Optical Waveguide Sensing With Dual Transfer Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting temperature or wavelength changes in optical waveguide structures cannot isolate these changes from other influencing factors, such as output power variations or mechanical stress, and cannot distinguish between intensity variations caused by temperature or wavelength changes.
Innovation Solution
The method employs an optical detection device with a waveguide structure that has two differing power transfer functions for wavelength and temperature dependencies, allowing for the determination of absolute temperature or wavelength changes without requiring a stabilized detection device or probe signal, using opto-electrical converters and a control device to process signals from multiple output ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical output port is used to detect temperature or wavelength changes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates because temperature and wavelength effects cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The optical output is segmented into multiple output ports (first and second optical output ports) with different power transfer functions. Each port provides a separate measurement channel that captures different aspects of the temperature-wavelength dependency, enabling the system to distinguish between these two parameters through mathematical decomposition of the coupled measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The problem is transformed from a one-dimensional measurement (single optical intensity) to a two-dimensional measurement space by introducing multiple output ports with different transfer function characteristics. This dimensional expansion allows the system to resolve the ambiguity between temperature and wavelength effects that cannot be distinguished in a single measurement channel.
2Measurement precision
If temperature-stabilized detection device or wavelength-stabilized probe signal is used, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and operational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration and self-compensation by using the differential information from multiple output ports. The mathematical processing of measurements from different power transfer functions allows the system to automatically determine and compensate for temperature and wavelength variations without requiring external stabilization mechanisms or reference measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stabilizing physical parameters (temperature, wavelength), the system changes the measurement parameters by utilizing multiple output ports with different power transfer function characteristics. This allows the system to work with varying temperature and wavelength conditions while still extracting accurate measurements through the differential analysis of multiple channels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical stress is applied to optical coupling, then the adaptability of the device is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to coupling efficiency changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from multiple measurement channels to compensate for coupling variations. By comparing the differential responses from different output ports, the system can identify and correct for changes in coupling efficiency caused by mechanical stress, thereby maintaining measurement precision despite variations in mechanical conditions.
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 approach enables accurate determination of temperature or wavelength changes, even when the wavelength or temperature is not constant, by using a bijective mapping of power transfer functions to isolate and compensate for variations, improving measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
It is known to use the thermo-optic effect, i.e. the temperature dependency of the refractive index, in multimode waveguide structures
Implementation Method 2
detecting the first and second optical detection signal at the first and second optical output port by means of a first and second opto-electrical converter creating a first and second electrical signal corresponding to the optical power
Data Source
AI summary
An optical detection device and method for detecting temperature changes and/or wavelength changes of an optical probe signal includes transmitting an optical probe signal having a predetermined wavelength to an optical input port of an optical waveguide; detecting first and second optical detection signal at first and second optical output ports via first and second opto-electrical converters which create corresponding first and second electrical signals; measuring values of the first and second electrical signal and determining an absolute temperature or a temperature change of the optical waveguide and/or an absolute wavelength value or a wavelength change of the optical probe signal via values measured of the first and second electrical signals and first and second previously determined wavelengths and temperature dependencies of both first and second power transfer functions.