Ring Laser Sensor Frequency Detection for Precision Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber sensors, such as Mach-Zehnder interferometers, face limitations in precision and sensitivity when measuring small changes in physical quantities like length, temperature, and refractive index, necessitating a more advanced sensing technology.
Innovation Solution
A ring laser sensor is developed, comprising a pump source, common section with a gain medium, and a detection section, forming two ring laser resonators with opposite transmission directions. The detection section includes a sensing element causing an optical path difference, resulting in a frequency difference between the lasers, which is detected to determine physical quantities, enhancing sensitivity and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a Mach-Zehnder interferometer based optical fiber sensor is used to measure physical quantities, then the sensor can detect phase difference of laser beams, but the detection precision and sensitivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path is segmented into multiple sections including a common section and separate detection sections, forming two distinct ring laser resonators. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each path while maintaining a shared reference section, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the reference path and measurement path into a compact ring resonator structure with a common section. By combining these functions in a shared optical path segment, the device achieves high detection precision while reducing the overall complexity compared to traditional interferometer configurations
2Measurement precision
If traditional optical fiber sensors are used, then they can measure physical quantities through phase difference detection, but the sensitivity for measuring small changes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs laser oscillation within ring resonators, which inherently provides high-frequency stable oscillations. This oscillatory mechanism enhances the sensitivity of detection by enabling precise measurement of small frequency shifts caused by physical quantity changes, thereby improving sensitivity without significantly increasing detection difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement from phase difference detection to frequency difference detection. By measuring the frequency shift of laser oscillations in the ring resonators, the system achieves higher sensitivity for detecting small changes in physical quantities, as frequency measurements can be made with greater precision than phase measurements
3Reliability
If two separate optical paths are used in the sensor, then measurement of physical quantities is enabled, but external environmental changes affect the optical paths and reduce anti-jamming capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The common section of the ring resonator serves multiple functions: it acts as part of both ring resonators, provides a stable reference path, and compensates for environmental disturbances. This multi-functional design enhances anti-jamming capacity by allowing the shared optical path to cancel out common-mode environmental noise affecting both measurement paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of environmental changes on optical paths into a beneficial compensation mechanism. By having both ring resonators share a common optical path section, environmental disturbances affecting that section appear identically in both paths and can be differentially canceled, thereby improving reliability and anti-jamming capacity
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 ring laser sensor achieves higher sensitivity and accuracy in measuring small changes in physical quantities due to its ability to detect frequency differences, while its common optical path configuration provides good anti-jamming capacity and stability.
Implementation Method 1
the detection section is provided with a sensing element capable of causing an optical path difference; sensing the physical quantities by the sensing element leads to the change of the optical path and the frequency of the laser transmitted in the detection section
Implementation Method 2
thereby generating a frequency difference between two lasers, and a heterodyne interference is generated by the two lasers with different frequencies, the amounts of physical quantities are determined by detecting the frequency difference
Implementation Method 3
the common section is provided with a gain medium; the common section and the reference section form a first ring laser resonator, and the common section and the detection section form a second ring laser resonator
Data Source
AI summary
A frequency based ring laser sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a pump source, a common section, and a reference section and a detection section. The common section is provided with a gain medium. The common section and the reference section form a first ring laser resonator, and the common section and the detection section form a second ring laser resonator. Laser beams are transmitted oppositely in the first ring laser resonator and the second ring laser resonator. The detection section is provided with a sensing element capable of causing an optical path difference. The common section is provided with an output unit or each of the reference section and the detection is provided with the output unit, and the output unit is connected to a photoelectric detector through a light uniting unit.