Optical potentiometer using fluorescent optical fiber for position measurement.

A new method is proposed for the measurement of an object position with a fluorescent optical fiber sensor having the structure of an optical potentiometer. A physical model is developed, showing how to combine different measurements to reject the influence of source intensity variations and other drifts also. Experimental results are presented, and good agreement with the model is obtained. Theoretical system resolution determination is also performed. Finally, comments are made about using the configuration in fiber optic sensor networks.