A sensor network comprises at least one lateral optical fiber and at least one longitudinal optical fiber. The lateral fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to a pavement in a transverse orientation relative to a direction of vehicle travel along the pavement. The longitudinal fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to the pavement in a longitudinal orientation relative to the direction of vehicle travel. The optical sensors are configured to produce wavelength shift signals comprising one or more lateral strain signals associated with the lateral fiber and one or more tangential strain signals associated with the longitudinal fiber. A processor is operatively coupled to the sensor network and configured to determine a weight of vehicles moving along the pavement based on the lateral and tangential strain signals. A transmitter is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the weight of vehicles to a predetermined location.

The present invention discloses a two-dimensional optical waveguide pressure sensor array comprising two or more row optical waveguides; two or more column optical waveguides, wherein the row optical waveguides and the column optical waveguides are deformable and arranged in a planar array to define a sensor in the crosspoints, wherein each crosspoint includes one of the row waveguides in contact with one of the column waveguides at its intersection point; wherein each crosspoint further includes a light coupling structure configured to enhance waveguide bending when pressure is applied to the crosspoint; wherein the light coupling structure comprises a layer of mechanical light scattering material disposed in contact with at least one of the row or column optical waveguide; or wherein the optical waveguide pressure sensor array can sense pressure by providing light to the row optical waveguides and measuring light coupled at each crosspoint to its column optical waveguide.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed optical fiber sensing systems, methods, and structures that advantageously employ point sensors that send sensory data/information over an attached, distributed optical fiber sensor without using a separate network or communications facility.

A guidewire including an optical fiber containing three fiber cores, each supporting a strain-sensing fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is described. The three FBGs are susceptible to changes in strain so that axial and lateral force vectors imparted to the FBGs can be ascertained. An optical connector detachably connects the guidewire optic fiber to a proximal optical fiber. The proximal optical fiber in turn is connected to a controller, which in addition to ascertaining the axial and lateral force vectors imparted to each of the FBGs, is programmed to calculate the spatial orientation of the guidewire as it is advanced through the vasculature. This capability is extremely useful for positioning the guidewire at a body site of interest prior to performing a medical procedure. A temperature-sensing FBG is used to compensate for changes in the ambient temperature.

An atmospheric suit includes a torso portion with one or more layers, and fibers of a first material arranged in each of the one or more layers. Optical fibers are interspersed with the fibers of the first material in each of the one or more layers.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for detecting or sensing damage within a target material, as well as related devices. In some embodiments, a damage sensing system including a target material, an optical fiber embedded into the target material, where the optical fiber has an outer surface running the length of the optical fiber, a photosensitive receiver, and a triboluminescent coating coated on the optical fiber.

A multi-axis fiber Bragg grating sensing system has a plurality of spatially distributed and mechanically isolated three dimensional multi-axis sensing towers, each having a plurality of connected nonparallel sensing pillars having a straight portion of a length and straightness to support a fiber Bragg grating and connected to at least one other of the three dimensional multi-axis sensing towers via a curved portion having a curvature radius equal to the minimum bend radius of an affixed optical fiber. The optical fiber has a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings and is affixed to each of the dimensional multi-axis sensing towers wherein a fiber Bragg grating is positioned along a straight portion of a sensing pillar of each of the towers. An interrogator captures and measures wavelength data from the fiber Bragg gratings for measuring multi-axis force information applied to each of the three dimensional multi-axis sensing towers.

Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system also includes a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.

According to examples, an optical fiber-based sensing membrane may include at least one optical fiber, and a substrate. The at least one optical fiber may be integrated in the substrate. The optical fiber-based sensing membrane may include, based on a specified geometric pattern of the at least one optical fiber, an optical fiber-based sensing membrane layout. The substrate may include a thickness and a material property that are specified to ascertain, via the at least one optical fiber and based on the optical fiber-based sensing membrane layout, a thermal and/or a mechanical property associated with a device, or a radiation level associated with a device environment.

An assembly having a bearing with an axis of rotation, and a fibre-based sensor for sensing strain or temperature of the bearing is disclosed. The sensor extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. An aircraft system is disclosed including a wheel supported on an axle by a first bearing and a second bearing. The system further includes a first fibre optic sensor for sensing a strain or temperature of the first bearing, a second fibre optic sensor for sensing a strain or temperature of the second bearing, and an interrogator to analyse optical signals from the sensors to determine differences in the strains or temperatures of the first bearing and the second bearing.