A device for measuring force and for monitoring wear on overhead lines includes a force-measuring system which includes two contact bars which, in an operating state, are oriented at a right angle to an overhead line to be monitored, and two connection bars, which, in the operating state, are oriented parallel to the overhead line. A bar-shaped force transducer is fastened to each end portion of the two connection bars and each of the bar-shaped force transducers extends in an axial direction of the respective connection bar.

The present application discloses embodiments of optical assemblies used in optical sensor systems where access to the equipment components or areas to be sensed is difficult. In one embodiment, an optical assembly may include a housing having an optical waveguide operative to guide an optical signal to an optical element configured to change the direction of propagation of the optical signal orthogonal to the original direction of propagation. The optical element may have a refractive surface and a reflective surface. Use of two such optical assemblies arranged optically in series enables the user to route an optical signal to propagate along an optical axis parallel to but laterally offset from the original axis of propagation. Such optical assemblies may allow optical access to regions of semiconductor manufacturing equipment such as process chambers, wafer supports, electrostatic chucks, showerheads, edge rings, or end effectors of wafer handling robots.

A method of dynamic change detection using an optical fibre arrangement in disclosed. The optical fibre arrangement can include a forward optical path and a second optical path. The optical fibre arrangement can be configured into a plurality of spans by a plurality of nodes between first and second ends of the optical fibre arrangement. At least one of the nodes includes a feed from the forward path to the second path such that forward propagation of the light signal from the forward path feeds the second path. The method can include transmitting a light signal into the forward path; receiving a response signal from the second path, wherein the response signal includes a loop back signal that includes a light signal fed into the second path via the feed; and detecting dynamic changes along a span associated with the feed from the loop back signal.

A system and method of delivering fiber optic communication service is provided. The method includes monitoring a strain signal generated by a strain-sensing optical fiber embedded in a roadway. The method includes comparing the strain signal to a predetermined allowable strain threshold of an optical communication cable associated with the strain-sensing optical fiber. The method includes relieving strain at a position along a length of the optical communications cable when the strain signal is determined to exceed the predetermined allowable strain threshold.

Optical sensors having one or more soluble coatings thereon are used to detect the presence of a degrading fluid. In a generalized embodiment, the fiber optic sensor includes a fiber optic cable having two strain sensor positioned therein. A soluble layer is positioned over one of the strain sensor. Due to the presence of the soluble layer, the covered strain sensor optically responds differently than the other strain sensor to changes in pressure, strain and temperature. In the presence of a degrading fluid, the soluble layer degrades and ultimately dissolves, thereby changing the optical response of the previously covered strain sensor. When the soluble layer is dissolved, the strain induced by the soluble layer relaxes, thus causing a wavelength shift in the signal of the grating. By monitoring the wavelength shifts of both strain sensors, the fiber optic sensor acts as a detector for the presence of the degrading fluid.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cable for optical fiber sensing applications formed from fiber wound around a cable core. A protective layer is then preferably placed over the top of the wound fiber, to protect the fiber, and to help keep it in place on the cable core. The cable core is preferably of a diameter to allow bend-insensitive fiber to be wound thereon with low bending losses. The effect of winding the fiber onto the cable core means that the longitudinal sensing resolution of the resulting cable is higher than simple straight fiber, when the cable is used with an optical fiber sensing system such as a DAS or DTS system. The achieved resolution for the resulting cable is a function of the fiber winding diameter and pitch, with a larger diameter and reduced winding pitch giving a higher longitudinal sensing resolution.

An optical interrogation system, e.g., an OFDR-based system, measures local changes of index of refraction of a sensing light guide subjected to a time-varying disturbance. Interferometric measurement signals detected for a length of the sensing light guide are transformed into the spectral domain. A time varying signal is determined from the transformed interferometric measurement data set. A compensating signal is determined from the time varying signal which is used to compensate the interferometric measurement data set for the time-varying disturbance. The compensation technique may be applied along the length of the light guide.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cable for optical fiber sensing applications formed from fiber wound around a cable core. A protective layer is then preferably placed over the top of the wound fiber, to protect the fiber, and to help keep it in place on the cable core. The cable core is preferably of a diameter to allow bend-insensitive fiber to be wound thereon with low bending losses. The effect of winding the fiber onto the cable core means that the longitudinal sensing resolution of the resulting cable is higher than simple straight fiber, when the cable is used with an optical fiber sensing system such as a DAS or DTS system. The achieved resolution for the resulting cable is a function of the fiber winding diameter and pitch, with a larger diameter and reduced winding pitch giving a higher longitudinal sensing resolution.

An impact-detection device includes at least one waveguide provided at each of the two ends thereof with a connector. The device further includes a ring with a curved outer contour. The ring forms a separate part with planar radial surfaces. The waveguide is built into the body of the ring about the ring, and the two ends of the waveguide are arranged on the outside of the ring.

An optical component may be provided having a substrate with a first refractive index, in which space regions with a second refractive index are arranged, wherein the optical component contains at least one optical metamaterial, which contains a plurality of individual pixels each comprising a space region which has the first or the second refractive index, wherein the substrate contains at least one polymer. Further, a sensor may be provided with such an optical component and a process for measuring any of an expansion or a temperature.