Self-referenced fibre-optic sensor for liquid detection and/or measurement

The optical technology developed by the Spanish University Carlos III of Madrid is related with carrying out measurements on liquid tanks. It allows detecting the liquid level using light, in an intrinsically safe way, without the risk of explosion of the electronic type techniques. We are looking for the collaboration of companies devoted to the development of instrumentation systems, specifically instrumentation for the storage and distribution of flammable liquids, fuel tanks manufacturers, as well as instrumentation for aircrafts and vehicles.Contrato Programa de Comercialización e Internacionalización. Sistema Regional de Investigación Científica e Innovación Tecnológica. (Comunidad de Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Sensor de fibra óptica autorreferenciado para la detección de líquido y/o medida de líquido

La tecnología óptica desarrollada por la UC3M, permite la medida de nivel en depósitos para líquidos de forma segura. Los beneficios obtenidos con el uso de esta tecnología es la reducción de riesgos de explosión, así como la fiabilidad de la medida realizada. Buscamos empresas dedicadas al desarrollo de sistemas de instrumentación, en concreto para almacenaje y distribución de líquidos inflamables, fabricantes de depósitos de combustible, así como de instrumentación para aviones y vehículos

Novel tuneable filter based on MZ and an amplified ring resonator for OFDM networks

IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society. 1999 Annual Meeting. 8-11 November 1999. San Francisco, CAA novel reconfigurable fibre based tuneable filter is proposed. The module relies on a cascaded connection of Mach-Zehnders and an amplified fibre ring resonator. MHz range adjustable FHWM bandwidths and high crosstalk are achieved.Publicad

Ring Resonators with Sagnac Loops for Photonic Processing in DWDM Backbone Networks

In this paper, optical configurations based on ring resonators (RR) with an internal Sagnac (SG) loop in the feedback path, are analyzed in terms of their amplitude response and dispersive properties for filtering and chromatic dispersion managing in digital transmission systems over amplified single- mode fiber (SMF) spans in DWDM backbone networks. Design issues for the architecture as regards quadratic dispersion and magnitude distortion are provided. The RR+SG compound filter provides frequency tunability of the amplitude and dispersion peaks by adjusting a coupling coefficient of an optical coupler, with no need for using integrated thermo-optic nor current- injection based phase shifters. The configuration can be employed as an additional structure for a general RR-based design and synthesis architecture, allowing bandwidth increase of dispersion compensators and flexibility. The performance of a compound filter consisting of a two RR in series stage and a RR+SG filter are reported as a more compact and effective solution for existing multi-channel SMF backbone links operating at high bit rates. Design guidelines of an integrated ring resonator based on polymer technology for showing feasibility of the proposal is reported.This work was partially supported by Spanish CICYT (TEC2006-13273-C03-03-MIC), European project NoE EPhoton/One+, CAM (FACTOTEM-CM:S-0505/ESP/000417), FENIS-CCG06-UC3MITIC-0619.Publicad

Radio-frequency ring resonators for self-referencing fiber-optic intensity sensors

A theoretical and experimental study of radiofrequency ring resonators (RR) for referencing and improving the sensitivity of fiber-optic intensity sensors (FOS) is reported. The separation between lead and transducer losses in the FOS is solved by converting the light intensity fluctuations to be measured into RR losses that produce high amplitude variations in the proximity of the RR resonance frequencies. Two different self-referencing techniques are developed. Via the definition of the measurement parameter RM , sensor linearity and sensitivity are analyzed. A calibration using an optical attenuator is reported to validate the model.Publicad

CWDM self-referencing sensor network based on ring resonators in reflective configuration

A new scalable self-referencing sensor network with low insertion losses implemented in Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) technology is reported. It allows obtaining remote self-referenced measurements with a full-duplex fibre downlead up to 35 km long, with no need for optical amplification. Fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) are used in order to achieve a reflective configuration, thus increasing the sensitivity of the optical transducers. Low-cost off-the-shelf devices in CWDM technology can be used to implement and scale the network. Ring resonator (RR) based incoherent interferometers at the measuring points are used as selfreferencing technique. A theoretical analysis of power budget of the topology is reported, with a comparison between the proposed network and a conventional star topology. Finally, the new configuration has been experimentally demonstrated.This work has been supported by CICYT:TIC2003-03783, UC3M:FAVICOBIS and CAM:FACTOTEM-CM (S-0505/ESP/000417).Publicad

Narrow-band, Bragg-grating-assisted microring reflectors: tunability, reflection loss and group delay

5 pages, 9 figures.-- Contributed to: 11th International Symposium on Microwave and Optical Technology (ISMOT'07), Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, Dec 17-21, 2007.Two configurations based on Bragg grating assisted single-ring microresonators are analyzed and simulated. Device characteristics such as bandwidth, sensitivity to loss, effect of external coupling, tunability and group delay are evaluated. The relationship between the resonator mode number and the grating parameters and the rules for selecting appropriate mode numbers are discussed. The dependence of reflection loss on waveguide attenuation and grating reflection coefficient illustrate the analytical results.The support of the Spanish Ministry of Education project CICYT TEC2006-13273-C03-03/MIC and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada are acknowledged.Publicad

Tunable ring resonator filter for OFDM Transmission systems

A novel tunable filter is theoretically demonstrated. It is based on a ring resonator with an amplifier and a noise filter in the loop. This optoelectronic device has potential as a high-sensitivity receiver and as a tunable demultiplexer in OFDM transmission systems.Publicad

Tunable, narrow-band, grating-assisted microring reflectors

Tunable, grating-assisted ring resonator based optical mirrors are analyzed and their characteristics numerically evaluated. Mode number selection rules are presented to aid mirror optimization for high, narrow-band reflection and efficient sidelobe suppression. Data is presented on tuning sensitivity, on the effect of coupling on bandwidth and reflection coefficient, and on the influence of waveguide and grating loss on mirror performance. Group delay in the presence of loss and circuit parameter variations is also treated.Publicad

Multi-sensor system using plastic optical fibers for intrinsically safe level measurements

A system for measuring liquid level in multiple tanks using optical fibe technology has been developed. Oil fiel service industry or any sector requiring liquid level measurements in flammabl atmospheres can be benefite from this intrinsically safe technology. The device used a single lens for the emitting and receiving fibe and it is based on amplitude variations as a function of the liquid distance and not in time of fligh or phase detection. Being the firs fiber-opti liquid level sensor with those characteristics for long ranges (>200 cm). A simple model to describe their behavior has been derived and tested on two prototypes. A Monte-Carlo method is used to fi the experimental data and obtain the model parameters. High accuracy between experimental data and fitte curve is obtained. The prototypes have a good linearity, better than 1.5% FS (full scale). Sensor heads are made of plastic optical fiber (POF) that are easy to handle, flexible and economical. They are excited by 650 nm lasers, housed in ST-connectors to obtain compact and rough prototypes. Optical multiplexing is used to increase the measuring safety area. Frequency division multiplexing is used to address each sensor head. A discussion about the influenc of tilts and aberrations is also included.Publicad