ALIGNMENT CONSIDERATIONS IN EXTRINSIC FIBEROPTIC SENSORS

The performance of a fiber-optic sensor and its overall cost depend an the packaging of the sensor. Alignment of different optical, optoelec tronic, and mechanical components is a key problem in the package desi gn of a her-optic sensor. An intensity based fiber-optic sensor that c an be used as a refractive-index or displacement sensor is considered as a case study in analyzing the effects of alignment on the performan ce of a fiber-optic sensor. Alignability of this sensor package is def ined and calculated, taking into account the coupling efficiency and e ffects of various misalignments. Guidelines for making the package set that the fiber-optic sensor works more efficiently are developed from our calculations. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.