Optical fiber distribution system for an optical fiber sensor

Claim 1

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 wavelength 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 tip 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 diameters, 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 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 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 19

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 lengths of optical fibers, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationships 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 tip 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 20

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 lengths of optical fibers, at least some of said lengths connected in light communicating relationship by abutting the ends thereof, the relationships 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 tip 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 21

A method for distributing signals in 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 wavelength 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; a single-fiber sensor tip that includes the indicator molecule; a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system; and a plurality of optical fibers of first and second diameters, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the first and second signals into intermediate signals by connecting at least three intermediate fibers of the first diameter 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 of the 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; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a transmitting fiber of the first diameter by connecting said transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a comparison fiber of the first diameter 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 sensor tip fiber; and transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component by connecting an indicator fiber of the first diameter to the sensor tip, 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 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 22

A method for distributing signals in 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 wavelength 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; a single-fiber sensor tip that includes the indicator molecule; a signal-measuring component for receiving signals from the distribution system; and a plurality of optical fibers of first and second diameters, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, said method comprising the steps of: dividing the first and second signals into intermediate signals by connecting at least three intermediate fibers of the first diameter 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 of the 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; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a transmitting fiber of the first diameter by connecting said transmitting fiber to said mixing fiber; transmitting a portion of said mixed signal along a comparison fiber of the first diameter 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 sensor tip fiber; and transmitting a portion of the resulting indicator signal returned from the sensor tip to the signal-measuring component by connecting an indicator fiber of the first diameter to the sensor tip, 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 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.