Patent ID: 6563967
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G01B,G01H,G01P

Abstract:
A fiber optic displacement sensor, comprising:a support base; a mounting post extending from the base; a flexural disk connected to the mounting post, the flexural disk having a first side and a second side; a first spiral wound optical fiber coil formed on the first side of the flexural disk, the first coil having a first inner optical fiber lead and a first outer optical fiber lead extending therefrom; a second spiral wound optical fiber coil formed on the second side of the flexural disk, the second coil having a second inner optical fiber lead and a second outer optical fiber lead extending therefrom; an optical coupler arranged to couple optical signals between the first and second optical fiber coils to form an interferometer; and an inertia ring connected to the periphery of the flexural disk, the inertia ring having a plurality of peripheral slots therein for routing the first and second optical fiber leads from the first and second optical fiber coils, respectively, to the optical coupler, the inertia ring including curved oppositely facing end edges with the plurality of peripheral slots being formed between the curved side edges, the curved end edges being formed such that the optical fiber leads may be spiral wound thereon between the first and second coils and the peripheral slots to prevent damage to the optical fiber leads from sharp bends.