Patent ID: 7770463

Claim:
A shear stress sensor for measuring the shear force of a flowing fluid comprising: a base element adapted for placement in a wall along which a fluid flows; a floating member for sensing a shear force of the fluid flowing along the wall; a micro-resonator that changes in shape and refractive index in response to a force applied to said micro-resonator that changes the resonant frequency of said micro-resonator, whereby the spectrum of wavelengths of light introduced to said micro-resonator shifts; support means, positioned between said floating member and said micro-resonator, for: (a) mounting said floating member to said base element to be flush with the wall, and (b) transmitting a force sensed by said floating member to said micro-resonator to change the resonant frequency of said micro-resonator; and optical carrier means for: (a) introducing light having a spectrum of wavelengths to said micro-resonator, and (b) providing an indication of a shift in the spectrum of wavelengths of the light caused by a change in the resonant frequency of said micro-resonator.