to the optical probe assembly 125 and to measure one or more properties or characteristics of an optical response signal 165 received from theoptical probe 120 in response to the optical excitation signal 160, and determine at least one characteristic of the object to be measured 50.

[0070] In various embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 1 C, the optical response signal 165 may include a portion identified as an “optical excitation response signal” 166 and / or a portion identified as an “optical excitation independent signal” 167 (though 166 and 167 are not shown in FIG. 1 B for clarity). The optical excitation response signal 166 is an optical signal that is generated or emitted (e.g., by the sensing element 124, as described herein) in response to the optical excitation signal 160. The optical excitation independent signal 167 may be present with or without the presence of or in response to the optical excitation signal 160.

[0071] In some embodiments, the object 50 may include a physical object such as a machine or instrument component having a surface (e.g., the surface 52). In other embodiments, the object 50 may represent an environment such as a portion or a volume of an environment to be sensed, for example a volume of a semiconductor processing chamber or the region surrounding the semiconductor processing chamber. As described herein, the optical probe 120 may include at least one sensing element 124 that is configured to sense, detect, or measure one or more characteristics of the object 50 or the surface 52. The sensing element 124 may be excited or partially excited by the optical excitation signal 160 and may emit an optical response signal 165 in response to the optical excitation signal 160, wherein the optical response signal 165 includes at least one optical excitation response signal representative of one or more characteristics of the object 50 or the surface 52. In other embodiments the sensing element 124 may emit an optical response signal 165 without the use or need of an optical excitation signal 160

[0072] The converter 110 is in optical communication with the probe 120 via the optical path 130, wherein the optical path 130 is configured to allow the optical response signal 165 to propagate to the converter 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical path 130 is provided as an optical fiber or an optical fiber bundle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. In other embodiments, the optical path 130 may comprise an optical pathway configured to allow the optical signals listed above to propagate through free space or acombination of free-space, optical fibers, waveguides, and various optical elements, such as refractive or reflective optical elements. In still other embodiments, the optical path 130 may also include any of a wide variety of optical elements operative to allow the optical excitation signal 160 to propagate to the optical probe 120.

[0073] In some embodiments, the converter 110 provides the optical excitation signal 160 to the optical probe 120 and receives and measures the returning optical response signal 165. In these embodiments, the optical response signal 165 may include one or more undesirable components, for example the optical excitation independent signal 167, which may be filtered out by the first optical element 220 or other optical elements, which may be provided as a filter, a dichroic filter or the like, such as a filter or a second optical element 210.

[0074] In the illustrated embodiment, the converter 110 includes at least one optional housing 202 with at least one light source 218, at least one detector 206, at least one first optical element 220, optionally at least one second optical element 210, optionally at least one third optical element 214, and optionally at least one fourth optical element 222 (shown as a lens), wherein the first optical element 220, the optional second optical element 210, the optional third optical element 214, the and the optional fourth optical element 222 are positioned in the housing 202 in optical communication with the optical path 130. Though only one housing 202, one light source 218, one detector 206, one first optical element 220, one second optional optical element 210, one third optional optical element 214, and one fourth optional optical element 222 are illustrated in FIG. 1 B, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the converter 110 may include any number of these devices or components.

[0075] In the illustrated embodiment, at least one optional power supply 226, at least one controller 228 and at least one optional display 230 are in electrical communication with the light source 218 and detector 206 by at least one communications link 224, though in some embodiments the power supply 226, the controller 228, and the display 230 may be mounted in or on the housing 202. In other embodiments, the controller 228 and the optional display 230 may be in wireless communication with the detector 206 and the light source 218. In otherembodiments, the power supply 226 may be separately provided or provided outside of the housing 202. Optionally, though not shown in FIG. 1 B, the controller 228 may be configured to provide a wired or wireless signal to additional equipment. In some embodiments, the detector 206 and the light source 218 may be optionally mounted to at least one substrate 204 or to the housing 202. In some embodiments, the controller 228 may include both control functions and processing functions as required for operation. For example, the controller 228 may be configured to drive the light source 218 to emit the optical excitation signal 160 to the probe 120 at wavelengths, intensities, and durations required for a particular function of the optical sensor system 190. The detector 206 is configured to receive at least a portion of the optical response signal 165, and to provide at least one signal or measurement data representative of the optical response signal 165. The controller 228 may be configured to gather the measurement data by sampling the detector 206 and any other detectors or devices (e.g., temperature measurement devices). Also, the controller 228 may be configured to separate the signal or measurement data representative of the optical response signal 165 into two or more components (e.g., the optical excitation response signal 166 and the optical excitation independent response signal 167).

[0076] The controller 228 is configured to calculate at least one object characteristic based on the optical response signal 165. The object characteristic may comprise an intensity or amplitude, a change in intensity or amplitude over a time period, an intensity decay rate, an optical power spectrum, or one or more portions of an optical power spectrum of the optical response signal 165 or the like. The controller 228 then can calculate an object characteristic based on at least one of the characteristics of the signal representative of the optical response signal 165.

[0077] In addition, the controller 228 may also be configured to perform any required calibration or compensation of various devices (e.g., the detector 206, the light source 218, and the like). In some embodiments, the controller 228 may be configured to process the measurement data received from the detector 206 and other measurement devices, compute any compensations or corrections or other processing functions to calculate final object temperature measurement results orother object characteristics. In other embodiments, the controller 228 may be configured to transmit any measurement data or results to other devices (e.g., displays, process equipment, and the like.)

[0078] In the illustrated embodiment, the first optical element 220 may be a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror. In the illustrated embodiment, the light source 218 may be configured to emit the optical excitation signal 160 that is directed to the optical path 130 by the dichroic mirror 220 and the fourth optical element 222. In some embodiments, the first optical element 220 may be configured to reflect the optical excitation signal 160 and allow the optical response signal 165 to propagate therethrough. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first optical element 220 may be a dichroic filter configured to reflect greater than about 90% or greater than about 95% of the optical excitation signal 160 from the light source 218 to the optical path 130 and allow greater than about 90% or greater than 95% of the optical response signal 165 to propagate therethrough toward the second mirror or third optical element 214 configured to direct the optical response signal 165 toward the detector 206.

[0079] In various embodiments, though not shown in FIG. 1 B, the first optical element 220 may be provided as an optical splitter (e.g., a bulk optical beamsplitter, fiber optic splitter, bifurcated optical fiber bundle, or optical circulator) instead of a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of a wide variety of optical arrangements may be used to direct the optical excitation signal 160 to the optical path 130 and to allow the optical response signal 165 to propagate to the detector 206. Though only a single detector 206 is shown in FIG. 1 B, any number or variety of detectors, or detector arrays, or spectrometers may be used, depending on the wavelengths of the optical response signal 165 to be measured.

[0080] In various embodiments (though not shown in FIG. 1 B), at least one temperature sensor (thermocouple, thermistor, second photodiode, etc.) may be positioned in thermal communication with the detector 206 and configured to provide information regarding the temperature of the detector 206 (also referred to herein as a “system temperature”) that may be used to identify and correct for temperature-based effects of the detector 206. In various embodiments at least one temperature sensor (thermocouple, thermistor, second photodiode, etc.) may be positioned in thermal communication with one or more portions of the amplification and / or processing circuit and configured to provide information regarding the temperature of the amplification and processing circuit that may be used to identify and correct for temperature-based effects of the controller 228 or its amplification and / or processing circuits. In addition, in other embodiments, at least one temperature sensor (thermocouple, thermistor, second detector, etc.) may be positioned in thermal communication with the controller 228 and / or within the optional housing 202 and configured to provide information regarding the temperature of the controller 228 and / or the temperature within the optional housing 202 that may be used to identify and correct for temperature-based effects of the controller 228 or its amplification and / or processing circuits.

[0081] In the illustrated embodiment, at least one filter 210 (also referred to as optional second optical element 210) may be positioned in optical communication with the detector 206, for example, between the detector 206 and the sensing element 124 in order to prevent stray light (or light having wavelengths not intended for detection) from reaching the detector 206. In various embodiments, the filter 210 may be a longpass filter configured to transmit about at least 90% or at least about 95% of light intended for detection to the detector 206. The filter 210 may be provided as any combination of shortpass, bandpass, notch, or neutral density filters. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of a wide variety of filters having a wide variety of performance specifications can be used. Optionally, no filters may be used.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a portion of another example embodiment of an optical sensor system 200, including at least one converter 110 and at least one optical probe assembly 125. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical probe assembly 125 includes the optical pathway 130 (only a portion of which is shown for clarity and ease of illustration), at least one data element 140, and one example configuration of a probe-side connector 122. In this example, the data element 140 is a wirelessly readable remotely-powered non-volatile data element such as an NFC chip or anRFID chip or the like. The converter 110 includes at least one reader 150 configured to read information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 or other components of the overall optical sensor system 200 from the data element 140. In the case of NFC or RFID chips, the reader 150 may be configured to radiate energy to energize the data element 140, thus allowing it to transmit and or receive system data. That is, the energy source may be provided by the reader 150 (e.g., in the case of NFC or RFID communications), however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the energy source may be provided by the optical probe assembly 125 or an environment, element, entity or force interacting therewith, such as through ambient heat, light, vibration, electromagnetic radiation or the like. In various example embodiments (see for example FIG. 12 described below), the data element 140 may be powered by energy in one or more forms that is harvested from the environment surrounding the data element 140.

[0083] While FIG. 2 shows the data element 140 as being integrated with or otherwise part of the probe-side connector 122, this is only one example, and in other embodiments, the data element 140 may be attached to at least one tag, or label or other element (collectively referred to herein as “label” and denoted by numeral 310 as shown in FIG. 3). The label 310 itself may be permanently, semipermanently, or detachably coupled to the probe-side connector 122 and / or a portion of the optical pathway 130, for example, by being affixed to the optical pathway 130. FIG. 3 shows a portion of an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 300, which is similar to that of optical sensor system 200 of FIG. 2. However, in the optical sensor system 300, the data element 140 is attached to or otherwise integrated into or printed on the label 310, which is in turn attached to a portion of the optical pathway 130. In some embodiments, when the probe-side connector 122 is mated with the converter-side connector 112, this mating may position the label 310 close to, adjacent to, or otherwise “near” the reader 150, so as to optimize energy transfer and communication between the reader 150 and the data element 140. In some embodiments the data element may be attached to the probe-side connector 122 and / or a portion of the optical pathway 130 by other means, for example, a lanyard, wire, tie or the like. In some embodiments, the data element 140 may not be attached to the optical probe assembly 125 but may be provided with the probe (forexample as part of a probe kit) or provided separately. In such cases, the data element 140 may be provided by itself or mounted on a carrier, for example a label, a substrate, a card or the like or any combination thereof.

[0084] To implement configurations such as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reader 150 may include a reader chip and an antenna that may be used to transmit energy to the data element 140, as well as to receive transmissions from the data element 140. In various embodiments, when the probe-side connector 122 is mated with the converter-side connector 112, the label 310 may be positioned to be close enough to enable a reliable read operation to be initiated and the act of connection itself may trigger or initiate a such a read operation. In some embodiments, the reader chip or antenna may be positioned within the enclosure of the converter 110, but near enough or adjacent to the outer edge of the enclosure of the converter 110, for example, to enable reliable operation. A position mark or indicator may be positioned on a portion of the outside surface of the enclosure of the converter 110, for example, to identify a suitable or optimum position for the label 310 and / or the data element 140, for example, to enable reliable operation.

[0085] The embodiments of the converter 110 shown in FIGS. 1A-3 may have a single channel that supports and optically connects to one optical probe assembly 125, however, the principles discussed herein are not limited to such single-channel embodiments. In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, at least one multi-channel converter 410 may be provided that can be configured to obtain information stored by data elements 140 of multiple optical probe assemblies 125. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4A shows the multi-channel converter 410 having more than one channel 412, such that the multi-channel converter 410 can support multiple optical probe assemblies 125 and multiple data elements 140. The multiple optical probe assemblies 125 may be of the same type or different types.

[0086] FIG. 4A shows an view of a portion of an example embodiment of a multichannel converter 410. The multi-channel converter 410 includes a plurality of channels 412, wherein each channel 412 includes at least one converter-side connector 112. Each channel 412 may support a different optical probe assembly 125. While FIG. 4A shows five channels 412 with five converter-side connectors112, in other embodiments, more or fewer channels 412 may be included in the multi-channel converter 410. In some embodiments, the multi-channel converter 410 may include one or more readers 150, wherein each channel 412 includes its own reader 150, as shown in FIG. 4A. In other embodiments, the multi-channel converter 410 may have fewer or more readers 150 than channels 412.

[0087] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, each channel 412 further includes at least one slot 414 that, for example, may be positioned adjacent to each converter-side connector 112 of that channel 412. Each slot 414 may be configured to be near to or adjacent to a reader 150 or an antenna utilized by the reader 150, and be configured to permit insertion of the end portion of the label 310 (that contains the data element 140) thereinto, thus positioning the data element 140 in close proximity to the reader 150 or the antenna of the reader 150. For each channel 412, the reader 150 or an antenna utilized by the reader 150 may be positioned within the enclosure of the multi-channel converter 410 and near to or adjacent to the slot 414, or may be directly integrated into the slot 414. While FIGS. 4A and 4B show a converter-side connector 112, a reader 150 and an optional slot 414 for each channel 412 adjacent to or in close proximity to each other for each channel, this is not a limitation of this disclosure and in other embodiments these elements may have other locations.

[0088] FIG. 4C shows a partial top view of the embodiment of the multi-channel converter 410 shown in FIG. 4B, with an optical probe assembly 125 connected to the multi-channel converter 410 wherein a portion of the label 310 is inserted into a slot 414. The view in FIG. 4C shows the probe-side connector 122, the optical pathway 130, the label 310, the data element 140 attached to a portion of label 310, the slot 414, and the reader 150, and at least one optional reader antenna 430 (the electrical connection between reader 150 and the reader antenna 430 is not shown for clarity). By inserting the end of the label 310 into the slot 414 as shown in FIG. 4C, the data element 140 (e.g., an NFC or RFID chip), is positioned near to and / or adjacent to the reader antenna 430 for the reader 150 (or the optional antenna 430 for an NFC reader chip). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that close proximity between the data element 140 and the reader 150 or the reader antenna 430 mayminimize or eliminate crosstalk between the multiple readers 150 and the multiple data elements 140 when the optical sensor system is being used in a multi-channel configuration.

[0089] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, in some configurations, one or more readers 150 may be associated with the multi-channel converter 410 and configured to read the system data from the data elements 140 associated with one or more optical probe assemblies 125. This may include multiple probe assemblies 125 that may need to be read by any of one or more such readers 150 or used with the multichannel converter 410 and thus be able to distinguish between different probe assemblies 125 and thereby associate the system data for the probe assembly 125 to the channel 412 to which it is connected. As discussed above, the data element 140 may, in some embodiments, be in an unpowered state and need to be within a certain proximity to the converter 410 to initiate the read process on the data element 140. In other embodiments, the data element 140 for its corresponding probe assembly 125 may be read when the probe assembly 125 is connected to the converter 410, (e.g., when the data element 140 is inserted into a corresponding slot 414). In such configurations, the system data is contained in an unpowered element, thus eliminating the need for wires or electrical connections between the multichannel converter 410 and the optical probe assembly 125. When provided as such, only an optical connection may be required between the optical probe 120 and the multi-channel converter 410, or between the optical probe 120 and other electronic units or devices.

[0090] Referring back to FIGS. 1A-3, in some embodiments, the single-channel converter 110 and the optical probe assembly 125 are installed in a system 100, 200, 300 and then the system 100, 200, 300 is powered up. In these embodiments, the single-channel converter 110 may be installed in one part of the system 100, 200, 300, in one location and the optical probe assembly 125 is installed in a chamber in another location and the two parts are brought together and connected in a third location. Once the system 100, 200, 300 is powered up, the system information may be transferred to the converter 110 according to any one of the configurations and processes described herein.

[0091] In some embodiments, the converter 110 may be configured (for example mechanically) to detect the connection of an optical probe assembly 125, or the connection of a probe-side connector 122 to a converter-side connector 112 and the detection of that connection may be used to initiate the information transfer. In other embodiments, the converter 110 may be configured to look for the presence of an optical signal at the input of the converter-side connector 112 (e.g., the optical response signal 165), or for the presence of an optical signal within a specific intensity or spectral range at the input of the converter-side connector 112, and the detection of that optical signal at the input of the converter-side connector 112 may be used to initiate the information transfer.

[0092] In some embodiments, the reader 150 may be continuously enabled or enabled with a duty cycle and the detection of an allowable return signal from a data element 140 may be used to initiate the information transfer. In other embodiments, passwords, handshake routines, or other security measures or procedures may be enabled between the data element 140 and the reader 150, to prevent the transfer of unauthorized or unwanted information.

[0093] FIG. 4D shows an example embodiment of a multi-channel converter 410 with fewer readers 150 than channels 412. In this embodiment, there are three readers, 150, 150’ and 150” and five channels (412, 412’, 412”, 412’”, 412””), though those skilled in the art will appreciate that in different embodiments the number of readers and / or channels may be different. While FIG. 4D shows readers 150, 150’ and 150”, these may also represent antennae for readers in different embodiments. In various embodiments, a start-up or configuration routine (described in detail below with respect to FIG. 5) may be initiated to associate the system data with the desired channel. In this example, three probe assemblies 125 (not shown in FIG. 4D for clarity) are connected to channels 412, 412’ and 412” and data elements 140, 140’ and 140” (indicated by the filled in box representing slots 414) are inserted in slots 414. In the second step 520 in FIG. 5, the configuration process is initiated by enabling the configuration process for channel 412. In various embodiments, the readers 150, 150’ and 150” may be enabled sequentially (e.g., the first reader 150 may be energized first, followed by the second reader 150’ and soon) or in different orders. The reader 150 will read system data from the data elements 140, 140’ and possibly 140”. The system data along with the signal strength from each data element 140 may be collected and optionally stored. This process is repeated for the readers 150’ and 150”. In this way, a set of system data or table of system data may be assembled based on relative signal strengths, showing that the data element 140 is closest to channel 412 because the signal strength from data element 140 is highest for reader 150, lower for reader 150’, and lowest for reader 150”. Similarly, the data element 140’ may be associated with channel 412’ because the signal strength of the data element 140’ is about the same or similar from both readers 150 and 150’ and lower for reader 150”, and the data element 140” may be associated with channel 412” because the signal strength from data element 140” is highest for the reader 150’ and about the same or similar from both readers 150 and 150”. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this approach may be extended to fewer or more than three channels and various quantities of readers and channels and may also be extended to other characteristics of the signals.

[0094] While the example configuration routine described in reference to FIG. 4D includes three readers, in other embodiments, fewer or only one reader may be utilized by multiplexing multiple antennae with one reader. For example, in the example described with respect to FIG. 4D, the readers 150, 150’ and 150” may all be energized simultaneously. In other embodiments, each reader may be enabled or energized sequentially. In other embodiments, multiple antennae (such as antenna 430 (not shown in FIG. 4D)) may take the place of readers 150, 150’ and 150” in FIG. 4D, and each antenna 430 may be sequentially connected to a single reader. In some embodiments, there may be one reader 150 and multiple antennae 430. In other embodiments, the number of readers 150 may be more or less than the number of channels 412 and multiple readers 150 may be energized to triangulate the data element 140, and then associate the system data from that data element 140 with the correct channel 412. When provided in the embodiments described above, each of the plurality of channels may be configured to enable communication from a corresponding optical probe assembly 125 to the converter 410.

[0095] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a power-on and start-up routine 500 for the embodiments of a multi-channel converter 410 described in reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D. The power-on and start-up routine 500 may include, at a first block 510, powering on the multi-channel converter 410. At a second block 520, the multi-channel converter 410 initiates the start-up routine that begins by checking the first channel 412 for the presence of an optical probe assembly 125 and determines, at a third block 530, whether or not the probe assembly 125 is present on that channel 412. If no probe assembly 125 is present, the routine moves to the next channel 412 at a fourth block 540. If a probe assembly 125 is present on that channel, at a fifth block 550, the multi-channel converter 410 enables one or more readers 150, reads the information stored by the data element 140 for that probe assembly 125, and associates the information with that channel 412. In this way, the system data is transferred to the converter 410 and tied to the corresponding channel 412 such that when obtaining measurements on that channel, the system data can be utilized (e.g., for matched calibration, etc.). The next channel is then checked at block 540 and this is repeated for all channels 412. It should be recognized that in various embodiments the start-up routine 500 may include additional or fewer steps and in various embodiments the steps may be performed in any order.

[0096] It can be appreciated that probe presence at block 520 may be identified using various processes, including those already described for the single-channel converter 110 or the multi-channel converter 410 (e.g., to reduce the LED intensity or turn the LED off when no optical probe assembly 125 is connected (e.g., mechanically or the like).

[0097] As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3-4C, in certain example embodiments, the data element 140 (e.g., NFC or RFID chip) may be attached to or partially or completely encapsulated into a tag or label 310 or other element that, for example, may be attached to an area near the connection-end of the probe assembly 125. The end of the label 310, when inserted into a slot 412, positions the data element 140 adjacent to the associated reader 150. This approach may simplify the process of identifying and associating each probe assembly 125 with itsassociated channel 412 in the multi-channel converter 410, since the range of the reader 150 and data element 140 may be chosen to be relatively low, and thus would only include the reader 150 in / near the slot 414 associated with the desired channel 412. The desirably small reading distance may support small antenna sizes, which helps minimize the size of the reader 150 and the multi-channel converter 410.

[0098] In some embodiments, the multi-channel converter 410 may include one reader 150 for each channel 412, while in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer readers 150 than channels 412. When only one probe assembly 125 is installed, it can be a straightforward process to associate the system data to the correct channel 412. In such a case, the multi-channel converter 410 detects the channel 412 to which the probe assembly 125 is connected (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5), and the system data is read and associated with that channel 412.

[0099] In embodiments where multiple probe assemblies 125 are connected to the multi-channel converter 410 at the same time, several methods may be used to associate specific channels 412 with specific probe assemblies 125. For example, if each channel 412 has a reader 150, then the multi-channel converter 410 may sequentially turn on each channel 412, detect the presence of a probe assembly 125 on that channel 412, and, if detected, turn on the reader 150 associated with that channel 412, and read the system data from the associated data element 140. The signal strength of the transmitted signal (from the unpowered data element 140) as well as the geometry between the reader 150 and the data element 140, as well as any optional electrical shielding, may be configured to result in only one probe signal being read by the reader 150. Optionally, the signal strength or other signal characteristics of signals from different probe assemblies 125 may be evaluated and the correct system data selected based on the level of signal strength (e.g., the strongest signal available) or aspects of other signal characteristics..

[0100] Other scenarios may be accommodated by these approaches, for example, replacement of the optical probe assembly 125 where the single-channel converter 110 or the multi-channel converter 410 are powered or unpowered when a probe assembly 125 is replaced or when the converters 110 or 410 are replaced.

[0101] In various embodiments, the single-channel converter 110 and the multichannel converter 410 may be configured to automatically initiate the start-up routine 500 upon energizing the converter 110 or the detection of the connection of a new probe assembly 125.

[0102] In various embodiments, as described herein, it is desirable to perform the transfer of system data in an automatic process, meaning not requiring a user to do more than connect the probe-side connector 122 to the converter-side connector 112, and optionally position the label 310 or data element 140 as required, for example, next to a position mark on the converter enclosure or in a slot in the converter. This approach eliminates the need for any action on the user’s part related to the information transfer, thus simplifying the process and reducing or eliminating the possibility of transferring incorrect system data to one or more converter channels.

[0103] In various embodiments, there may be a need to manually initiate a transfer of system data, for example, a transfer of calibration information and in such embodiments, the converter may be configured to allow a user or other input to initiate the start-up routine or other system data transfer routine(s).

[0104] In addition to the unpowered remotely readable data element 140 (e.g., NFC or RFID chip) shown in FIGS. 1A-3, various other configurations may be used to obtain system data associated with a probe assembly 125 and provide such system data to a single-channel converter 110 or a multi-channel converter 410 to utilize such operation to provide accurate output.

[0105] FIG. 6 shows an example embodiment of the optical sensor system 100 shown in FIG. 2 that further includes at least one separate device 610 (e.g., a mobile phone, standalone reader, or other device) that may include or embody the reader 150. In this way, the reader 150 can be placed proximal to the data element 140 located in the probe-side connector 122 as illustrated in FIG. 6, to energize the data element 140 to read the system data (e.g., in a first step 1). The device 610 may then transfer the system data to the single-channel converter 110 in any suitable manner, including a wireless or wired connection made between the device 610 and at least one processor or receiver module 612 located in the converter 110 (e.g., in asecond step 2). For example, the device 610 may include an app or other software or firmware that acts to activate the reader 150 to read the system data. Once the system data is obtained from the data element 140, or in parallel with that operation, the app may connect to a central server (not shown), connect to a customer’s system to be relayed to the single-channel converter 110 (for example, by EtherCAT), or use a short-range (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, or other peer- to-peer) connection with the processor or receiver module 612 to transfer the system information read from the data element 140. The connection between the device 610 and the single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless. The connection between the device 610 and the single-channel converter 110 may utilize various protocols, for example Ethernet, EtherCAT, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like. The configuration and protocol for communication between the device 610 and the single-channel converter 110 is not a limitation of the present disclosure. In embodiments where a multi-channel converter 410 is used, it can be appreciated that the app or other software or firmware can prompt the user to indicate the channel 412 to which the probe assembly 125 is connected. In other embodiments, an automated process implemented by the multi-channel converter 410 could be used, (e.g., to perform channel detection or measure proximity of the reader 150 (or device 610)) to the channel 412.

[0106] In various embodiments, the data element 140 may contain the system information, as discussed herein, or may contain or provide a link to a source (e.g., website) from which the system information can be downloaded and used by the converter. By storing the system information remotely, updates can be made periodically without the need to replace the data element 140.

[0107] As indicated above, the data element 140 can take many forms, and should not be considered limited to unpowered chips such as NFC or RFID chips. FIG. 7 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 700 that may use any other machine-readable indicia such as a bar code, QR code, fiducial mark(s), optical characters or other optically recognizable code, symbol, or element. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one QR code 710 is affixed to or printed on the label 310 so that the QR code 710 becomes accessible to at least one integrated opticalscanner 712 incorporated into the single-channel converter 110 or its converter-side connector 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the integrated optical scanner 712 is incorporated into the converter-side connector 112 to position the integrated optical scanner 712 such that the QR code 710 can be placed or becomes positioned within the field of view of the integrated optical scanner 712. In this way, when the optical probe assembly 125 is connected as shown, the integrated optical scanner 712 is proximate enough to the QR code 710 to enable a read operation. When the integrated optical scanner 712 is integrated with the single-channel converter 110 as shown in FIG. 7, the QR code 710 may contain the system information or may contain or provide a link to a source (e.g., website) from which the system information can be downloaded and used by the converter. By storing the system information remotely, updates can be made periodically without the need to replace the QR code 710.. The machine-readable indica 710 may be incorporated into the probe-side connector 122, thus eliminating the need for a separate label 310. Integration of label 310 into the connector 122 may reduce or eliminate the need to position or adjust the label 310 to ensure proper reading of the machine-readable indica 710. While FIG. 7 shows a single-channel converter 110, this approach may also be utilized with a multi-channel converter 410. In the case of the multi-channel converter 410, each channel may have its own integrated optical scanner 712, thereby ensuring that the system data is transferred to its matching channel in the multi-channel converter 410.

[0108] FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 800, similar to that of the optical sensor system 700 described with respect to FIG. 7, in which the integrated optical scanner 712 is replaced by at least one separate external reader or device 812 having at least one camera or other optical scanning device (e.g., a scanner 810) that can be used to read the QR code 710 (e.g., in a first scanning step 1 ). Whether the QR code 710 includes the system data or a link thereto, the acquired system data may then be used by the device 812 to send the acquired information to the processor or receiver module 612, or obtain the system data via at least one network 814 and then transmit to the single-channel converter 110 (e.g., in a second step 2). As with the embodiments discussed above, the connection between the device 812 and the network 814 and / or the single-channelconverter 110 and / may be wired, wireless, direct, network based, indirect, or any combination of such mechanisms. In various embodiments, the connection between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless. The connection between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 may utilize various protocols for example Ethernet, EtherCAT, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth or the like. The configuration and protocol for communication between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 is not a limitation of the present disclosure. For example, in other embodiments, the device 812 may be used to obtain the system data or an identifier for a set of data, which is stored in an app or other software or firmware, in the cloud, in an account or elsewhere for a customer to obtain and load into the single-channel converter 110. Such loading can be manual or automatic, depending on the connections and technologies available to the singlechannel converter 110 and / or the customer utilizing the single-channel converter 110. In embodiments where a multi-channel converter 410 is used, it can be appreciated that the app or software or firmware or system can prompt the user to indicate the channel 412 to which the probe assembly 125 is connected or another automated process implemented by the multi-channel converter 410 could be used, e.g., to perform channel detection.

[0109] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment similar to that of the optical sensor system 800 described with respect to FIG. 8, further incorporating an intermediary system, entity or service 910 configured to store system data accessible via the network 814, which can be transmitted to a single-channel converter 110 or a multi-channel converter 410 without requiring the device 812. For example, in some embodiments, the system data may be read by the device 812 and then stored in the intermediary system, entity or service 910 on the network 814 for subsequent retrieval and transfer to a converter at a later point in time. This facilitates flexible updates and provides a user-friendly back-end service for the user while minimizing costs associated with having reader(s) 150 integrated into the converters. In some embodiments, the system data from one or more optical probe assemblies 125 may be collected and stored in an intermediary system, for example in a first physical location and at a first time, and then retrieved and transferred to one or moreconverters at a second physical location and at a second time, where the first and second physical locations may be the same or different and the first and second times may be the same or different. The connection between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless. The connection between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the singlechannel converter 110 may utilize various protocols, for example, Ethernet, EtherCAT, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth or the like. The configuration and protocol for communication between the device 810 and / or the network 814 and / or the singlechannel converter 110 is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0110] In some embodiments, the optical sensor system 900 may include only one single-channel converter 110, and there is a direct association of the system data with the converter channel, since there is only one channel. However, in embodiments where multiple single-channel converters 110 are connected to the network 814, various methods may be utilized to ensure the correct system data is transferred to the matching converter, for example, incorporating a converter identification step when reading system data from the device 810 or assigning converter identification when transmitting system data 910 via the network 814 to each converter 110. Embodiments including one or more multi-channel converters may utilize a similar approach to associate system data with a specific channel within each multi-channel converter 410, for example identifying the converter and channel information when reading the system data from the device 810 or assigning converter identification when transmitting system data 910 via the network 814 to each channel in one or more multi-channel converters 410. The assignment of converter and / or channel information could be done manually, for example, by manual input into the device 810, or by manual input to the system data 910, or by incorporating the converter and / or channel information into a file or other electronic structure or form and combining it with system data, for example, in the system data 910 or when the system data 910 is transmitted to the converter(s).

[0111] In various embodiments, a photograph or picture of a portion of the singlechannel converter 110 or the multi-channel converter 410 that includes the QR codes and channel and / or converter information, for example which channel of whichconverter is associated or physically adjacent to a specific channel on the converter could be taken, which may be read or scanned and incorporated in the system data 910. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments and configurations described in FIGS. 6-9 above with respect to the single-channel converter 110 can be used with a multi-channel converter 410 or other multi-channel converter.

[0112] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another example embodiment, in which at least one non-volatile memory element or memory card 940 such as a SD or micro SD card is tethered to the probe assembly 125 via a label 310 or similar means having enough slack to permit the non-volatile memory element 940 to be physically inserted into a corresponding slot 414 for the channel 412 in a single- or multi-channel converter 410 to which the probe assembly 125 is connected. In this case, the slot 414 may be electrically coupled to the processor or receiver module 612. Since each channel has its own slot 414, the system data transmitted or read from that connector is automatically or directly associated with the correct channel. The tether or label 310 may be configured such that it is not possible to insert the memory element 940 into the slot 414 other than the one associated with the channel to which the probe-side connector 122 is coupled. For example, this may be accomplished by limiting the length of the label 310 to allow connection of memory element 940 only to the slot 414 with the channel to which probe-side connector 122 is coupled. While FIG. 10 shows the slot 414 electrically coupled to the processor or receiver module 612, in other embodiments, the connector 414 may be electrically coupled to other components or functional elements in the converter or may be connected wirelessly.

[0113] While FIG. 10 shows a configuration for a multi-channel converter, in other embodiments this approach may also be utilized in a single-channel converter.

[0114] In various embodiments, the memory card 940 may also be implemented without the slot 414 as part of the converter 110 or 410. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 , the memory card 940 may be inserted into at least one external device 1100 which includes at least one card reader 950, at a first step 1 . The system data from the memory card 940 may be conveyed from device 1100 to the processor or receiver module 612 using any of the techniques described herein. For illustrative purposes, the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 shows device 1100 connecting to theintermediary system, entity or service 910 containing the system data via the network 814 at a step 2, which can be retrieved by the converter 110 or an operator to be loaded into the processor or receiver module 612. It can be appreciated that in various embodiments the device 1100 may be a different memory drive or system that copies data from the memory card 940 and utilizes some other connector (not shown) to connect to the processor or receiver module 612. For example, the device 1100 may have a port to connect the card 940 at one end and a USB connector at the other end to be inserted manually into the single-channel converter 110. In some embodiments, the connection between the device 1100 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless. The connection between the device 1100 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 may utilize various protocols, for example Ethernet, EtherCAT, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like. The configuration and protocol for communication between the device 1100 and / or the network 814 and / or the single-channel converter 110 is not a limitation of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described in reference to FIG. 11 may also be utilized for multichannel converters.

[0115] While not shown in the FIGS., in some embodiments, the memory card 940 or other physical memory device may instead be detachable from the label 310 and / or other portion of the probe assembly 125 (e.g., removeable from the probe assembly 125) or may be provided with but separate from the probe assembly 125 or may be provided separate from the probe assembly 125 and be insertable into a slot in the single-channel converter 110 or multi-channel converter 410.

[0116] FIG. 12 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 1200 additionally incorporating at least one transmitter 1240 and at least one power source 1242. In some embodiments, the data element 140 and / or the transmitter 1240 and / or power source 1242 may be mounted on or in or otherwise formed as part of the probe-side connector 122, as shown in FIG. 12. In other embodiments, one or more of the data element 140, the transmitter 1240, and / or the power source 1242 may be mounted or attached to other parts of the probe assembly 125, for example as part of a label 310 (not shown in FIG. 12 for clarity). The specificmounting configuration of the data element 140, the power source 1242 and the transmitter 1240 is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0117] In some embodiments, the power source 1242 may use various devices or methods to generate power without a direct of physical connection to an external power source. For example, in some embodiments, the power source 1242 may include one or more of photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic cells with a battery storage or ambient energy harvesting (for example, heat, vibration, RF energy, or the like, with or without an optional battery). The transmitter 1240 may transmit continuously, or intermittently or on demand in response to a wireless signal emitted from the singlechannel converter 110 (e.g., via the receiver module 612 or other components or modules), orfrom a signal emitted by the network 814 or the intermediary system, entity or service 910.

[0118] In other embodiments, the data element 140 may be electrically coupled to and energized by the power source 1242. The data element 140 may be electrically coupled to the transmitter 1240 that may be electrically coupled to and energized by the power source 1242. When configured as such, both the data element 140 and the transmitter 1240 may be energized by the power source 1242, enabling the transmitter 1240 to transmit system data from the data element 140 to a receiver physically separate from the probe assembly 125. In various embodiments, the power supply may energize other components continuously or may be selectively energized, for example, when the probe is inserted into a converter.

[0119] In other embodiments, the transmitter 1240 may transmit system data from the data element 140 to an external component, for example, directly to the single-channel converter 110, for example as depicted as step T in FIG. 12, or to one or more intermediate components that may subsequently transmit probe information to the single-channel converter 110, for example, as depicted as step 1 and 2, respectively, in FIG. 12. In various embodiments, the transmitter 1240 may transmit system data from the data element 140 to a storage system, such as the intermediary system, entity or service 910 where it may be relayed to the singlechannel converter 110 or stored for a period of time and then subsequently sent to or accessed by the converter 110. The transmitter 1240 may transmit system datafrom the data element 140 to a storage system, such as the intermediary system, entity or service 910 and / or the network 814 that may be configured to receive system data from the transmitter 1242 and direct or transmit all or part of it to the converter 110 with a specified delay, an arbitrary delay, or without any substantive delay. In various embodiments, where system data is not conveyed directly from the data element 140 to the converter 110, that is, it is conveyed through one or more intermediate elements (for example the network 814, the device 1100, the external reader or device 812 or the like), all or portions of the system data may be removed or modified and additional information may be added to the system data at the one or more intermediate elements.

[0120] In various embodiments the connection between the transmitter 1242 and network 814 may be wireless and utilize a variety of protocols, such as Ethernet, EtherCAT, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth or the like. The configuration and protocol for communication between the transmitter 1242 and the network 814 is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0121] The connection between network 814 and single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless. In various embodiments, the connection between network 814 and single-channel converter 110 may be wired or wireless and may utilize various protocols (e.g., SPI, USB, EtherCAT, Ethernet, I2C, UART, Modbus, 4- 20mA, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, infrared, Bluetooth or the like). The configuration and protocol for communication between the device network 814 and the single-channel converter 110 is not a limitation of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described in reference to FIG. 12 may also be utilized for multichannel converters.

[0122] In various embodiments, a receiver element (not shown in FIG. 12 for clarity of illustration) may be configured to receive a portion of the optical signal on the optical path 130 and the transmitter or a second additional component may be configured to enable transmission when a specific optical signal is received, allowing the converter to select a channel, send the appropriate signal to the probe attached to that channel, which in turn enables transmission of the system information for theprobe attached to that channel to that channel of the converter. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this approach may be used in other optical system converter configurations and is not limited to that shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensor system 1300 that in addition to the converter 110 and the probe assembly 125 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 ), includes an extension cable 1310 having at least one extension cable data element 1340 configured to store information representative of the extension cable 1310. In this way, the optical sensor system 1300 includes both the system data 1346 and extension cable data 1344 that together may be provided to the converter 110 (e.g., via the reader 150 or using any suitable configuration described herein). In various embodiments, the extension cable data 1344 may include but is not limited to, for example, calibration curve(s), calibration coefficients that define calibration curve(s), calibration look-up table(s), information related to the converter processes probe + extension cable information, for example, one or more parameters used in the converter 110 to make or optimize the temperature calculation for the specific probe, a pointer that points to information stored elsewhere (for example in the converter, a web site, the cloud, an app or the like), time in use, maximum and minimum operational temperature ratings for the extension cable, unique ID number / serial number, date of manufacture, first date of use, and the like. As such, in various embodiments, the information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 may include at least some information representative of the extension cable. In these embodiments, the communication mechanism used to convey the information representative of the optical probe assembly 125 to the converter 110 also obtains and provides information from the extension cable data element 1340.

[0123] The extension cables 1310 may introduce uncertainty that affect the performance specifications, even if the specific system data information is transmitted to the single-channel converter 110. This challenge may be addressed within the system 1300 as follows. In one embodiment, an extension cable data element 1340 may be provided on the extension cable 1310 that includes the extension cable data 1344 that may be read and loaded into the single-channel converter 110 along with the system data 1346.

[0124] In other embodiments, the extension cable data 1344 may be determined and stored in a converter (for example non-volatile memory in the converter, for example the converter 110) or as part of an intermediary system, entity or service 910 on a network 814 shown in FIG. 12, or made accessible to the converter 110 by other means. In one embodiment, the calibration information for the extension cable in use may be selected from the stored calibration information and loaded into the converter, for example by one or more means described herein. In other embodiments, it may be possible to simplify and / or reduce the number of calibration curves by grouping extension cable calibration information based on calibration characteristics. Alternatively, combined calibration information of the extension cable calibration and the specific probe calibration information may be provided.

[0125] In other embodiments, the probe assembly 125 may be calibrated with the extension cable 1310. System data may include identification of the specified extension cable 1310 as well as other parameters described herein. Thus, the system data may include that for the extension cable (e.g., 1344 + 1346).

[0126] In other embodiments, the length of the optical pathway 130 may be configured per the requirements associated with each optical assembly 125, thus eliminating the need for an extension cable. In this case, the system data includes all the information relevant to and required for the specific length (for example extended or reduced from the standard length) of the optical pathway 130.

[0127] In various embodiments, an optical sensor system, such as that described in reference to FIGS. 1A to 4 and 6 to 13 may be configured to provide an optical excitation signal to excite a sensing element and receive an optical excitation response signal and an optional optical excitation independent response signal. The optical excitation response signal and optional optical excitation independent response signal may be used to determine one or more characteristics of the sensing element.

[0128] In various embodiments, the optical excitation independent response signal may be used for the sensing process and may be generated without an optical excitation signal from the optical sensing system or converter, for example, black body radiation as an object is heated or the emission from a gas or liquid generatedby stimulation from an energy source such as heat, plasma, electrical discharge, current, voltage or the like.

[0129] In some embodiments, an optical sensor system may be configured to measure temperature using a thermographic phosphor as the temperature sensing element. Referring again to FIGS. 1A-1C, FIGS. 1A and 1 B shows a schematic view of a temperature sensor system 190 including a converter 110 and optical probe assembly 125, wherein the converter 110 is configured to provide an optical excitation signal 160 and to measure one or more properties or characteristics of the optical response signal 165 (including one or more portions of the optical excitation response signal 166 and the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 (described herein and shown in FIG. 1 C) received from the optical probe assembly 125. In various embodiments, the thermographic phosphor, when excited by a suitable pump source, may phosphoresce and one or more properties of the phosphorescence may be dependent on temperature, and with a suitable calibration, be used to determine temperature.

[0130] In various embodiments of an optical temperature probe, the system data may include, but is not limited to, the minimum and / or maximum allowable temperature ranges to be measured by the optical temperature probe, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating temperature range of the optical probe mount 127, the optical temperature probe calibration curve and optionally one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the temperature calculation for a specific temperature probe or temperature probe assembly from the measured value, for example sensing element light intensity or decay time and / or other parameters. In various embodiments the calibration curve may relate one or more of the integrated intensity collected by the detector 206, the phosphorescence time decay after the pump excitation is removed or stopped, the position of one or more spectral features, or the like.

[0131] The converter 110 is in optical communication with the temperature probe 125 via the optical path 130, wherein the optical path 130 is configured to allow the optical response signal 165 (including one or more portions of the optical excitation response signal 166 and the optical-excitation-independent signal 167, 166 and 167not shown in FIG. 1 B for clarity) to propagate to the converter 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical path 130 is provided as an optical fiber or an optical fiber bundle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. In other embodiments, the optical path 130 may comprise an optical pathway configured to allow the optical signals to propagate through free space or a combination of free- space, optical fibers, waveguides, and various optical elements, such as refractive or reflective optical elements. In still other embodiments, the optical path 130 may also include any of a wide variety of optical elements operative to allow the optical excitation signal 130 to propagate to the temperature probe 125.

[0132] In various embodiments, the converter 110 may be configured to drive the light source 218 to emit at least one optical excitation signal 160 to the temperature probe 125 at wavelengths, intensities, and durations required for a particular function of the sensor system 190. The detector 206 is configured to receive at least a portion of one or more of the optical excitation response signal 166 and / or the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 and to provide at least one signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 and / or the optical- excitation-independent signal 167 to the controller 228. In various embodiments, the controller 228 may be configured to gather measurement data by sampling the detector 206 and any other detectors or devices (e.g., temperature measurement devices). Also, the controller 228 may be configured to separate a signal representative of the optical response signal 165 into at least one signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 and at least one signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167. For example, in one embodiment, the controller 228 samples the detector 206 that provides a signal representative of the combined signal 165 to the controller 228. If the signal representative of the optical response signal 165 does not vary with time, the controller 228 can separate that portion of the signal as being the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167. If the signal representative of the optical response signal 165 has an intensity decay rate, then the controller 228 can identify the portion of the combined signal 165 having the intensity decay rate as being the optical excitation response signal 166.

[0133] The controller 228 is configured to calculate an object temperature based on at least one of the optical excitation response signal 166 or the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167. The signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 comprises at least one first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical-excitation- independent signal 167, and the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 comprises at least one second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166, wherein the first characteristic may be the same as or different from the second characteristic. The first characteristic or the second characteristic may comprise an intensity or amplitude, a change in intensity or amplitude over a time period, an intensity decay rate, an optical power spectrum, or one or more portions of an optical power spectrum of the optical excitation response signal 120 or the optical-excitation- independent signal 124 or the like. The controller 228 then may calculate an object temperature based on at least one of the first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 or the second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166. In various embodiments the first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 may comprise an intensity of blackbody radiation or an intensity of at least one wavelength of black-body radiation. In various embodiments the second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 may comprise an intensity decay rate, decay time constant or an intensity of at least one wavelength of the optical excitation response signal 120.

[0134] In some embodiments, the converter 110 may determine at least one signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 127 at a first time (e.g., before the optical excitation signal 160 has been turned on), and determine at least one signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 at a second time (e.g., after the optical excitation signal 160 has been turned on, or after the optical excitation signal 160 has been turned off and the optical excitation response signal 166 is decaying). The converter 110 then may calculate an object temperature based on at least one of the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 determined at the first time or the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 determined at the second time. The signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 at the first time comprises at least one first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 at the first time. For example, in various embodiments, the first characteristic or the second characteristic may comprise an intensity or amplitude, a change in intensity or amplitude over a time period, an intensity decay rate a decay time constant, an optical power spectrum, or one or more portions of an optical power spectrum.

[0135] The signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 at the second time comprises at least one second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 167 at the second time. In some embodiments, the first characteristic may be the same as the second characteristic. In other embodiments, the first characteristic may be different from the second characteristic. For example, in various embodiments, the first characteristic or the second characteristic may comprise an intensity or amplitude, a change in intensity or amplitude over a time period, an intensity decay rate, an optical power spectrum, or one or more portions of an optical power spectrum, or the like. The converter 110 may be configured to calculate an object temperature based on at least one first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical- excitation-independent signal 167 at the first time and at least one second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 at the second time. In various embodiments, the first characteristic of the signal representative of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 at the first time comprises an intensity of black-body radiation, a wavelength of black-body radiation, or an intensity of black-body radiation at one wavelength.

[0136] In various embodiments, the second characteristic of the signal representative of the optical excitation response signal 166 at the second time comprises an intensity decay rate of the optical excitation response signal 166 of an intensity of at least one wavelength of the optical excitation response signal 166.

[0137] In addition, the converter 110 may also be configured to perform any required calibration or compensation of various devices (e.g., the detector 206, the light source 218, and the like). In various embodiments, the converter 110 may be configured to process the measurement data received from the detectors and other measurement devices, compute any compensations or corrections or other processing functions to calculate final object temperature measurement results. In various embodiments, the converter 110 may be configured to transmit any measurement data or results to other devices (e.g., displays, process equipment, and the like.)

[0138] In the illustrated embodiment, the optical element 220 may be a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror. In various embodiments, the light source 218 may be configured to emit the optical excitation signal 160 that is directed to the optical path 130 by the dichroic mirror 220 and lens 222. In various embodiments, the optical element 220 may be configured to reflect the optical excitation signal 160 and allow the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 and the optical excitation response signal 166 to propagate therethrough. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the optical element 220 may be a dichroic filter configured to reflect greater than about 90% or about 95% of the optical excitation signal 160 from the light source 218 to the optical path 130 and allow greater than about 90% or about 95% of the optical- excitation-independent signal 167 and optical excitation response signal 166 to propagate therethrough toward the second mirror or optical element 214 configured to reflect the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 and optical excitation response signal 166 toward the detector 206. In various embodiments, the optical properties of the optical element 220 may be selected based on the emission characteristics of different phosphor materials used in the sensing element 124. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the optical element 220 may be configured to reflect any of a variety of percentages of the optical excitation signal 160 from the light source 218 to the optical path 130 and allow any of a variety of percentage of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 and optical excitation response signal 166 to pass therethrough. In various embodiments, the positions of the light source 218 and detector 206 may be swapped if an optical element 220 is chosen that transmits the optical excitation signal 160 and reflects the optical-excitation-independent signal 167 and optical excitation response signal 166, for example by using a hot mirror in place of a cold mirror. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the light source 210, the detector 206, and various optical elements may be positioned relative to the optical path 130 and other components in any of a variety of ways.

[0139] In various embodiments, other approaches using optical sensing may be used to measure temperature. For example, one or more characteristics of the optical-excitation-independent signal 167, for example an intensity of black-body radiation, a wavelength of black-body radiation, or an intensity of black-body radiation at one wavelength may be used to calculate temperature, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In various embodiments, other approaches to temperature measurement using optical sensors may include Raman scattering, coherent antistokes Raman scattering or the like.

[0140] In various embodiments, an optical sensing system may be configured as an infrared absorption system, for example, to determine the presence and / or concentration of one or more gas species. For example, such an optical sensing system may use infrared spectroscopy (IR) or Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). FIG. 14 shows an example embodiment of an optical sensing system 1400 configured for IR spectroscopy. The optical sensing system 1400 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1A, however, the temperature probe 120 of FIG. 1A is replaced by at least one optical probe 1420 and the measurement is of the concentration and type of gas species in at least one environment 1440. As shown in FIG. 14, at least one IR source 1430 may emit source IR light 1435 which is directed into the environment 1440. A portion of the IR light 1435 is absorbed by the gas species in the environment 1440, resulting in response IR light 1445 which is coupled into the optical probe 1420 and conveyed along the optical path 130 to at least one converter 1410. In various embodiments, the converter 1410 may include a spectrometer to determine the intensity of absorption as a function of wavelength. This may be used, as is known in the art, to determine the type and concentration of many gas species. In various embodiments, the converter 1410 may be configured to include a Fourier Transform IR spectrometer system.

[0141] In various embodiments of an optical IR absorption sensing system, system data may include, but is not limited to, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating temperature range of the optical probe 1420 and probe mount 127, the optical temperature probe calibration curve, for example, to account for wavelength dependent absorption of different optical pathways 130 and optionally one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize the calculation of amount and type of gas species from the measured data.

[0142] In other embodiments, the optical sensor system may include one or more Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. For example, an FBG sensor may include one or more optical fibers with one or more regions or elements having a periodic variation in the refractive index of the fiber core, which forms a wavelength-specific dielectric mirror. FIG. 15 shows an example embodiment of an FBG sensor element 1500 including at least one optical fiber 1510 having at least one core 1512, at least one cladding 1514, and at least one Bragg reflector 1520 formed in a portion of the core 1512. The Bragg reflector 1520 is a uniform Bragg reflector in which the index of refraction is varied with a constant period A, however this is not a limitation of the present disclosure and in other embodiments the Bragg reflector 1520 may have other configurations, for example, Gaussian apodised, raised-cosine apodised, chirped, discrete phase shift, superstructure, or the like.

[0143] In various embodiments, light from at least one broadband optical source 1530 is directed into the optical fiber 1510 and the Bragg reflector 1520 reflects a portion 1534 of the broadband light having a peak wavelength AB, expressed as:2e= 2neA where neis the effective refractive index of the fiber core and A is the grating period. The remaining light 1538 propagates through the Bragg reflector 1520. The peak wavelength AB is dependent on the grating period A and on the effective refractive index ne. FBG sensors operate by imposing a stimulus on the Bragg grating that changes the effective refractive index ne, thus changing the peak wavelength AB. The FBG sensor is calibrated by developing a correlation between the stimulus value and the change in peak wavelength AB. Multiple FBG sensor elements may bespaced apart on a single optical fiber 1510. Each FBG sensor element 1500 may be configured with a different grating period A, allowing multiple sensor elements that detect different stimulus values, respectively

[0144] Generally, FBG sensors require a converter, which may also be referred to as an interrogator, which is configured to measure the peak wavelength of the reflected signal. A shift in peak wavelength is then used to calculate the value of the parameter to be determined. FBG sensors also may be used for direct sensing for stimuli that directly affect the effective index of refraction (e.g., strain, temperature, vibration, pressure or the like). FBG sensors may also be part of a sensor system in which the FBG acts as a transduction element, converting the output of another sensor to something measurable by the FBG, such as strain or temperature. One example of this is using a coating on the FBG that is designed to absorb or react with specific chemicals, wherein the absorption of or reaction with results in a change in strain or temperature.

[0145] Many factors may affect the accuracy and reproducibility of FBG sensors, including those in the converter and in the fiber 1510. Factors related to the optical fiber 1510 include the ability to inscribe or write the grating accurately and reproducibly on the fiber, non-uniformities and inhomogeneity within the fiber, the thermal expansion coefficient of the fiber, absorption in the fiber, and the like. In various embodiments of a FBG optical sensing system, system data for the FBG probe may include but is not limited to, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating temperature range of the optical fiber, the FBG calibration curve relating the change in effective index of refraction to the value to be determined, corrections or calibrations for the thermal coefficient of expansion of the optical fiber, corrections or calibrations for inhomogeneity of the optical fiber and optionally one or more parameters used by the converter to make or optimize the determination of the value to be determined from the change in refractive index. As such, in various embodiments each FBG element may have its own calibration curve and related system data. It will be appreciated that the use of individualized system data for specific optical sensors or optical sensor probes is not limited to the examples discussed herein but may be applied to any optical sensor system or optical probe.

[0146] It will be appreciated that the term “read” or “transfer” when used in the context of reading or transferring the system data may include exchange of system data both to and from the converter and both to and from the optical probe assembly. It will also be appreciated that the term “read” or “transfer” may be used to describe a general process of exchange of system data and / or other information.

[0147] While many of the examples described herein are related to temperature measurement, this is not a limitation of the present disclosure and in other embodiments other characteristics may be measured or determined by the optical sensor system.

[0148] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the examples described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the examples described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the examples described herein.

[0149] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any module or component exemplified herein that executes instructions may include or otherwise have access to computer readable media such as transitory or non-transitory storage media, computer storage media, or data storage devices (removable and / or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed byan application, module, or both. Any such computer storage media may be part of the systems 100, 200, 300, 700, 800, 900, 1200, 1300, 1400 or any component of or related thereto, etc., or accessible or connectable thereto. Any application or module herein described may be implemented using computer readable / executable instructions that may be stored or otherwise held by such computer readable media.

[0150] The steps or operations in the flow charts and diagrams described herein are provided by way of example. There may be many variations to these steps or operations without departing from the principles discussed above. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the examples and corresponding diagrams used herein are for illustrative purposes only. Different configurations and terminology can be used without departing from the principles expressed herein. For instance, components and modules can be added, deleted, modified, or arranged with differing connections without departing from these principles.

[0151] Although the above principles have been described with reference to certain specific examples, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art as having regard to the appended claims in view of the specification as a whole.

Claims

Claims:1 . An optical sensor system, comprising: at least one optical probe assembly (125) comprising: at least one optical probe (120), wherein the at least one optical probe (120) is configured to provide at least one optical response signal (165) representative of a least one characteristic to be measured; at least one data element (140) including system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125); at least one converter (110) comprising: at least one detector (206) configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one optical response signal (165) from the at least one optical probe (120) and to provide at least one signal representative of the at least one optical response signal (165); at least one reader (150); and at least one communication mechanism configured to convey the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) from the at least one data element (140) to the at least one converter (110), wherein the at least one converter (110) is configured to determine the at least one characteristic to be measured based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) and at least a portion of the at least one signal representative of the at least one optical response signal (165).

2. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data element (140) comprises at least in part a non-volatile data element.

3. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one converter further comprises at least one light source (218) configured to emit at least one optical excitation signal (160).

4. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic to be measured includes at least one selected from a group consisting of temperature, strain, pressure, position, distance, plasma intensity, ion energy, gas concentration, gas temperature, gas flow, chemical concentrations, and gas species.

5. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism comprises:(i) storing the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) on the at least one data element (140);(ii) configuring at least one wired communication path between the at least one data element (140) and the at least one reader (150);(iii) conveying the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) via the at least one wired communication path from the at least one data element (140) to the at least one reader (150): and(iv) conveying the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) from the at least one reader (150) to the at least one converter (110).

6. The optical sensor system of claim 5, wherein the at least one data element (140) comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a memory card, a SD card, a mini SD card, a micro SD card, and a USB flash drive.

7. The optical sensor system of claim 5, wherein the at least one wired communication path protocol comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of SPI, USB, EtherCAT, Ethernet, I2C, UART, Modbus, 4-20mA, internet protocol (IP), and transmission control protocol (TCP).

8. The optical sensor system of claim 5, wherein the at least one data element (140) is attached to the at least one optical probe assembly (125).

9. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism comprises a wirelessly readable device.

10. The optical sensor system of claim 9, wherein the wirelessly readable device includes at least one selected from a group consisting of Near Field Communication (NFC) chips, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards.11 . The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism is operative to:(i) provide a wirelessly readable device (140);(ii) encode the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) onto the wirelessly readable device (140);(iii) provide at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150);(iv) read the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) on the wirelessly readable device (140) using the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150);(v) configure a communication path between the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150) and the at least one converter (110); and(vi) convey the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) to the at least one converter (110) via the communication path.

12. The optical sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150) is separate from the at least one converter (110).

13. The optical sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one converter (110) comprises the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150).

14. The optical sensor system of claim 11 , wherein configuration of the communication path between the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150) and the at least one converter (110) comprises configuration of a wired communication path.

15. The optical sensor system of claim 11 , wherein configuration of the communication path between the at least one wirelessly readable device reader (150) and the at least one converter (110) comprises configuration of a wireless communication path.

16. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism comprises at least one optically readable device (140).

17. The optical sensor system of claim 16, wherein the at least one data element (140) includes at least one selected from a group consisting of optical bar codes and Quick Response (QR) codes.

18. The optical sensor system of claim 16, wherein the at least one communication mechanism is operative to:(i) provide at least one optically readable device (140);(ii) encode the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) onto the at least one optically readable device (140);(iii) provide at least one optical scanner (712);(iv) read the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) on the at least one optically readable device (140) using the at least one optical scanner (712);(v) configure a communication path between the at least one optical scanner (712) and the at least one converter (110); and(vi) convey the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) to the at least one converter (110) via the communication path.

19. The optical sensor system of claim 18, wherein the at least one converter (110) comprises the at least one optical scanner (712).

20. The optical sensor system of claim 18, wherein the at least one optical scanner (712) is separate from the at least one converter (110).21 . The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism comprises:(i) storing the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) on the at least one data element (140);(ii) configuring a wireless communication path between the at least one data element (140) and the at least one converter (110); and(iii) conveying the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly from the at least one data element (140) to the at least one converter (110) via the wireless communication path.

22. The optical sensor system of claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication path comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth, and infrared.

23. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one extension cable (1310), wherein the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) comprises at least some information representative of the at least one extension cable (1310).

24. The optical sensor system of claim 23, wherein the at least one extension cable (1310) comprises at least one extension cable data element (1340) configured to store information representative of the at least one extension cable (1310).

25. The optical sensor system of claim 24, wherein the at least one communication mechanism also obtains and provides the information representative of the at least one extension cable (1310) from the at least one extension cable data element (1340) to the at least one converter (110).

26. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one converter(110 / 410) comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises at least one optical probe assembly (120) and at least one data element(140), and the at least one converter (410) is configured to enable communication from the at least one data element (140) associated with the corresponding at least one optical probe assembly (125) for each of the plurality of channels to the at least one converter (410).

27. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein:(i) the at least one optical probe assembly (125) comprises at least a first optical probe assembly (125) and a second optical probe assembly (125), wherein the at least a first optical probe assembly and the second optical probe assembly are configured to provide a first optical response signal (165) and a second optical response signal (165) respectively, wherein at least one of the first optical response signal and the second optical response signal are representative of at least one characteristic to be measured;(ii) the at least one data element (140) comprises a first data element and a second data element, the first data element including system information representative of the first optical probe assembly (125) and the second data element including system information representative of the second optical probe assembly (125),(iii) the at least one detector (206) comprises at least a first detector and second detector configured to receive at least a portion of the first optical response signal (165) and the second optical response signal (165) from the first and second optical probes (120) respectively, and to provide at least one signal representative of the first and second optical response signals (165) respectively;(iv) the at least one communication mechanism is configured to convey:(a) the system information representative of the first optical probe assembly (125) from first data element (140) to the at least one converter (110), and(b) the system information representative of the second optical probe assembly (125) from second data element (140) to the at least one converter (110), wherein the at least one converter (110) is configured to determine:(i) the at least one first characteristic to be measured by the first probe assembly, based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the first optical probe assembly (125) and at least a portion of the at least one signal representative of the first optical response signal (165); and(ii) the at least one second characteristic to be measured by the second probe assembly based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the second optical probe assembly (125) and at least a portion of the at least one signal representative of the second optical response signal (165).

28. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one converter (110) comprises at least one slot (414) configured to receive the at least one data element (140).

29. An optical temperature sensor system, comprising: at least one optical probe assembly (125) comprising: at least one optical probe (120) having at least one sensing element (124) positioned therein, wherein the at least one sensing element (124) is in thermal communication with at least one object to be measured (50) and is configured to emit at least one optical response signal (165); at least one non-volatile data element (140) including system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125); at least one converter (110) comprising: at least one light source (218) configured to emit at least one optical excitation signal (160); at least one detector (206) configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one optical response signal (165) from the at least one optical probe (120) and to provide at least one signal representative of the at least one optical response signal (165); at least one reader (150); at least one optical pathway (130) configured to convey:(i) at least a portion of the optical excitation signal (160) from the converter (110) to the at least one sensing element (124); and(ii) at least a portion of the optical excitation response signal (166) from the at least one sensing element (124) to the converter (110); and at least one communication mechanism configured to convey the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) from the at least one data element (140) to the at least one converter (110), wherein the at least one converter (110) is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one object to be measured (50) based on at least a portion of the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) and at least a portion of the at least one signal representative of the at least one optical response signal (165).

30. The optical temperature sensor system of claim 29, wherein the at least one sensing element (124) comprises a phosphor.31 . The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the system information representative of the at least one optical probe assembly (125) includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a calibration curve, a calibration equation, one or more calibration coefficients, a calibration look-up table, one or more temperature compensation factors or equations, an algorithm for performing calculation or conversion of optical data to desired measured values and / or one or more factors for such algorithms, one or more parameters used in the converter to make or optimize a temperature calculation for a specific probe, a pointer that points to information stored elsewhere, a serial number or other unique identifier of the optical probe assembly, the minimum and / or range or ranges to be measured by the optical probe, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe mount, the minimum and / or maximum allowable operating range of the optical probe or optical probe assembly, a date of manufacture, a date of first use of the optical probe, a location of a manufacturing site for the optical probe, a list of compatibleconverter equipment for the optical probe, the time that the optical probe has been in use, and the specifications of the probe.

32. The optical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mechanism is additionally configured to convey system information from the at least one converter to the at least one data element.

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