Self-organized holey optical fiber for pressure sensing
This technology creates a new type of optical fiber that has a random pattern of microscopic air-filled tubes running through it, formed naturally during the manufacturing process by gases released from materials like silicon nitride as they are heated and stretched. Unlike conventional specialty fibers that require precise, engineered hole patterns, these fibers generate their structure spontaneously, simplifying production. The random hole pattern gives the fiber unusual optical properties, including a strong sensitivity to mechanical pressure — when squeezed or bent, the fiber's light transmission changes measurably depending on wavelength. This makes it useful both as a light-guiding medium and as a distributed pressure or force sensor.
What you could build
A low-cost pressure-sensing optical fiber that can be embedded in structural materials, pipelines, or wearable textiles to detect force or deformation, sold to industrial monitoring companies, civil infrastructure firms, or defense contractors needing distributed sensing.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense and aerospace contractors in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads with interest in distributed structural sensing or fiber-optic systems would be plausible licensees or development partners.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Jeong I. KIM, Daniel KOMINSKY, Gary PICKRELL, Ahmad SAFAAI-JAZI, Roger STOLEN, Anbo WANG
- Granted
- March 17, 2015
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 8983258
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.