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EP0090167A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber-optic sensor for a resonant element

Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 1983-02-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-17
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Abstract

Abstract An instrumentation system for use in measuring and processing industrial process variables, such as flow, pressure, or temperature, includes a resonant element sensor whose resonant frequency varies in accordance with changes in the desired process variable communicating through an optical fiber link to a distant control room. The sensor is activated into resonant physical motion by light energy from a source in the control room, while the motion of the wire is sensed optically and retransmitted to the control room to produce an output signal whose frequency is equal to that of the resonating element. A feedback network maintains the sensor in resonance by synchronizing the delivery of light energy to the motion of the resonant element. The powering and sensing aspect may be performed by individual fiber optic cables or alternatively this function may be combined by utilizing a single fiber optic strand.

Inventors

  • 👤 Anthony C. Gilby
  • 👤 Edward L. Lewis
  • 👤 Everett O. Olsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 01:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/10; G01L1/103; G01L1/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
An instrumentation system for developing at a central station a measurement signal representing the value of a process condition of the type including a sensor that produces an output signal that varies in accordance with changes in said condition, said sensor being at a field location remotely positioned from said central station adjacent the process, light source means within said central station adapted to produce optical energy, said system further including means for transferring said optical energy between said sensor and said central station characterized in that: a single optical fiber is used both for supplying optical energy to activate said sensor and for transmitting said output signal of said sensor to said central station for producing said measurement signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 120 words
An instrumentation system for developing at a central station a measurement signal representing the value of a process condition of the type including a sensor that produces an output signal that varies in accordance with changes in said condition, said sensor being at a field location remotely positioned from said central station adjacent the process, light source means within said central station adapted to produce optical energy, said system further including means for transferring said optical energy between said sensor and said central station characterized in that: a single optical fiber is used both for supplying optical energy to activate said sensor and for transmitting said output signal of said sensor to said central station for producing said measurement signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a resonant element whose resonant frequency of vibration is responsive to the value of said condition and including means coupled to said optical fiber for optically detecting the frequency of said resonant vibration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said light source means comprises a single light source that produces a pulse train of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 86 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including means to divert a portion of said pulse train of light along said single optical fiber for detecting motion of said resonant element by reflecting light energy from said element back along said single optical fiber, the intensity of which is a measure of the position of said resonant element, and means to detect said reflected energy to derive a signal to cause said single light source to pulse on and off at the resonant frequency of said resonant element.

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