Fiber-optic sensor systems for absolute measurements

In this review presentation we provide a short introduction to fiber-optic sensor technology, a quickly emerging novel industrial application area of photonics, different from fiber-optic communications. Fundamental sensor concepts, sensor classification, sensor components and several representative examples of industrial sensor systems will be presented with special focus on sensors and sensor systems developed for absolute measurements in the area of engineering mechanics. Several specific topologies of fiber-optic absolute pressure transducers developed recently at the Laboratory of Industrial Optoelectronics (LIO) at UQAH to meet requirements for use in general purpose pressure measurements, and for load distribution measurements in large engineering structures will also be presented.