Fiber optic sensors are used in areas where standard sensors cannot be used. It offers a number of advantages over conventional sensors.
Interfemetric sensors
Phase of light can change due to external influences acting on the fibre, therefore the changes of the light phase can be used for the detection of physical quantities such as acoustic vibrations or strain.
Signal from a light source is divided into two arms. In general, external vibrations should be applied to the sensing arm while the reference arm should be isolated from external vibrations. Optical path difference causes phase modulation between the sensing arm and the reference arm. Subsequently, phase modulations are converted to intensity modulation by another coupler.
Reflectometry-based sensors
This type of fibre optic sensors are based on the use of backscattering while the forward signal propagate through the optical fibre. Scattering is a general physical process that results from the deviation of particles, toward space, from a straight trajectory. As light passes through the optical fibre, some of the radiation is not only absorbed but also scattered. Radiation scattering can occur as a result of a collision between light radiation and small solid particles of matter, possibly on molecules.
Our team has experience with
- Measurement of temperature, acoustic vibration or strain with DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing), DSTS (Distributed Strain and Temperature Sensing), FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) and interferometric systems.
- Design and development of fiber optic sensors.
- Trainig and conslutations.
- Instalation and calibration.