Fiber-Optic Liquid Level Sensor

Author

Antonio-Lopez, José E. ; May-Arrioja, Daniel A. ; LiKamWa, P.

Author_Institution

Opt. Dept., INAOE, Puebla, Mexico

Volume

23

Issue

23

fYear

2011

Firstpage

1826

Lastpage

1828

Abstract

A fiber-optic liquid level sensor based on multimode interference (MMI) effects is proposed and demonstrated. We show that MMI and self-image effects can be effectively applied for multiplexed liquid level sensing, because the natural response as a band-pass filter for each sensor is clearly distinct from each other, in the case for several sensors working at the same time. Using a standard 105/125 step-index multimode fiber (MMF) a simple discrete level sensor was fabricated, that can also discriminate the refractive index (RI) of the liquid during the level measurement. The MMI liquid level sensors are not only inexpensive, but their fabrication is simple.

Keywords

band-pass filters; fibre optic sensors; level measurement; light interference; optical fibre fabrication; optical filters; optical images; refractive index; band-pass filter; fiber-optic liquid level sensor; level measurement; multimode interference effects; multiplexed liquid level sensing; refractive index; self-image effects; step-index multimode fiber; Erbium; Liquids; Multiplexing; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Liquid-level sensor; multimode interference (MMI); optical fiber sensors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2011.2170058

Filename

6030920