Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating compression sensor and a flexure mount that is attached to the sensor to significantly enhance its compression sensitivity. By incorporating the flexure mount, compressive forces are converted to tensile forces allowing an entire new set of measurement possibilities. The sensor may be used in implantable tendon and ligament force sensing or as a generalized compression sensor.

Abstract: A mount for supporting a silicon v-groove array that contains delicate opal fibers. Optical fibers are arranged in a planar silicon v-groove array to form a focal plane array, which is connected to a first L-bracket. The focal plane array and the first L-bracket combination are attached to a second L-bracket via a shock/vibration isolation pad. The second L-bracket includes an extended cylinder which is threaded so that a strain relief can be screwed directly into the second L-bracket and the fibers extending out the first L-bracket can be fed through the second L-bracket and directly into a monocoil. The second L-bracket also includes space to attach front, side and top covers over the focal plane array. In a related method, the silicon v-groove array is epoxied to the first L-bracket. After preparation of the focal plane array, e.g. polishing of the fibers, is completed, the focal plane array/first bracket combination is connected to the second L-bracket, with the pad therebetween.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector distribution assembly including a front piece, a an out area, and a back piece. A bundle of thin optical fibers from a focal plane array is connected to the assembly by a monocoil and a strain relief. A bottom half and a top half of the front piece include eight corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses, four on each side of a relatively larger central recess having a connection for the strain relief. When the top and bottom halves of the front piece are connected, each of the eight cylindrical portions formed by the corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses receives first and second halves of an optical fiber connector. Bottom and top halves of the back piece also similarly house first and second halves of connectors. Once inside the assembly, the fibers are split into groups in the fan out area. Each group then enters the first half of the connector where it is transformed into a linear array of fibers.