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FOD Linear Position and Displacement Sensor

Key Features

Intrinsically safe Immune to EMI/RFI Up to 100°C (212°F) Resolution of up to 0.002 mm 20 mm linear stroke Aluminum or composite material housing

Applications

Microwave and RF environments In-situ process monitoring

The FOD is a fi ber optic linear position and displacement sensor that provides high accuracy, absolute measurements of position and displacement. The FOD is well suited for diffi cult to reach locations and hazardous environments such as those containing explosive materials.

Harsh and hazardous environments High-temperature environments

Features complete immunity to EMI and RFI, built-in safety for hazardous environ-ments, high precision and high temperature operating range.Research engineers in aerospace, defense, and different industrial areas may now improve process and product technology by monitoring the performance of spe- cifi c properties over time that will provide accurate information on changes in displacement during the operation, the manufacturing process or throughout the lifetime of a product. The use of the FOD linear position and displacement sensor allows a complete analysis in the most challenging environments.The FOD is an absolute position sensor and it is the fi ber optic version of the well-known Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). However, unlike its elec- trically activated counterpart, the FOD requires no energizing AC voltage or driv- ing signal with the associated wiring. Thus, the FOD is completely immune to EMI and RFI and carries no risk of current leakage or ignition. The FOD can be packaged in a very compact form and can be located up to 5 km away from the signal conditioner.Our unique design is based on a Thin Film Fizeau Interferometer device (TFFI) mounted on a movable shaft. The TFFI acts as a spatially distributed Fabry-Perot cavity where the cavity length varies along the lateral position. The tip of an op- tical fi ber faces the surface of the TFFI, which moves relative to the optical fi ber extremity.The FOD fi ber optic linear position and displacement sensor combines all the de-sired characteristics you would expect in the ideal sensor. Its compact size, immu- nity to EMI/RFI, resistance to corrosive environments, high accuracy, and reliability make it the best choice for linear position and displacement measurements.