Patent ID: 9720156
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G02B,G08B

Claim:
1. A sensored grate, comprising: a grate framework that comprises a set of elongated elements, wherein the elongated elements are spaced to define apertures through the grate framework, and wherein the grate framework is formed of a molded polymer; and an optical fiber having an outermost layer embedded in and fixed to the elongated elements of the grate framework, wherein all cross-sections of the optical fiber embedded in the elongated elements are in fixed contact with an internal surface of the elongated elements, and wherein at least one of bending or breaking of one or more of the elongated elements is detected based on a change in a characteristic of input light provided to the optical fiber compared to output light received from the optical fiber; wherein the optical fiber does not include a releasable modifying agent; wherein the grate framework has an internal surface; and wherein the outermost layer of the optical fiber is fixed to the internal surface of the grate framework.