초록 ▼

An optical fluid flow sensor and methods are presented. An optical fiber bends in response to a fluid flow, and a light source coupled to the optical fiber transmits light to the optical fiber. Optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber receive a received light from the optical fiber

An optical fluid flow sensor and methods are presented. An optical fiber bends in response to a fluid flow, and a light source coupled to the optical fiber transmits light to the optical fiber. Optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber receive a received light from the optical fiber, and a signal processor module estimates a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An optical fluid flow sensor comprising: an optical fiber configured to be located in a fluid flow and operable to bend in response to the fluid flow;a light source coupled to the optical fiber and operable to transmit a received light into the optical fiber;a plurality of optical sensors surroun

1. An optical fluid flow sensor comprising: an optical fiber configured to be located in a fluid flow and operable to bend in response to the fluid flow;a light source coupled to the optical fiber and operable to transmit a received light into the optical fiber;a plurality of optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber and operable to receive the received light from a side of the optical fiber; anda signal processor module operable to estimate a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light. 2. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow. 3. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1, wherein the signal processor module is further operable to determine a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors. 4. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1, further comprising a bend controlling device coupled to the optical fiber. 5. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 4, wherein the bend controlling device comprises a spring. 6. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow. 7. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1, further comprising an interferometry module operable to combine the received light with the light from the light source to produce an interferometric pattern. 8. A method for sensing fluid flow, the method comprising: transmitting a source light from a light source into an optical fiber operable to bend in response to a fluid flow;receiving the fluid flow at the optical fiber;receiving a received light from a side of the optical fiber at a plurality of optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber; andestimating a speed of the fluid flow based on the received light. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors. 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising combining the received light with the source light to produce an interferometric pattern. 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling a bend of the optical fiber. 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling the bend of the optical fiber using a spring. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow. 15. A method for providing an optical fluid flow sensor, the method comprising: securing an optical fiber to a surface located in a fluid flow, the optical fiber operable to bend in response to the fluid flow;surrounding a portion of the optical fiber with a plurality of light sensors operable to receive a received light from a side of the optical fiber;coupling the optical fiber to a light source operable to transmit light into the optical fiber; andproviding a signal processor module operable to estimate a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow and the surface comprises an aircraft. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal processor module is further operable to determine a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an interferometry module operable to combine the received light with the light from the light source to produce an interferometric pattern. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a bend control device coupled to the optical fiber and operable to control a bend of the optical fiber.