Abstract

The advent of multimode fiber-optic sensors in industrial instrumentation¹ calls for multichannel scanners or multiplexers when a large number of sensors is involved. Most low-loss multichannel scanner designs suggested in the literature are electromechanical devices based on rotary² or translational³ motion. A complication is the high demands on reliability and long life in combination with small dimensions and tolerances. Furthermore, often a large number of sensors should be addressable, excluding the possibility of cascading simple bypass switches due to the inherently high loss caused by serial coupling.

© 1985 Optical Society of America