The paper reports the results of work to demonstrate the feasibility of embedding a metal-buffered optical fiber inside a thin metal diaphragm to create a pressure-sensitive transducer. A method was developed to embed butt-coupled optical fibers inside brass diaphragms. Butt-coupled fibers with two different end spacings were successfully embedded in the diaphragms. The pressure response of the diaphragms was calibrated by measuring the changes in light transmission through the butt coupling as a function of pressure. In addition to embedded fiber pressure sensors, this method may be useful for other applications. The calibration results indicate the method could be used to make connections between signal processors and optical fibers embedded in composites.

Date Published: 1 February 1991
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 1367, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VIII, (1 February 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.24743

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1367:
Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VIII
Ramon P. DePaula; Eric Udd, Editor(s)