Patent ID: 8209092

Claim:
An optical sensing system for detecting pressure exerted by a mass through attenuation of light in an optical fiber comprising: a first plurality of optical fibers; a second plurality of optical fibers that is approximately parallel to the first plurality of optical fibers; a support element against which the first and second plurality of optical fibers can move, such that a bend is created in at least one of the optical fibers in either the first or second plurality of optical fibers as a result of the pressure exerted by an object pressing against one or more of the fibers; a first light source for sending light beams through the first plurality of optical fibers; a second light source for sending light beams through the second plurality of optical fibers; a first detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through at the first plurality of optical fibers; and a second detector for measuring any attenuation in the light beams sent through the second plurality of optical fibers; such that at least one of the first detector and the second detector measure attenuation in the at least one of the optical fibers in which a bend is created.