Multiple sensing tip optical fiber thermometer
View Patent ↗A linear array fiber-optic temperature sensor based upon fluorescence-decay technology allows for optical cabling to employ multiple, individually optically addressed optical fibers with sensing tips located in a single sensing tube. The sensing tips are arranged with a pre-determined, fixed relative spacing to form a linear array of temperature measurement points. Multiple such linear array sensors may be further arranged.
1. An optical temperature sensing system comprising:
a plurality of means for both inputting light at a first optical wavelength band and outputting light at a second optical wavelength band;
a plurality of means for absorbing said light at said first optical wavelength band and emitting said light at said second optical wavelength band;
said light at said second optical wavelength band includes features dependent upon temperature of said absorbing means;
a plurality of means for propagating said light at said first optical wavelength band from each one of said plurality of inputting and outputting means to a unique one of said plurality of absorbing means and propagating said light at said second optical wavelength band from each one of said plurality of absorbing means to a unique one of said plurality of inputting and outputting means; and
means for positioning each one of said plurality of absorbing means in a fixed relative position with respect to one another wherein location of temperature reading for each of said absorbing means is determined based upon said temperature-dependent features and said fixed relative position of said absorbing means.
2. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:
at least one of said plurality of absorbing means comprises a phosphor exhibiting temperature-dependent fluorescence decay.
3. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:
at least one of said plurality of propagating means comprises an optical fiber.
4. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 2 wherein:
at least one of said plurality of propagating means comprises an optical fiber.
5. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:
said positioning means comprises a sensing tube.
6. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 2 wherein:
said positioning means comprises a sensing tube.
7. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 6 wherein:
at least one of said plurality of propagating means comprises an optical fiber.
8. The optical temperature sensing system of claim 7 further comprising an optical module and a processing module operably connected to said inputting and outputting means in order to provide the temperature reading.