Patent ID: 6341526
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A pressure sensor for sensing at least one pressure to be measured, comprising:a reflective diffraction grating comprising a plurality of grating rulings; a flexible reflective diaphragm proximate and substantially parallel to said diffraction grating; lightwave input means for impinging light on said diffraction grating and, through said diffraction grating, on said diaphragm, as impinging light; lightwave output means for collecting said impinging light, once said light has been reflected off of said diaphragm through said grating, and off of said diffraction grating, as reflected light; a pressure chamber enabling said at least one pressure to be measured to deflect said diaphragm from an undeflected position of said diaphragm; and pressure measurement means for collecting interference between a diffraction pattern of said light reflected off of said grating, and said light reflected off of said diaphragm, and, based on said collected interference, obtaining a diaphragm deflection measurement and a corresponding pressure measurement for each of said pressures to be measured.