Interferometric fiber optic proximity switch

Claim 2

A fiber optic proximity sensing system, comprising: an interferometer having a reference leg and a sensing leg, said sensing leg having a first predetermined length; said interferometer further having means for reflecting optical energy; a second predetermined length of magnetostrictive material secured to said sensing leg so that changes in said second predetermined length of said magnetostrictive material cause a change in said first predetermined length of said sensing leg; an optical energy source, said source providing the only energy required for operation of said proximity sensing system; an optical path for conveying said optical energy in a direction from said optical energy source to said interferometer and for conveying optical energy reflected from said reflecting means in an opposite direction; detection means responsive to the magnitude of said reflected optical energy; and a permanent magnet movable between a first position adjacent said interferometer with the magnetic field of said permanent magnet interacting with said magnetostrictive material to cause constructive interference of said optical energy within said interferometer to produce a first level of reflected optical energy sufficient to energize said detection means and a second position with said magnet spaced from said interferometer to cause destructive interference of said optical energy within said interferometer to produce a second level of reflected optical energy insufficient to energize said detection means.

Claim 3

The switch of claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises: a light sensitive detector; and means for coupling a portion of said reflected optical energy to said light sensitive detector.

Claim 4

The switch of claim 2 wherein said means for coupling comprises a directional coupler.

Claim 5

The switch of claim 3 wherein said light sensitive detector is a photodiode.

Claim 6

The switch of claim 4 wherein said optical energy source is a light emitting diode.

Claim 7

The switch of claim 5 wherein said optical path is an optical fiber.

Claim 8

The switch of claim 6 wherein said interferometer is a Michelson interferometer.

Claim 9

The switch of claim 1 wherein said interferometer and said second predetermined length of magnetostrictive material are included in a single integrated optic chip.

Claim 10

A proximity switch for use with a light source and a light detector, said light source being the only energy source required for operation of said proximity switch, comprising: a single optical fiber input leg having a first end and a second end, said second end coupled to said light source and to said light detector; an optical fiber reference leg having a first end and a second end, said second end having a coating for reflecting light; an optical fiber sensing leg having a first end, a second end, and a length said second end having a coating for reflecting light, at least a portion of said length being responsive to magnetic fields; an optical fiber directional coupler connected to and integral with said input leg first end, said reference leg first end, and said sensing leg first end for optically coupling said input leg, reference leg and sensing leg together with said light reflected from said sensing leg second end interfering with said light reflected from said reference leg second end to produce a resultant reflected light with said resultant reflected light being returned by said single optical fiber input leg for detection by said light detector; and a magnet movable between a first position adjacent said sensing leg with the magnetic field from said magnet interacting with said sensing leg to cause said reflected light from said second end of said sensing leg to constructively interfere with said reflected light from said second end of said reference leg and a second position with said magnet spaced from said sensing leg and said reflected light from said sensing leg second end destructively interfering with said reflected light from said reference leg second end.

Claim 11

A proximity switch for use with a light source and a light detector, said light source being the only energy source required for operation of said proximity switch, comprising: a single optical fiber input leg having a first end and a second end, said second end coupled to said light source and to said light detector; an optical fiber reference leg having a first end and a second end, said second end having a coating for reflecting light; an optical fiber sensing leg having a first end, a second end, and a length said second end having a coating for reflecting light, at least a portion of said length being responsive to magnetic fields; an optical fiber directional coupler connected to and integral with said input leg first end, said reference leg first end, and said sensing leg first end for optically coupling said input leg, reference leg and sensing leg together with said light reflected from said sensing leg second end interfering with said light reflected from said reference leg second end to produce a resultant reflected light with said resultant reflected light being returned by said single optical fiber input leg for detection by said light detector; and a magnet movable between a first position adjacent said sensing leg with the magnetic field from said magnet interacting with said sensing leg to cause said reflected light from said second end of said sensing leg to constructively interfere with said reflected light from said second end of said reference leg and a second position with said magnet spaced from said sensing leg and said reflected light from said sensing leg second end destructively interfering with said reflected light from said reference leg second end.

Claim 12

The proximity switch of claim 9 wherein said first position of said magnet causes a first reflected light level sufficient to energize said light detector and said second position of said magnet causes a second reflected light level insufficient to energize said light detector.

Claim 13

The proximity switch of claim 9 wherein said single optical fiber input leg, said optical fiber reference leg, said optical fiber sensing leg and said optical fiber directional coupler are included in a single integrated optic chip.

Claim 14

A proximity sensing system, comprising: a light emitting source, said source providing the only energy required for operation of said proximity sensing system; a Michelson type fiber optic interferometer having a sensing leg and a reference leg; a single fiber optic link interconnecting said interferometer with said light emitting source, said fiber optic length carrying emitted light in a direction from said light emitting source to said interferometer and carrying light reflected from said interferometer in an opposite direction; means for detecting the magnitude of said reflected light; said sensing leg of said interferometer further having a length said length being responsive to magnetic fields; and a magnet movable between a first position with said permanent magnet adjacent said interferometer to cause substantially constructive interference between reflected light from said sensing leg and reflected light from said reference leg and a second position spaced from said interferometer to cause substantially destructive interference between reflected light from said sensing leg and reflected light from said reference leg.

Claim 15

A proximity sensing system, comprising: a light emitting source, said source providing the only energy required for operation of said proximity sensing system; a Michelson type fiber optic interferometer having a sensing leg and a reference leg; a single fiber optic link interconnecting said interferometer with said light emitting source, said fiber optic length carrying emitted light in a direction from said light emitting source to said interferometer and carrying light reflected from said interferometer in an opposite direction; means for detecting the magnitude of said reflected light; said sensing leg of said interferometer further having a length said length being responsive to magnetic fields; and a magnet movable between a first position with said permanent magnet adjacent said interferometer to cause substantially constructive interference between reflected light from said sensing leg and reflected light from said reference leg and a second position spaced from said interferometer to cause substantially destructive interference between reflected light from said sensing leg and reflected light from said reference leg.

Claim 16

The proximity sensing system of claim 12 wherein magnetostrictive material is secured to said sensing leg.

Claim 17

The proximity sensing system of claim 13 wherein said means for detecting the magnitude of said reflected light is photodiode.