EP0352631A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber distribution system for an optical fiber sensor
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
•
Filing: 1989-07-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A device for distributing signals within a sensor system used for monitoring the presence of a specific analyte in a composition by means of an analyte-sensitive indicator molecule is disclosed. The sensor includes a signal-generating component, a single-fiber sensor tip that houses the indicator molecule and a signal-measuring component. In one preferred embodiment, the signal-generating component generates a first optical signal of a wavelength that is sensitive to the indicator molecule, and a second optical signal of a wavelength that is predictably altered by the indicator molecule. The distribution system includes lengths of optical fiber, a dividing connector, a mixing connector, a transmitting connector and a tip connector. The dividing connector connects at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals. At least one of the intermediate signals corresponds to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponds to the wavelength of the second signal. The mixing connector connects a mixing fiber to the intermediate fibers to thereby receive the intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal. The transmitting connector connects a transmitting fiber to the mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of the mixed signal, and connects a comparison fiber to the mixing fiber to transmit a portion of the mixed signal to the signal-measuring component. The tip connector connects the transmitting fiber to the sensor tip fiber to thereby transmit a portion of the mixed signal to the sensor tip, and connects an indicator fiber to the sensor tip to thereby transmit a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component. The intensity of the intermediate signal corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector. The intensity of the intermediate signals corresponding to the wavelength of a first signal are bounded by the necessity of transmitting intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Inventors
- 👤 David Giuliani
- 👤 Robert Allen Gutcheck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/77; G01N21/7703; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6408; G01N21/6428; G01N21/78; G01N21/783; G01N21/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
431 words
A distribution system for an environmental parameter measuring sensor, the sensor having: a single-fiber sensor tip that includes means for altering a light signal in accordance with the presence of the environmental parameter to be measured; a signal-generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelength being such that the signal intensity is altered at the sensor tip in proportion to the presence of the environmental parameter, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered at the sensor tip; and a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system, the distribution system comprising: a plurality of lengths of optical fiber, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationship of the diameters of said abutting optical fibers being such that whenever a group of two or more fibers is connected to a single fiber, the end of said single fiber completely subtends the end of the group of fibers; a dividing connector for connecting at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals, at least one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal; a mixing connector for connecting a mixing fiber to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; a transmitting connector for connecting a transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of said mixed signal; a tip connector for connecting said transmitting fiber and an indicator fiber to tip fiber means for transmitting said mixed signal to the sensor tip and for transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to said indicator fiber whereby the signal returned from the sensor tip is transmitted to the signal-measuring component via said indicator fiber and the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
431 words
A distribution system for an environmental parameter measuring sensor, the sensor having: a single-fiber sensor tip that includes means for altering a light signal in accordance with the presence of the environmental parameter to be measured; a signal-generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelength being such that the signal intensity is altered at the sensor tip in proportion to the presence of the environmental parameter, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered at the sensor tip; and a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system, the distribution system comprising: a plurality of lengths of optical fiber, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationship of the diameters of said abutting optical fibers being such that whenever a group of two or more fibers is connected to a single fiber, the end of said single fiber completely subtends the end of the group of fibers; a dividing connector for connecting at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals, at least one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal; a mixing connector for connecting a mixing fiber to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; a transmitting connector for connecting a transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of said mixed signal; a tip connector for connecting said transmitting fiber and an indicator fiber to tip fiber means for transmitting said mixed signal to the sensor tip and for transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to said indicator fiber whereby the signal returned from the sensor tip is transmitted to the signal-measuring component via said indicator fiber and the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said tip fiber means includes the single-fiber of the sensor tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tip fiber means includes an extension fiber, one end of which is connected to said transmitting fiber and said indicator fiber via said tip connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said transmitting connector further connects a comparison fiber to said mixing fiber to thereby transmit a portion of said mixed signal to the signal-measuring component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
396 words
A distribution system for a sensor that utilizes an analyte-sensitive indicator molecule to monitor the concentration of an analyte, the sensor having: a signal generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelengths being such that the signal intensity is altered by the indicator molecule in proportion to the presence of the analyte, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered by the indicator molecule so that the intensity of the returned signal is predictable; a single-fiber sensor trip that includes the indicator molecule; and a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system, the distribution system comprising: lengths of optical fiber of first and second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter a dividing connector for connecting at least three intermediate fibers of said first diameter to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals, at least one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelengths of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal; a mixing connector for connecting a mixing fiber of said second diameter to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; a transmitting connector for connecting a transmitting fiber of said first diameter to said mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of said mixed signal; and a tip connector for connecting said transmitting fiber to the sensor tip fiber to thereby transmit said mixed signal to the sensor tip, and for connecting an indicator fiber of said first diameter to the sensor tip to thereby transmit a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component, whereby the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
396 words
A distribution system for a sensor that utilizes an analyte-sensitive indicator molecule to monitor the concentration of an analyte, the sensor having: a signal generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelengths being such that the signal intensity is altered by the indicator molecule in proportion to the presence of the analyte, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered by the indicator molecule so that the intensity of the returned signal is predictable; a single-fiber sensor trip that includes the indicator molecule; and a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system, the distribution system comprising: lengths of optical fiber of first and second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter a dividing connector for connecting at least three intermediate fibers of said first diameter to the signal-generating component to thereby receive intermediate signals, at least one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelengths of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal; a mixing connector for connecting a mixing fiber of said second diameter to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; a transmitting connector for connecting a transmitting fiber of said first diameter to said mixing fiber to thereby receive a portion of said mixed signal; and a tip connector for connecting said transmitting fiber to the sensor tip fiber to thereby transmit said mixed signal to the sensor tip, and for connecting an indicator fiber of said first diameter to the sensor tip to thereby transmit a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component, whereby the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said dividing connector, said mixing connector, said transmitting connector, and said tip connector each includes a butt-coupler pair.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said dividing connector connects three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component to thereby receive signals of the first signal wavelength and connects one intermediate fiber to the signal-generating component to thereby receive signals of the second signal wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said transmitting connector connects a plurality of said transmitting fibers to said mixing fiber, and wherein said tip connector connects a plurality of indicator fibers to the sensor tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the relationship of said first diameter relative to said second diameter, and the configurations of said dividing connector, said mixing connector, said transmitting connector, and said tip connector, are such that at each connector where a fiber of said first diameter is connected to a fiber of said second diameter, the fiber of said second diameter completely subtends the fiber of said first diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical fiber distribution system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said optical fibers are encased in polyvinyl chloride casing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical fiber distribution system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said transmitting connector connects a comparison fiber of said first diameter to said mixing fiber to thereby transmit a portion of said mixed signal to the signal-measuring component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The distribution system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the diameter of said mixing fiber is substantially equal to the diameter of the sensor tip fiber.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
471 words
A method for distributing signals in an environmental parameter measuring sensor, the sensor having: a single-fiber sensor tip that includes means for altering a light signal in accordance with the presence of the environmental parameter to be measured; a signal-generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelength being such that the signal intensity is altered at the sensor tip in proportion to the presence of the environmental parameter, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered at the sensor tip; a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system; a plurality of lengths of optical fibers, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationship of the diameters of said connected optical fibers being such that whenever a group of two or more fibers is connected to a single fiber, the end of said single fiber completely subtends the end of the group of fibers, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the first and second signals into intermediate signals by connecting at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component such that at least one intermediate signal corresponds to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponds to the wavelength of the second signal; mixing said intermediate signals into a mixed signal by connecting a mixing fiber to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a transmitting fiber by connecting said transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a comparison fiber by connecting said comparison fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting said mixed signal from said transmitting fiber to the sensor tip by connecting said transmitting fiber to the tip fiber means; and transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip along an indicator fiber by connecting an indicator fiber to the tib fiber means, whereby the signal returned from the sensor tip is transmitted to the signal measuring component via said indicator fiber and the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the wavelength of the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
471 words
A method for distributing signals in an environmental parameter measuring sensor, the sensor having: a single-fiber sensor tip that includes means for altering a light signal in accordance with the presence of the environmental parameter to be measured; a signal-generating component for producing first and second optical signals of distinct wavelengths, the first signal wavelength being such that the signal intensity is altered at the sensor tip in proportion to the presence of the environmental parameter, the second signal wavelength being such that the intensity of the signal is predictably altered at the sensor tip; a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system; a plurality of lengths of optical fibers, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationship of the diameters of said connected optical fibers being such that whenever a group of two or more fibers is connected to a single fiber, the end of said single fiber completely subtends the end of the group of fibers, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the first and second signals into intermediate signals by connecting at least three intermediate fibers to the signal-generating component such that at least one intermediate signal corresponds to the wavelength of the first signal and one intermediate signal corresponds to the wavelength of the second signal; mixing said intermediate signals into a mixed signal by connecting a mixing fiber to said intermediate fibers to thereby receive said intermediate signals and blend them into a single mixed signal, said mixing fiber being of a suitable length to mix the first and second signals into a single mixed signal distributed uniformly across said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a transmitting fiber by connecting said transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a comparison fiber by connecting said comparison fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting said mixed signal from said transmitting fiber to the sensor tip by connecting said transmitting fiber to the tip fiber means; and transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip along an indicator fiber by connecting an indicator fiber to the tib fiber means, whereby the signal returned from the sensor tip is transmitted to the signal measuring component via said indicator fiber and the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the first signal is maximized at the dividing connector, the intensity of said intermediate signals corresponding to the wavelength of the first signal being bounded by the transmission of intermediate signals corresponding to the second signal of adequate intensity such that the intensity of the indicator signal of a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of the second signal received by the signal-measuring component is suitable for monitoring the operation of the distribution system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.