Fiber-optic displacement sensor

Abstract

In this paper we present a fiber-optic displacement sensor specially designed for application in hostile surrounding, such as cyclotron environment, where electronics is hindered from functioning. The system consists of the optical sensor head, coherent optical fiber bundle and electronics. The modified triangulation method is implemented, where the light beam from diode laser is carried to the place of measurement through one optical fiber and the information about the position of measuring object is carried through the coherent optical fiber bundle to the optical detector. Sensor head, being completely dielectric, is not disturbed by electromagnetic fields. This fiber-optic sensor measures displacement with a 10 /spl mu/m resolution and covers 20 mm range. The output signal is independent of light power variations of diode laser, variations of target reflectance, etc. Presented fiber-optic sensor mill be used for dee position measurement in the Vincy cyclotron.