Fabry-Perot Accelerometer Wavelength Multiplexing

The patent extracts the multiplexing function from external optical infrastructure and integrates it directly into the FPI sensor structure itself. Each FPI sensor is designed with wavelength-dependent reflectivity characteristics that enable automatic wavelength division multiplexing without requiring external gratings, waveguides, or complex optical references.

The FPI sensors perform their own wavelength assignment and signal separation functions through their inherent wavelength-dependent optical properties. The sensors self-organize into a multiplexed array where each sensor naturally operates at a distinct wavelength based on its reflectivity characteristics, eliminating the need for external wavelength control mechanisms.

The patent removes the requirement for external optical references and signal processing algorithms by embedding the reference functionality directly into each FPI sensor's optical cavity. The sensors compare their measurements against inherent reference standards built into their structure, enabling accurate measurements without complex post-processing.

Instead of using external references to verify sensor signals, the patent inverts the approach by making each sensor self-referencing through its own optical cavity characteristics. The wavelength-dependent reflectivity of each sensor serves as both the measurement mechanism and the reference standard simultaneously.

The patent replaces the mechanical embedding of sensors into fiber bulk (FBG) with a surface-mounted FPI configuration. This substitution allows sensors to be formed on flexible substrates and integrated with mobile elements, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling adaptability for inertial and other dynamic sensors.

The FPI sensors are constructed using thin film reflectors and flexible membrane structures that can be mounted on moving parts and curved surfaces. This thin-film approach provides the manufacturing precision of grating-based methods while achieving the flexibility and adaptability needed for mobile sensor systems.