| US 7,605,923 B2 | ||
| Embeddable polarimetric fiber optic sensor and method for monitoring of structures | ||
| Jeffery Lee Williams, Huntsville, Ala. (US); Michael Scott Kranz, Madison, Ala. (US); and Larry Christopher Heaton, Huntsville, Ala. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Morgan Research Corporation, Huntsville, Ala. (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 17, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/251,739. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/619419, filed on Oct. 15, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0081772 A1, Apr. 20, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01B 9/02 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 356—477 | 21 Claims |
| 1. A method of monitoring strain on a structure, comprising:
physically continuously contacting the structure with a polarization-maintaining single mode optical fiber;
directing the output of an optical light source into an input end of the optical fiber;
directing a signal from an output end of the optical fiber into a polarizer;
creating interference of an optical signal emitted from the polarizer by using an optical interferometric device;
detecting intensity changes at at least one non-predetermined point along the optical fiber resulting from the interference
corresponding to a strain on the structure transferred to the optical fiber creating a local change in birefringence of the
optical fiber and providing an electrical signal responsive thereto; and
signal processing the electrical signal to provide one or more output signals indicative of the location of the strain on
the structure corresponding to the at least one non-predetermined point along the optical fiber, wherein at least one said
non-predetermined point does not use a discrete sensor to transfer strain to the optical fiber.
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