Optic System Spectral Shift for Sensor Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for sensing and controlling weight, force, displacement, and chemistry are vulnerable to electronic interference, pose safety risks in flammable environments, and suffer from signal attenuation issues, limiting their accuracy and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A system using a single optic fiber to transmit light signals between a transducer and a reader, employing a 'reference' and 'signal' channel with distinct spectral or timing characteristics, allowing for accurate measurement without exerting force on the reactive element and maintaining signal integrity across gaps or through attenuating media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic signals are used for sensing and control, then communication and control functions are achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to electromagnetic interference and safety risks in flammable environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission through fiber optic cables. The transducer converts physical quantities (pressure, force, displacement, chemical conditions) into optical signals that travel through fiber optic cables to the reader device, eliminating vulnerability to electromagnetic interference while maintaining measurement and control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inherently safe environment for flammable and explosive applications by using optical instead of electrical signals. Since optical signals do not produce sparks or electromagnetic fields that could ignite flammables, the system achieves intrinsic safety without requiring additional protective measures or inerting systems.
2Reliability
If shielding is employed to protect against electromagnetic interference, then immunity to interference is improved, but weight, size, and cost increase while flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for electromagnetic shielding by replacing electrical transmission with optical transmission. Fiber optic cables naturally provide electromagnetic isolation, so no additional shielding layers, grounded shields, or complex protective structures are required, reducing device complexity while maintaining immunity to interference.
3Reliability
If multi-fiber optic design is used to transmit signal and reference, then communication capability is achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to differential attenuation and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the signal and reference channels into a single fiber optic cable. The transducer modulates the optical properties of light passing through the reactive element, allowing both signal and reference information to be transmitted through the same fiber, thereby eliminating differential attenuation between separate fibers while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fiber optic cable serves multiple functions: it transmits both the signal carrier and the reference signal, provides mechanical coupling to the reactive element, and enables bidirectional communication. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while maintaining measurement precision.
4Reliability
If electrical connections are used to interface transducer and reader, then signal transmission is achieved, but cost increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical connections with optical coupling. The transducer uses optical elements (such as modulators or fluorescent materials) to encode information onto light waves that travel through fiber optic cables, eliminating the need for electrical contacts, connectors, or wiring harnesses, thereby reducing cost and increasing flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides immunity to electromagnetic interference, ensures safety in explosive environments, and maintains high accuracy despite signal attenuation, enabling reliable measurement of physical and chemical conditions with reduced complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
causing a characteristic of the light to shift in a predictable manner as the quantity being measured increases or decreases
Implementation Method 2
A single fiber optic cable transmits a signal and a reference to and from the transducer
Data Source
AI summary
An improved optic system for measuring and/or controlling displacement, force, pressure, position, or chemistry is disclosed. This apparatus allows for more accurate, robust, and economical communication between the transducer (or control input element) and the reader device (or control output), allows the use of a single optic fiber and/or or a gap for the communication link, and produces substantial insensitivity to attenuation due to mechanical, chemical, thermal, and radiation effects acting on the optic fiber or open space in which the signal propagates. It is also significantly immune to interference from electromagnetic radiation, since the link can be easily produced as a non-conductor which will not propagate unwanted electrical energy or lightning, and is intrinsically safe from igniting fires or explosions. It also facilitates use on rotating machinery and remote location of the transducer by the ability to transmit the signal across a large gap or air space.