Polymer Optical Fiber Bragg Gratings in CYTOP Fibers for Angle Measurement with Dynamic Compensation

Area of Science:

• * Materials Science and Engineering
• * Optical Sensors
• * Instrumentation and Measurement

Background:

• * Polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (POFBGs) are emerging as versatile sensors.
• * Their application in angle measurements is explored, particularly concerning frequency-dependent behavior.
• * The viscoelastic nature of polymers introduces challenges like frequency cross-sensitivity and hysteresis.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To demonstrate the efficacy of POFBGs for oscillatory angle measurements.
• * To develop and validate a compensation technique for sensor frequency cross-sensitivity and hysteresis.
• * To enhance the accuracy and reliability of POFBG-based angle sensing.

Main Methods:

• * Fabrication of POFBGs using femtosecond laser inscription in CYTOP.
• * Testing POFBGs for angle measurements across various oscillatory frequencies.
• * Implementation and verification of a proposed compensation technique for sensor data.

Main Results:

• * The compensation technique reduced root mean squared error (RMSE) by 44%.
• * Achieved RMSE of 2.20° when compared to a reference potentiometer.
• * Reduced hysteresis by 55%, achieving values below 0.01°.

Conclusions:

• * The developed compensation technique effectively addresses frequency cross-sensitivity and hysteresis in POFBGs.
• * POFBGs, with compensation, provide high-sensitivity, low-hysteresis angle measurements over a wide frequency range.
• * This advancement enables more accurate movement analysis using optical fiber sensors.