Optical Environmental Sensor Using Spectro-Ratiometric Pulse Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sensing methods for environmental parameters along long optical fibers are time-consuming or require low-dispersion fibers, which are inadequate for coupling multiple sensors effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical system using a pulse generator to produce pulses at different wavelengths, split into sensing and reference pulses, with a time delay line and photon counting detector to measure optical energy, allowing for efficient sensing of environmental parameters through a spectro-ratiometric sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time evolution techniques such as fluorescence lifetime technique or ring down spectroscopy are used to measure spectral loss in point sensors, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed light sources at multiple wavelengths to excite the sensors, replacing continuous time evolution measurement with periodic pulse-based measurement. This allows the system to capture spectral loss information at specific time intervals rather than requiring long continuous measurement periods, thereby reducing overall measurement time while maintaining accuracy through multiple wavelength comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from time-dependent spectral loss measurement to wavelength-dependent optical energy measurement. By measuring optical energy at multiple discrete wavelengths simultaneously and comparing sensing pulse energy with reference pulse energy, the system achieves accurate spectral loss measurement without requiring time-consuming evolution techniques
2Measurement precision
If low-dispersion fibers are used to enable time evolution techniques, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to specialized fiber requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spectral loss measurement capability from the fiber itself by using reference pulses that travel through the same fiber without interacting with the sensor. By comparing sensing pulse energy with reference pulse energy at multiple wavelengths, the system measures spectral loss without requiring the fiber to have special low-dispersion properties, thus using standard optical fibers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a reference copy of the light path through the fiber that does not interact with the sensor. This reference pulse serves as a baseline to compare against the sensing pulse, allowing the system to measure spectral loss caused by the sensor rather than fiber characteristics, eliminating the need for specialized low-dispersion fibers
3Measurement precision
If multiple wavelengths are used to measure spectral loss, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple sensors and measurement channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wavelength measurements into a single optical fiber link by using a pulse generator that emits multiple wavelengths sequentially or simultaneously. The pulse splitter divides each wavelength into sensing and reference paths, and the single detector measures all wavelengths by time-multiplexing, combining multiple measurement functions into one integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes each component universal by designing the pulse generator to handle multiple wavelengths, the pulse splitter to divide any incoming pulse regardless of wavelength, and the detector to measure optical energy across different wavelengths. This multi-functional design allows accurate spectral loss measurement at multiple wavelengths without requiring separate dedicated sensors for each wavelength
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
This method enables faster and more accurate measurement of environmental parameters by distinguishing the optical energy of sensing and reference pulses, overcoming the limitations of time-consuming techniques and low-dispersion fibers.
Implementation Method 1
spectro-ratiometric sensor for sensing the environmental parameter
Implementation Method 2
a light detector for detecting the sensing pulse and the reference pulse and measuring an optical energy of the sensing pulse and the reference pulse
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for sensing an environmental parameter, comprising: a pulse generator for generating a first pulse having a first wavelength and a second pulse having a second wavelength; a pulse splitter for splitting each one of the first and second pulse into a sensing pulse and a reference pulse; a sensing arm for receiving the sensing pulses therefrom and comprising a spectro-ratiometric sensor; a reference arm for receiving the reference pulses; a time delay line for delaying a relative propagation of the sensing pulses and the reference pulses; a light detector for measuring an optical energy of the sensing pulse and the reference pulse, for the first and second wavelengths; and at least one optical link for optically connecting the pulse generator to the pulse splitter, and the sensing and reference arms to the light detector.