Patent ID: 8368899
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G01D,G01K,G01N

Abstract:
1. An evanescent optical sensor for analyzing predetermined parameters of an ambient environment, the evanescent optical sensor comprising: an optical fiber coil formed to exhibit a coil radius R, a coil length L and comprising optical fiber having a predetermined radius r, the optical fiber coil defined as having an input and an output; an input optical mode converter disposed at an entrance of the optical fiber coil for splitting a propagating optical signal into a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes thereafter propagating along the optical fiber coil such that the optical fiber coil functions as a multiple-arm interferometer with each mode propagating as a different arm of the interferometer and affected differently by the ambient environment; and an optical spectrum analyzing arrangement coupled to the optical fiber coil for receiving an interference output signal and analyzing predetermined parameters of the associated ambient environment based on the interference output signal.