A tilt sensor with a compact dimension based on a long-period fiber grating

Area of Science:

• Fiber optics
• Optical sensing technologies
• Instrumentation and measurement

Background:

• Traditional tilt sensors often face limitations in terms of size, sensitivity, and environmental robustness.
• Fiber optic sensors offer advantages such as immunity to electromagnetic interference and compact form factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally demonstrate a compact tilt sensor based on a long-period fiber grating (LPG).
• To investigate the performance and sensitivity of the proposed LPG-based tilt sensor for static measurements.

Main Methods:

• A long-period fiber grating (LPG) was fabricated and fixed in a rigid tube with a slant orientation.
• Half of the LPG was immersed in NaCl aqueous solution, with the other half exposed to air.
• Tilt angle was determined by monitoring the shift in the LPG's dip wavelength as the immersed length changed with tilt.

Main Results:

• The LPG-based tilt sensor achieved an average sensitivity of 0.077 nm/°.
• The sensor operated effectively within a measurement range of -30° to 30°.
• A gradual shift in dip wavelength correlated with changes in the immersed fiber length due to tilt.

Conclusions:

• A compact and effective tilt sensor based on LPG technology has been successfully demonstrated.
• The proposed sensor shows promise for applications requiring precise tilt angle measurements.
• The method provides a viable approach for developing robust fiber optic tilt sensing systems.