Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080218758 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND MODULE FOR MONITORING A POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A sensing module positioned about an optical fiber cable having a long axis. The optical fiber includes a core that transmits light through the optical fiber cable. The sensing module includes a first short-period fiber grating positioned about the core. A second short-period fiber grating is positioned about the core and at a distance along the long axis with respect to the first short-period fiber grating. At least one of a long-aperiod fiber grating and a long-period fiber grating is positioned between the first short-period fiber grating and the second short-period fiber grating. A fiber cladding is positioned around the long-period grating and/or the long-aperiod grating of the sensing module. A sensing skin is positioned about the fiber cladding and includes a chemical gas active material. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219618 | METHODS OF MAKING AND OPERATING A FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE - In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the invention provides a multi-parameter fiber optic sensing system with an aperiodic sapphire fiber grating as sensing element for simultaneous temperature, strain, NO | 09-11-2008 |
20080227349 | Temperature sensing fabric - A blanket or article of wearing apparel for a subject such as an infant. A fiber optic temperature sensing element is integrated into the fabric by a process such as weaving. The temperature sensing element is a optic fiber having inscribed therein one or more fiber Bragg grating sensors such that a light is introduced into the optic fiber and that light directed onto the subject at a grating interface. A return light signal is received, either by a reflectance mode or a transmission mode, where the return light signal has a wavelength shift indicative of the temperature of the subject by Bragg resonant effect. Higher temperature sensitivity is obtained with a metal material of a high thermal expansion coefficient that is coated around the fiber sensor cladding. | 09-18-2008 |
20090022449 | FIBER OPTIC SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MAKING - A fiber optic sensor including a fiber having a modified surface integral with the fiber wherein the modified surface includes an open pore network with optical agents dispersed within the open pores of the open pore network. Methods for preparing the fiber optic sensor are also provided. The fiber optic sensors can withstand high temperatures and harsh environments. | 01-22-2009 |
20090074347 | FIBER BRAGG GRATING FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE SENSING - A method of fiber core material band gap engineering for artificially modifying fiber material properties is provided. The method includes doping the fiber core material with one or more atoms for enhancing photosensitivity to the fiber material. The method also includes co-doping the fiber core material with one or more ions for enhancing an amorphous network crosslink mean coordination number. The method further includes thermally annealing the fiber core material for widening the band gap of the fiber core material. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074348 | HARSH ENVIRONMENT TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A gasification distributed temperature sensing system is disclosed. The sensing system includes a gasification vessel and a harsh environment fiber sensing cable package disposed within the gasification vessel, the sensing cable package includes a thermally conductive enclosure and at least one sensor cable including a distributed array of high-temperature fiber Bragg grating sensors, wherein the sensors are disposed and hermetically sealed within the thermally conductive enclosure. | 03-19-2009 |
20090085454 | THERMAL MANGEMENT ARTICLE HAVING THERMAL WAVE GUIDE - An article includes a stack of display layers including a display layer having a high-shear modulus that is sandwiched between two display layers having a low-shear modulus. The display layers include a light-emitting device that generates heat and light during use. The heat generated by the display layers may form localized heat-sources in the stack. The display layer with the high-shear modulus is a thermal transport layer through which the localized heat-sources-induced guided elastic waves propagate along an acoustic waveguide plane and can transport the heat generated by the light-emitting device away from the light-emitting device. Alternately, a display layer having a high refractive index may be sandwiched between two display layers having a low refractive index. The display layers with low shear modulus or low refractive index may be replaced with thermal transport layers having low shear modulus or low refractive index respectively. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087303 | EMBEDDED FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device operating in an environment includes a fiber optic sensing system having one or more fiber optic sensors disposed in the device and configured to detect one or more parameters related to the device. The parameters may include temperature, strain, pressure, vibration, or combinations thereof. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087639 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT ARTICLE AND METHOD - An article includes a display layer having an outward facing surface and an inward facing surface. The display layer includes a light-emitting device that generates heat and light during use. A thermal transport layer may be secured to the display layer. The thermal transport layer may include a thermally conductive material that can transport heat generated by the light-emitting device away from the light-emitting device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087640 | FLUIDIC THERMAL MANAGEMENT ARTICLE AND METHOD - An article includes a display layer having an outward facing surface and an inward facing surface. The display layer includes a light-emitting device that generates heat and light during use. A thermal transport layer may be secured to the display layer. The thermal transport layer may include a microfluidic layer including a coolant that can transport heat generated by the light-emitting device away from the light-emitting device. An article includes a display structure having a height, a width, and a thickness that define a volume. The display structure can include components that emit light to generate a three-dimensional image within the volume. The display structure includes a stack. The display structure also includes a thermal dissipation layer in contact with the sheet or stack that can transport generated heat from the sheet or stack to a heat absorbing structure. | 04-02-2009 |
20090169150 | FIBER BRAGG GRATING AND FABRICATION METHOD - A method of fabrication of a thermally stabilized Type I fiber Bragg grating-based temperature sensing device includes doping a fiber core material with germanium or germanium oxide for enhancing photosensitivity, co-doping the fiber core material with fluorine or chorine or for increasing a mean coordination number; and ultraviolet laser inscribing a periodic or quasiperiodic modulated refractive index structure in the fiber core using a laser energy operating at less than 1000 milliJoules per square centimeter per pulse. The resulting sensor is operable for more than 1000 hours at temperatures up to at least 550 degrees Celsius. | 07-02-2009 |
20090185772 | Fiberoptic patient health multi-parameter monitoring devices and system - A patient monitoring system includes a plurality of diffraction gratings integrated along the length of an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber and each grating are together configured to alter either the effective refractive index or grating periodicity of the respective grating at its corresponding location along the fiber in response to at least one desired external stimulus. | 07-23-2009 |
20090320609 | Turbomachinery system fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system and method - A fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system for monitoring turbomachinery system shaft static and dynamic torques, vibration modes and associated operation status includes a multi-furcated fiber bundle based optical splitter configured to transmit light to a surface of at least one turbomachinery system shaft through a plurality of optical fiber bundles disposed at a plurality of locations in proximity to the surface of the at least one shaft, in which the plurality of locations together are arranged in a substantially axial direction between the ends of the at least one shaft. The system further includes an array of high-temperature bifurcated fiber bundle based reflectance probes to receive reflectance signals from the shaft surface and send to an array of photosensitive detectors, configured to detect dynamic light reflected from the at least one turbomachinery system shaft surface in response to the transmitted light during rotation of at least one turbomachinery system shaft and generate dynamic reflected light signals there from. A sensing mechanism is configured to determine a torque or vibration on at least one turbomachinery system shaft in response to the dynamic reflected light signal signatures based on time-domain and frequency-domain signal processes. | 12-31-2009 |
20090324148 | FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FOIL BEARINGS - A rotary machine includes a rotary component disposed to rotate with respect to a stationary component. A foil bearing is disposed between the stationary component and the rotary component and configured to rotatably support the rotary component. A fiber optic sensing system including one or more fiber optic sensors is disposed in the foil bearing and configured to detect one or more parameters related to the foil bearing. | 12-31-2009 |
20100032582 | FLUORESCENCE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fluorescence detection system comprises a light source configured to produce an excitation light, an optical lens and a fiber bundle. The optical lens is configured to focus the excitation light to a sample to emit fluorescence and to collect the fluorescence. The fiber bundle probe comprises a transmitting fiber configured to transmit the excitation light to the optical lens, and a first receiving fiber configured to deliver the collected fluorescence. The fluorescence detection system further comprises a first detector configured to detect the fluorescence delivered by the receiving fiber to generate a response signal, and a processing unit configured to determine information about the samples by analyzing the response signal. Additionally, a fluorescence detection method is also presented. | 02-11-2010 |
20100074572 | FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device includes a stationary, rotary component, and a fiber optic sensing system. The fiber optic sensing system includes a cable having one or more fiber optic sensors disposed on the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. The fiber optic sensing system is configured to detect one or more first parameters including temperature, strain, pressure, vibration, torque; or combinations thereof related to the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. The one or more first parameters is used to determine one or more second parameters including thermal expansion, clearance, fluid flow rate variation, condensation, fluid leakage, thermal loss, life, thermal stress, or combinations thereof related to the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. | 03-25-2010 |
20100080500 | FIBEROPTIC CLEARANCE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fiberoptic system for clearance detection between rotating and stationary turbomachinery components is presented. The system comprises an optical fiber probe comprising a plurality of optical fibers, at least one of the optical fibers comprising a transmission fiber and at least one of the optical fibers comprising a signal fiber; a light source for providing light through the transmission fiber towards a target; filters for receiving light from the signal fibers, at least two of the filters for filtering different wavelengths; and at least one photodetector for receiving filtered light from the filters. | 04-01-2010 |
20100104060 | OPTICAL GAMMA THERMOMETER - An optical gamma thermometer includes a metal mass having a temperature proportional to a gamma flux within a core of a nuclear reactor, and an optical fiber cable for measuring the temperature of the heated metal mass. The temperature of the heated mass may be measured by using one or more fiber grating structures and/or by using scattering techniques, such as Raman, Brillouin, and the like. The optical gamma thermometer may be used in conjunction with a conventional reactor heat balance to calibrate the local power range monitors over their useful in-service life. The optical gamma thermometer occupies much less space within the in-core instrument tube and costs much less than the conventional gamma thermometer. | 04-29-2010 |
20100247026 | PACKAGED SENSORS AND HARSH ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS WITH PACKAGED SENSORS - A fiber sensor package is disclosed. The fiber sensor package includes an interconnection between a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber within a tubing such that the first and second optical fibers are at least partially disposed within that tubing. A bonding material is disposed across an edge of the interconnection around at least a part of the circumferential surfaces of the first and second fibers, holds rigid the interconnection of the first and second optical fibers. The methods of preparing the package, and the examples of systems benefiting from the fiber sensor package of this invention are also described. | 09-30-2010 |
20100247027 | OPTICAL SENSORS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF MAKING - An optical fiber sensing cable is disclosed. The optical fiber sensing cable comprises a fiber with a core having an index of refraction n | 09-30-2010 |
20100287906 | FIBER-OPTIC DYNAMIC SENSING MODULES AND METHODS - A fiber-optic dynamic sensing module comprises a support member, a beam extending from the support member, and a pre-strained fiber Bragg grating sensor and a strain-free fiber Bragg grating sensor mounted on the beam. The pre-strained and strain-free fiber Bragg grating sensors each comprise a Bragg grating inscribed in a fiber. The Bragg grating of the pre-strained fiber Bragg grating sensor is packaged more tightly along a longitudinal direction of the beam than the Bragg grating of the strain-free fiber Bragg grating sensor. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290733 | FIBER BRAGG GRATING SENSING PACKAGE AND SYSTEM FOR GAS TURBINE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT - A fiber Bragg grating multi-point temperature sensing system comprises a fiber sensing cable package and a plurality of clamping devices distributed along an inner surface of a wall in a circumferential direction for securing the fiber sensing cable package. The fiber sensing cable package comprises a fiber Bragg grating based sensing cable comprising at least one optical fiber, a plurality of Bragg gratings inscribed in the optical fiber, and a fabric layer and a sheath tube surrounding the optical fiber. The multi-point fiber temperature sensing system comprises a light source for transmitting light to the Bragg gratings based sensing cable package, and a detector module receiving reflected signal. Each clamping device comprises a radiation tee and defines at least one mounting hole for securing the fiber sensing cable. | 11-18-2010 |
20100321838 | ARC FLASH DETECTION SYSTEM - An apparatus to detect arc is presented. The apparatus includes a fiber sensor to detect characteristics of an arc flash and a processor to process at least two characteristics of the arc flash. The processor is further configured to generate an arc fault signal. A protective device is configured to mitigate the arc flash based on the arc fault signal. | 12-23-2010 |
20110018483 | STATOR END-WINDING COMPONENT MONITORING SYSTEM - A stator comprises stator end-winding components and a sensing cable. The sensing cable comprises two fixation points secured to two of the end-winding components, and sensors to measure a relative displacement between two or more of the stator end-winding components. | 01-27-2011 |
20110170823 | FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR DETECTING MULTIPLE PARAMETERS IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT - A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes a fiber core having a plurality of grating elements wherein, the grating elements comprise a periodic or a quasiperiodic modulated microcrystalline and silicon dioxide tetrahedral structure and a cladding disposed about the fiber core. | 07-14-2011 |
20110211795 | HERMETICALLY SEALED FIBER SENSING CABLE - In one aspect, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable comprising: a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, an outer surface and a length; a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along the entire length of the core fiber, the fiber cladding having an outer surface and a length; a carbon layer disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along the entire length of the fiber cladding, the carbon layer comprising diamond-like carbon; a hydrogen ion absorption layer in contact with the carbon layer, the hydrogen ion absorption layer being disposed on the outer surface of the carbon layer; and an outer sleeve. Also provided in another aspect of the present invention, is a component for a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable. | 09-01-2011 |
20110228275 | FIBER OPTIC HYDROGEN PURITY SENSOR AND SYSTEM - A hydrogen purity sensing system includes a light source which provides an optical signal through a fiber optic cable. A hydrogen purity sensor is provided in the system which comprises a multilayered nanostructural film of high refractive index and low refractive index materials for receiving the optical signal. The system further includes a photodetector for receiving a reflected optical signal from the hydrogen purity sensor and a processing circuitry coupled to the photodetector for analyzing the reflected optical signal. | 09-22-2011 |
20110267620 | ARC FLASH DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sensor to simultaneously detect light and acoustic waves is presented. The sensor includes one or more optical fibers and a diaphragm disposed near one end of at least one of the one or more optical fibers. The diaphragm is configured to vibrate upon incidence of acoustic waves from an arc flash and reflect a light beam into at least the one of the one or more of the optical fibers. A semi-transparent region is disposed around the one or more optical fibers to diffuse light originating from the arc flash into at least one of the one or more optical fibers. | 11-03-2011 |
20120002195 | ARC FLASH DETECTION METHOD - An arc flash detection method includes transmitting light via an optical fiber to a sensor and transmitting light from the sensor that includes components representative of acoustic waves and light for filtering and processing to detect an occurrence of an arc flash. | 01-05-2012 |
20120029835 | FIBER OPTIC CARBON DIOXIDE PURITY SENSOR PACKAGE AND SYSTEM - A carbon dioxide (CO2) purity sensor package includes a fiber core, a periodic refractive index modulated fiber grating structure within the fiber core and a fiber cladding. A thermally conductive sensing layer is positioned about a portion of the fiber cladding surrounding the periodic refractive index modulated fiber grating structure. A gas chamber encloses the fiber cladding with the thermally conductive sensing layer. | 02-02-2012 |
20120075633 | ELECTRICAL MACHINE COMPONENT MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electrical machine component monitoring system includes a light source that provides an optical signal through a fiber optic cable and a fiber optic sensing component positioned on the electrical machine component or at a standoff distance from the electrical machine component to obtain a responsive optical signal representative of a condition of the electrical machine component. The system further includes a photodetector to receive the responsive optical signal from the fiber optic sensing component and to convert the responsive optical signal to an electrical signal. A processing circuitry is also provided in the system for determining information regarding dirt on the electrical machine component by analyzing the electrical signal. | 03-29-2012 |
20120201489 | FIBEROPTIC CLEARANCE DETECTION METHOD AND OPTICAL FIBER PROBE USED THEREIN - A method includes transmitting light through at least one transmission optical fiber towards a target, receiving light reflected from the target through at least one signal optical fiber, filtering the received light at least two different wavelengths, and using the filtered light to detect a clearance variation. An optical fiber probe includes a plurality of optical fibers, a moisture-resistant enclosure enclosing the optical fibers, a hydrophobic layer situated over an end of the optical fiber probe for preventing moisture from reaching the optical fibers, and a broadband transmission layer between ends of the optical fibers and the hydrophobic layer. | 08-09-2012 |
20130084037 | NANO-STRUCTURED TRAMPOLINE FIBER GAS SENSOR - A fiber gas sensor including a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along an entire length of the core fiber, and a sensing matrix structure disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along a portion of the length of the fiber cladding and surrounding the fiber Bragg grating region. The sensing matrix structure comprising a bonding layer disposed on the outer surface of the fiber cladding layer, a nano-structured trampoline matrix layer disposed on the outer surface of the bonding layer and a capping layer disposed on the outer surface of the matrix layer. The thermally modulated response amplitude of the fiber gas sensor is found to linearly depend upon the gas molecular weight, and can be directly used to determine heat specific capacity ratio of Cp/Cv. | 04-04-2013 |
20130145852 | High Pressure Fiber Optic Sensor System - The present application provides a fiber optic sensor system. The fiber optic sensor system may include a small diameter bellows, a large diameter bellows, and a fiber optic pressure sensor attached to the small diameter bellows. Contraction of the large diameter bellows under an applied pressure may cause the small diameter bellows to expand such that the fiber optic pressure sensor may measure the applied pressure. | 06-13-2013 |
20140054476 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING LOAD-RELATED PARAMETERS OF A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - In one aspect, a system for monitoring load-related parameters of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The system may generally include a plurality of reflective targets positioned within the rotor blade. Each reflective target may include a unique visual identifier. In addition, the system may include a light source configured to illuminate the reflective targets and a sensor configured to detect light reflected from the reflective targets. | 02-27-2014 |
20140056705 | LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE - A load control system for a wind turbine and a method for controlling wind turbine loading are provided. The system includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a light source mounted to a rotor shaft and configured to emit a light, and a sensor mounted to the rotor shaft and configured to sense the light and measure a location of the light in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly. | 02-27-2014 |