Design, integration, and testing of a compact FBG interrogator, based on an AWG spectrometer

Andrea Trita; Garrie Vickers; Iker Mayordomo; Dries van Thourhout; Jan Vermeiren

doi:10.1117/12.2058107

Translator Disclaimer

8 May 2014 Design, integration, and testing of a compact FBG interrogator, based on an AWG spectrometer

Andrea Trita; Garrie Vickers; Iker Mayordomo; Dries van Thourhout; Jan Vermeiren

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9133, Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits IV; 91330D (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058107
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2014, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Fiber Bragg Grating or FBG sensors are gaining more and more interest in structural health monitoring of composite materials. Often, the weakest point in such a system is the ingress point of the fiber sensing chain into the composite material. For this reason we have developed a strongly miniaturized FBG interrogator unit with wireless power and data transmission, which can be incorporated in the composite structure. The interrogator is based on an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) filter fabricated in a SOI technology, which is tailored in such a way to give large cross-talk between neighboring channels. The AWG signals are read by a linear 128 pixel InGaAs array flip-chipped on top of the Photonic Circuit (PIC). The spectrometer unit is completed with a ROIC mounted on the same substrate. The SLED and remaining electronics are integrated on a small and thin substrate and surrounded by the wireless antenna. The interrogator has an overall dimension of 100 mm diameter by max 7 mm height. The power dissipation of the electronics unit is limited to 1.5 W. The unit is capable of measuring strain values as low as 5 micro-strain.

Citation Download Citation

Andrea Trita, Garrie Vickers, Iker Mayordomo, Dries van Thourhout, and Jan Vermeiren "Design, integration, and testing of a compact FBG interrogator, based on an AWG spectrometer", Proc. SPIE 9133, Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits IV, 91330D (8 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058107

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE