Omron Fiber Optic Sensors: Amplifier & Optical Sensor

Fiber optic sensors come in two main types: intrinsic and extrinsic. Both types use light to gather information and are very useful in different ways.

Intrinsic fiber optic sensors use the light that travels inside the fiber to sense things. Imagine a tiny rope that carries light, instead of being solid. When something changes the light inside this tiny rope, the sensor notices it. This change can tell us about things like pressure, temperature, or if something is bending. So, intrinsic sensors help by noticing changes directly where the light is traveling.

Extrinsic fiber optic sensors use the light to sense things outside of the fiber. Think of it as a flashlight that sends light out and watches what comes back. This type uses the light from the fiber to look at something else and then sees how the light changes when it comes back. This way, extrinsic sensors can tell us about the things the light touched or saw, like its color, or if it’s moving.

In summary, intrinsic fiber optic sensors notice things by watching light inside the fiber, and extrinsic sensors observe by checking how light changes after it leaves the fiber. Both types provide unique and important ways to understand and interact with the world around us, using the special properties of light.

Fibre optic sensors are very useful, but they also have some disadvantages that we should consider. They’re not perfect for every situation and sometimes can be tricky to use.

One disadvantage is that fiber optic sensors can be expensive. Buying them and setting them up might cost more money than other types of sensors. So, using them in some places might not be the best idea if we want to save money.

Another problem is that they can be sensitive to damage. If the fiber gets bent too much or broken, it might stop working. This means we have to be really careful with them and make sure they’re protected so they can do their job properly.

Also, fiber optic sensors might not work as well with some measurements. Sometimes, they might have trouble telling us accurate information about really high temperatures or high pressures, especially when compared to some other types of sensors.

Lastly, installing and using fiber optic sensors can sometimes be complicated. People might need special training to use them properly and make sure they’re giving us the right information.

In a nutshell, while fiber optic sensors are handy, they can be costly, delicate, possibly less accurate for certain measurements, and require careful handling and knowledge to operate. This doesn’t mean they aren’t useful, but it’s important to know when and how to use them best.