Optimal Design and Performances Enhancement of a Fiber-Optic Displacement Sensor

Abstract This paper describes the optimal design of a miniature fiber-optic linear displacement sensor. It is characterised by its ability to measure the displacement along a millimetric range, with a sub-micrometric resolution. It consists of a triangular reflective grating and two fiber-optic probes. The sensor’s measurement principle is presented. The design of the sensor triangular grating has been geometrically optimized, by considering the step angle of the grating, in a way to enhance the sensor resolution. The optimization method revealed a global optimum, at which the highest resolution is obtained.