Endoscopic displacement measurement based on fiber optic bundles

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Optics
• Instrumentation

Background:

• In-line monitoring and routine inspection are crucial for complex equipment maintenance.
• Direct visual inspection of internal structures is often hindered by obscured views.
• Fiber optic-based endoscopes offer valuable solutions for inspecting equipment in harsh environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an all-fiber visual displacement measurement system.
• To enable accurate measurement of object dimensions and mechanical vibrations using fiber optics.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for surface reconstruction and vibration analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a single-mode fiber and an imaging fiber bundle for all-fiber visual displacement measurement.
• Employed optical triangulation and a spot center extraction method from fiber bundle images.
• Investigated the impact of factors like light source and object roughness on measurement accuracy.

Main Results:

• Achieved a vertical measurement precision of 0.07 mm at a distance of 40.12 mm for rough objects.
• Successfully demonstrated surface reconstruction and vibration measurement functions.
• Identified key factors influencing measurement accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed all-fiber system provides a precise method for visual displacement measurement in challenging conditions.
• This technology is valuable for in-line monitoring and maintenance of complex equipment.
• Further research can optimize accuracy by considering light source and object surface properties.