Optical Resonator Thermometry Using Multimode Wavelength Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photonic thermometers for temperature measurement are expensive, bulky, and sensitive to environmental factors, requiring frequent recalibration and significant scientific knowledge, while using wide-range tunable light sources to track resonance across a wide temperature range.
Innovation Solution
A temperature measurement system using a photonic device with an optical resonator that employs a simpler, less expensive light source outputting light in a limited wavelength range, detecting resonant wavelengths across different modes of the resonator to determine accurate temperature measurements through characteristic relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a wide-range tunable light source is used to track resonance across a wide temperature range, then temperature measurement capability is improved, but device complexity, cost, and sensitivity to environmental factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature measurement range into multiple segments, each corresponding to a different resonant mode of the optical resonator. Instead of using a single wide-range light source to cover all temperatures, the system segments the measurement space and uses multiple narrow-range light sources, each optimized for a specific temperature range and resonant mode. This segmentation reduces the complexity and cost of each individual light source while maintaining wide overall temperature measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If a wide-range tunable light source is used, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but cost and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature measurement function across multiple resonant modes, with each mode handled by a dedicated narrow-range light source. This segmentation allows each light source to be simpler and less expensive while the collective system achieves wide-range accurate measurement through the combination of multiple specialized components.
3Temperature
If a wide-range tunable light source is used, then temperature measurement capability is improved, but recalibration frequency and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the measurement range into multiple resonant modes, each handled by a narrow-range light source, the patent reduces the sensitivity to environmental factors that cause drift. Each specialized light source operates in a stable, limited range, reducing the need for frequent recalibration compared to a single wide-range source that must accommodate all conditions.
4Measurement precision
If multiple modes of the optical resonator are utilized, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of wide-range temperature measurement into multiple simpler sub-tasks, each handled by a dedicated light source-resonant mode pair. This segmentation makes the overall system more manageable and less complex than using a single wide-range source, as each component can be optimized independently for its specific function.
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
Achieves highly accurate temperature measurements over a wide range with reduced complexity and cost by utilizing multiple modes of the optical resonator and a short-range light source, providing stability and lower maintenance compared to prior art systems.
Implementation Method 1
Photonic thermometers rely on temperature dependent changes in an optical material, typically a combination of thermo-optic effects and thermal expansion
Implementation Method 2
Photonic thermometers rely on temperature dependent changes in an optical material, typically a combination of thermo-optic effects and thermal expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature measurement system includes an optical resonator, a detector, and a computing subsystem. Light resonates in the optical resonator at resonant wavelengths that vary relative to a temperature in the optical resonator. The detector detects at least two resonant wavelengths of light output from the optical resonator. The computing subsystem determines the temperature of the optical resonator based at least in part on a mathematical operation on the at least two resonant wavelengths of the light output from the optical resonator. The mathematical operation may be a subtraction operation that determines a wavelength difference between two resonant wavelengths. In various implementations, the temperature of the optical resonator is determined based on a mapping of the wavelength difference to the temperature or based on an identified mode of the optical resonator and a mapping of the resonant wavelength to the temperature of the optical resonator in the mode.