This paper describes the concept of large scale planar polymer light guide networks for automotive applications. These networks are cost effective, easy to fabricate, and easy to install in vehicles. They may incorporate data links, multiplexers, and couplers for communication purposes, as well as sensors, switches, and displays. Fabrication is achieved by cutting a thin sheet of polymer, or compression molding optical grade resin into the desired network topology. Examples of integratable parts are given, including a novel, reflective-type position sensor. The particular sensor we tested exhibited linear response over its designed range. Through normalization of the differential output, the response of the sensor was unaffected by light source intensity fluctuations, and by variations of the distance between the sensor extremities and the moving part. This simple position sensor demonstrates many of the advantages of planar polymer networks, including that of extending the one dimensional geometry of fiber optics into two dimensions.

Date Published: 1 February 1989
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 0985, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VI, (1 February 1989); doi: 10.1117/12.948877

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0985:
Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VI
Ramon P. DePaula; Eric Udd, Editor(s)