A compact, portable and low cost generic interrogation strain sensor system using an embedded VCSEL, detector and fibre Bragg grating

Abstract

We present a compact, portable and low cost generic interrogation strain sensor system using a fibre Bragg grating configured in transmission mode with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light source and a GaAs photodetector embedded in a polymer skin. The photocurrent value is read and stored by a microcontroller. In addition, the photocurrent data is sent via Bluetooth to a computer or tablet device that can present the live data in a real time graph. With a matched grating and VCSEL, the system is able to automatically scan and lock the VCSEL to the most sensitive edge of the grating. Commercially available VCSEL and photodetector chips are thinned down to 20 µm and integrated in an ultra-thin flexible optical foil using several thin film deposition steps. A dedicated micro mirror plug is fabricated to couple the driving optoelectronics to the fibre sensors. The resulting optoelectronic package can be embedded in a thin, planar sensing sheet and the host material for this sheet is a flexible and stretchable polymer. The result is a fully embedded fibre sensing system - a photonic skin. Further investigations are currently being carried out to determine the stability and robustness of the embedded optoelectronic components.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.907810
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Aston Institute of Photonics Technology (AIPT)
Additional Information: Graham C. B. Lee ; Bram Van Hoe ; Zhijun Yan ; Oliver Maskery ; Kate Sugden ; David Webb and Geert Van Steenberge "A compact, portable and low cost generic interrogation strain sensor system using an embedded VCSEL, detector and fibre Bragg grating", Chun Lei and Kent D. Choquette (eds) Proc. SPIE 8276, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers XVI, 82760E (February 2, 2012). Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.907810
Event Title: Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers XVI
Event Type: Other
Event Dates: 2012-01-25 - 2012-01-26
Uncontrolled Keywords: interrogation system,vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser,fibre Bragg grating,flexible polymer skin,microcontroller,low cost,dynamic,flexible optoelectronic package
ISBN: 978-0-8194-8919-7
Last Modified: 04 Jan 2024 08:30
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2015 12:41
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
http://proceedi ... ticleid=1386322 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Conference contribution
Published Date: 2012-01
Authors: Lee, Graham C.B.
Yan, Zhijun
Webb, D. (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-5495-1296)
Van Hoe, Bram
Maskery, Oliver
Sugden, Kate (ORCID Profile 0000-0001-6323-1082)
Van Steenberge, Geert

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