Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
073514260 | Optical sensor | 32 |
20080229825 | Accelerometers - A fibre optic accelerometer particularly intended for use with an interferometer using the compliant cylinder approach but further providing a seismic mass at the core of the cylinder resulting in improved sensitivity and rejection of out-of-axis inputs. | 09-25-2008 |
20090044625 | Method for controlling light - Provided is a method for controlling light, including retrieving accelerations along an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis with a 3-axis accelerometer sensor; matching the retrieved accelerations with RGB values; and transforming the RGB values and displaying a color of the transformed RGB values. The 3-axis accelerometer sensor retrieves the accelerations Ax, Ay, and Az along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis and calculates a velocity Vi along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis using the accelerations Ax, Ay, and Az, with i denoting directions x, y, and z, Vi=Vio+Ait expressing a terminal velocity in the direction i, Vio denoting an initial velocity in the direction i, Ai denoting the acceleration in the direction i, and t denoting time, thereby allowing variation of brightness to be controlled in eight modes. | 02-19-2009 |
20090056447 | Fiber optic MEMS seismic sensor with mass supported by hinged beams - The present invention relates to an optic seismic MEMS sensor. More specifically, a proof mass is supported by a frame having supporting beams. The proof mass is positioned within the frame and has a hinged attachment to the beams. The proof mass has a sensor gap having a first reflector and a second reflector positioned at opposing ends of the sensor gap. An optical fiber injects light into the sensor gap and light is reflected to determine seismic movement of the proof mass with respect to the frame. Stops are provided for limiting the movement of the proof mass to minimize strain on the attachment of the beams and the proof mass. | 03-05-2009 |
20090308158 | Optical Accelerometer - An optical accelerometer including a light source, a light detector and a flexible medium positioned between the light source and the light detector. The flexible medium has an opening through which the light beam from the light sources passes with the light beam being detected by the light detector. Movement by the flexible medium in response to acceleration or deceleration varies the intensity of the light beam detected by the light detector. | 12-17-2009 |
20100024551 | FIBER OPTIC LASER ACCELEROMETER - An accelerometer is provided for a fiber optic laser. Strain applied to the fiber optic laser results in an emission wavelength shift. The fiber optic laser is joined to a transducer and extends laterally across said transducer. Acceleration of the transducer in a predefined direction causes strain in said fiber optic laser. The transducer can have many possible designs. There is further provided a system for sensing acceleration which includes a pumping laser and a distributor joined to the fiber optic laser. Return signals from the fiber optic laser are provided to an interferometer and analysis circuitry. In the absence of a transducer, the system can operate as a strain sensor. | 02-04-2010 |
20100313658 | FIBER OPTIC PARTICLE MOTION SENSOR SYSTEM - A sensor apparatus combines an optical sensor in which acceleration, acoustic velocity, or displacement (vibration) causes a corresponding shift in the center wavelength of the sensor output, coupled to a high speed interferometric interrogator, through an unbalanced fiber interferometer. The unbalanced interferometer functions to translate optical wavelength shift into phase shift, which is easily demodulated by the interrogator. | 12-16-2010 |
20100313659 | SEISMIC STREAMER - There is provided a solid seismic streamer cable for use in seismic surveying in marine environments. The streamer is characterised by a buffer layer | 12-16-2010 |
20110088470 | METHOD USING ASYMMETRIC OPTICAL RESONANCES - A method utilizes an optical resonator that includes a reflective element and a spatial mode filter positioned relative to the reflective element such that light emitted from the spatial mode filter is reflected by the reflective element. The optical resonator has an optical resonance with a resonance lineshape that is asymmetric as a function of wavelength. | 04-21-2011 |
20110126623 | OPTICAL DETECTION METHOD AND OPTICAL MEMS DETECTOR, AND METHOD FOR MAKING MEMS DETECTOR - The present invention discloses an optical MEMS detector, comprising: a substrate; at least one photo diode in a region within the substrate; an isolation wall above the substrate and surrounding the photo diode region; and at least one movable part having an opening for light to pass through and reach the photo diode, wherein when the at least one movable part is moved, an amount of light reaching the photo diode is changed. | 06-02-2011 |
20110219874 | FIBRE OPTIC ACCELEROMETER AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A FIBRE OPTIC ACCELEROMETER - A tri-axis accelerometer for use in seismic surveying is provided. The accelerometer comprises at least three fibre optic accelerometer elements which have respective fibre sensor coils, and which are characteristic in that the fibre sensor coils are coiled about a common coiling axis and at least one of the accelerometer elements is a slant angle accelerometer element. A corresponding method of manufacturing a tri-axis fibre optic accelerometer is also disclosed. A fibre optic tri-axis accelerometer for sensing acceleration in three directions is also provided, which comprises a first, a second, and a third sensor base, each base including a first, a second, and a third fixed element, respectively, and a first, a second, and a third movable element, respectively, each pair of fixed and movable elements carrying a fibre sensing coil. The fibre sensing coils are all coiled around a common coiling axis and at least one of the movable elements is designed and mounted so as to be movable in a direction that is slanted with respect to the common coiling axis. | 09-15-2011 |
20110283795 | System, Device And Method For Detecting Seismic Acceleration - A device for detecting seismic acceleration including a proof mass; a base for providing a sensor acceleration, relative to the proof mass, based on the seismic acceleration; an optical fibre portion operatively connected between the proof mass and the base for providing a fibre tension based on the sensor acceleration, a fibre Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) in the optical fibre portion for providing an optical characteristic representative of the fibre tension, and a compensator for applying a compensating tension to the FFPI to compensate for a change of the optical characteristic due to a temperature change of the FFPI. | 11-24-2011 |
20110303008 | CANTILEVER BEAM STRUCTURAL RESONANT-TYPE INTEGRATED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ACCELEROMETER - A cantilever beam structural resonant-type integrated optical waveguide accelerometer, includes an input waveguide ( | 12-15-2011 |
20120024062 | Low Cost Optical Accelerometer - An accelerometer assembly and its method of operation. The accelerometer assembly is designed to be very low cost and robust. This enables the accelerometer assembly to be used in traditionally inexpensive consumer products. The accelerometer assembly uses one or more molded elastomeric structures. Each of the elastomeric structures has a flexible neck section and a head section that is supported by the flexible neck section. The head section of the elastomeric structure is placed between a light source and a photodetector. The head section partially obscures the photodetector from the light source. As the elastomeric structure experiences acceleration forces, the neck section flexes and the head section moves. This varies the degree in which the head section obscures the photodetector. The amount of light detected by the photodetector, therefore, becomes a measure of changing acceleration forces. | 02-02-2012 |
20120198935 | TWIN SUB-WAVELENGTH GRATING OPTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR - The present disclosure relates generally to an optical signal processor. In one embodiment, the optical signal processor includes a first sub-wavelength grating having a first grating period and a second sub-wavelength grating having a second grating period that is different than the first grating period of the first sub-wavelength grating. | 08-09-2012 |
20120325001 | OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Optical sensors and sensing methods are provided. A particular method includes applying light to a first end of an optical fiber. Light reflected by at least one of a first photonic crystal sensor coupled to a second end of the optical fiber and a second photonic crystal sensor coupled to the second end of the optical fiber is detected. The first photonic crystal sensor exhibits a first reflection spectrum that changes responsive a first sensed parameter and the second photonic crystal sensor exhibits a second reflection spectrum that changes responsive a second sensed parameter. A parameter value of at least one of the first sensed parameter and the second sensed parameter is determined based on the detected light. | 12-27-2012 |
20130104655 | FIBER OPTICAL ACCELEROMETER | 05-02-2013 |
20130255380 | OPTICAL ACCELEROMETERS - Optical accelerometers may be provided that detect acceleration in up to six axes. An optical accelerometer may include an image sensor and optical elements such as light pipes that extend over the image sensor. Light may be injected into the optical elements by a light source. The optical elements may guide the light onto corresponding portions of an image pixel array on the image sensor. The image pixels may be used to detect changes in the location, size, and intensity of illuminated portions of the pixel array when the optical elements move due to acceleration of the optical accelerometer. The optical accelerometer may include multiple light pipes having various lengths and thicknesses. Light pipes of matching length and thickness may be formed over opposing sides of a pixel array. The light pipes may be coated with a material that responds to electric or magnetic fields. | 10-03-2013 |
20140026663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE VARIATION IN SPEED OF A MOVING BODY - A device and method measure an acceleration of a moving body. The device contains a solid body having a moving part and an internal cavity capable of allowing for a free movement of the moving part. The internal cavity has at least one wall forming a sloping track, the sloping track having a surface allowing for the free movement of the moving part on the sloping track between an initial position at rest and a distant position spaced from the initial position situated at an end of the internal cavity and reachable by the moving part during a variation in acceleration. The moving part moving from the initial position to the distant position in the internal cavity under an effect of the acceleration of the moving body. At least one detector is provide and is capable of detecting a presence of the moving part at the distant position. | 01-30-2014 |
20140076050 | OPTICAL ACCELEROMETER - There is provided an optical accelerometer including a first substrate, a second substrate, a spacer and a processing unit. The first substrate includes a frame, a movable member and at least one elastic member. Periodic slots are formed on the movable member along at least one direction to be served as a diffraction grating. The elastic member is connected between the frame and the movable member. The second substrate includes at least one sensing unit configured to detect a diffraction pattern formed by the diffraction grating. The spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to define a predetermined height. The processing unit is coupled to the sensing unit and configured to calculate a 3D acceleration according to the diffraction pattern. | 03-20-2014 |
20140260614 | GYROSCOPES BASED ON OPTOMECHANICAL SENSING - Gyroscopes based on optomechanical designs to provide sensitive sensing while providing relatively large bandwidth and dynamic range with enhanced noise performance. | 09-18-2014 |
20150020590 | OPTOMECHANICAL ACCELEROMETER - Technologies are generally described for operating and manufacturing optomechanical accelerometers. In some examples, an optomechanical accelerometer device is described that uses a cavity resonant displacement sensor based on a zipper photonic crystal nano-cavity to measure the displacement of an integrated test mass generated by acceleration applied to the chip. The cavity-resonant sensor may be fully integrated on-chip and exhibit an enhanced displacement resolution due to its strong optomechanical coupling. The accelerometer structure may be fabricated in a silicon nitride thin film and constitute a rectangular test mass flexibly suspended on high aspect ratio inorganic nitride nano-tethers under high tensile stress. By increasing the mechanical Q-factors through adjustment of tether width and tether length, the noise-equivalent acceleration (NEA) may be reduced, while maintaining a large operation bandwidth. The mechanical Q-factor may be improved with thinner (e.g., <1 micron) and longer tethers (e.g., 10-560 microns). | 01-22-2015 |
20150135832 | INTEGRATED FIBER BRAGG GRATING ACCELEROMETER IN A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - An accelerometer is included within the confined space and limited volume of a distal portion of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes an end component, a joint coupled to the end component, a shaft coupled to the joint, and a force transducer and accelerometer apparatus. The force transducer and accelerometer apparatus is coupled between the joint and the shaft. The force transducer and accelerometer apparatus includes a force sensor and an accelerometer. The accelerometer includes an optic fiber having a Fiber Bragg Grating. Information acquired from the Fiber Bragg Grating is used to drive a vibro-tactile haptic feedback output device coupled to a master control arm surgeon grip. | 05-21-2015 |
20150369837 | DAMPED FIBER OPTIC ACCELEROMETERS, SENSORS, AND SENSOR ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes: a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest; a moveable portion; a spring member positioned at least partially between the fixed portion and the moveable portion; an optical fiber wound in contact with the fixed portion and the moveable portion such that the optical fiber spans at least a portion of the spring; and an elastomeric material provided in contact with at least one of the fixed portion, the moveable portion, the spring member, the body of interest, and the optical fiber. | 12-24-2015 |
20160097790 | Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Accelerometers - According to one example, a system includes a flexural beam having a first face and a second face opposite the first face and a first coil of optical fiber coupled to the first face, where the first coil of optical fiber is encapsulated by a cured encapsulation composition, wherein the encapsulation composition has a viscosity from 30 to 300 millipascal-second at 25° C. | 04-07-2016 |
20160124013 | ACCELEROMETER - An accelerometer device ( | 05-05-2016 |
20160195397 | OPTO-MECHANICAL INERTIAL SENSOR | 07-07-2016 |
20160202284 | ALL-OPTICAL SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO MOTION AND OPTICAL MODULE FOR USE IN THE SAME | 07-14-2016 |
20220137088 | FIBRE OPTIC ACCELEROMETER - Accelerometer for measuring acceleration along a measurement direction including a moving mass which is moving with respect to a frame member only along the measurement direction, a suspension system for suspending the moving mass in the frame member while substantially limiting movement of the moving mass along only the measurement direction, and an optical fibre that is connected at a fibre connection point that is coupled to the movable mass. The optical fibre is arranged between the moving mass and the frame member and includes a measurement section for measuring the movement of the moving mass along the measurement direction. | 05-05-2022 |
073514270 | Frequency or phase shift | 4 |
20080271533 | METHOD OF MEASURING BOREHOLE GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION - A sensor adapted for measuring acceleration, the sensor including a light source for illuminating an optical cavity; the optical cavity oriented for receiving light from the source, the optical cavity comprising a quality factor greater than or equal to about 10,000; and a photodetector for measuring a resonant frequency of light emitted from the optical cavity. | 11-06-2008 |
20110277548 | FIBER OPTIC PARTICLE MOTION SENSOR AND MEASURING METHOD USING THE SENSOR - An optical sensor in which acceleration, acoustic velocity, or displacement (vibration) causes a corresponding shift in the center wavelength of the sensor output. The sensor can be coupled to a high-speed interferometric interrogator through an unbalanced fiber interferometer. The unbalanced interferometer functions to translate optical wavelength shift into phase shift, which is easily demodulated by the interrogator. A method of measuring acceleration uses the sensor. | 11-17-2011 |
20120216615 | METHOD OF MEASURING ACCELERATION USING A FIBER OPTIC PARTICLE MOTION SENSOR - A method of measuring acceleration using an optical sensor. In the optical sensor, acceleration, acoustic velocity, or displacement (vibration) causes a corresponding shift in the center wavelength of the sensor output. The sensor can be coupled to a high-speed interferometric interrogator through an unbalanced fiber interferometer. The unbalanced interferometer functions to translate optical wavelength shift into phase shift, which is easily demodulated by the interrogator. | 08-30-2012 |
20130327146 | OPTICAL ACCELEROMETER SYSTEM - One embodiment includes an accelerometer system. The system includes a laser configured to emit an optical beam at a linear polarization. The system also includes an optical cavity system. The optical cavity system includes a minor that is coupled to an accelerometer housing via a spring and is configured to reflect the optical beam. The optical cavity system also includes at least one photodetector configured to receive at least a portion of at least one of the optical beam and the reflected optical beam and to generate an acceleration signal that is indicative of motion of the mirror resulting from an external acceleration acting upon the accelerometer housing. The system further includes an acceleration processor configured to calculate a magnitude of the external acceleration based on the acceleration signal. | 12-12-2013 |