Patent ID: 6907148

Claim:
Fiberoptic sensing apparatus, comprising: a fiberoptic coupler in which a plurality of optical fibers are joined through a fused coupling region, said optical fibers including at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, said fiberoptic coupler distributing light incident to said input optical fiber among said plurality of output optical fibers; a support member; said coupler being mounted to said support member and configured such that at least a portion of said coupling region can be deflected to change the light distribution among said output fibers with said coupling region being under substantially no tension; a fluid column cooperative with a deflection member disposed to deflect said portion of said coupling region; a transducer coupled to said fluid column, said transducer converting pressure fluctuations from an external source into pressure changes in said fluid column, causing said deflection member to deflect said portion of said coupling regions, said transducer being disposed at a first end of said fluid column, and said deflection member being disposed at a second end of said fluid column; and a pressurizing device which sets an initial fluid pressure of said fluid column.