Planar and linear fiber optic acoustic sensors embedded in an elastomer material

Abstract

A interferometric planar and linear fiber optic sensor system comprised of a sensor element and a reference element. In the planar fiber optic sensor system the sensor and reference fibers are shaped in loops circularly and uniformly, heat treated or bonded together and embedded in a spiral pattern within a low Bulk Modulus and Young's Modulus elastomer encapsulant. The invention results in high and frequency independent sensitivity which minimizes acceleration effects. For the linear sensor, the sensing fiber is shaped in loops forming a linear chain which is embedded in an appropriate low bulk modulus elastomeric encapsulant. The reference fiber is shaped in loops around a cylindrical aluminum mandrel within which the input and output fiber cables and couplers are encapsulated in a high bulk modulus material epoxy resin. In both the planar and linear forms, the sensing and reference fiber may be of equal length, however, the reference fiber may be of a shorter length when a coherent light source is utilized.