This paper presents the design of a rugged and compact Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) utilizing a birefringent prism, a pair of polarizers and a linear CCD array. This design improves on existing FTS by eliminating moving parts and spreading the optical path difference (OPD) spatially (rather than temporal scanning), making the system smaller, more reliable, and dramatically reducing measurement times. Both the theoretical models for the design and experimental results of the prototype are presented. The optical performance is tested using LEDs of known wavelengths, with the fringe counting technique employed during interferogram acquisition to ensure accurate sampling of the interferogram at constant OPD intervals. Reconstructing the spectra showed that the detected wavelengths deviated from the actual wavelengths by less than 1 nm.

The paper describes the development of a mesh waveguide sensor capable of measuring pressure force at the plantar interface. The uniqueness of the system is in its batch fabrication process, which involves a microfabrication molding technique with poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) as the optical medium. The pressure sensor consists of an array of optical waveguides lying in perpendicular rows and columns separated by elastomeric pads. A map of normal stress was constructed based on observed macro bending which causes intensity attenuation from the physical deformation of two adjacent perpendicular waveguides. In this paper, optical and mechanical analysis of the bend loss will be presented. We will also present the results using a two-layer neural network system for force and image construction of fourteen different shape patterns and its corresponding four different applied forces.

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A flexible high-resolution sensor capable of measuring the distribution of both shear and pressure at the plantar interface are needed to study the actual distribution of this force during daily activities, and the role that shear plays in causing plantar ulceration. We have previously developed a novel means of transducing plantar shear and pressure stress via a new microfabricated optical system. However, a force image algorithm is needed to handle the complexity of construction of two-dimensional planar pressure and shear images. Here we have developed a force image algorithm for a micromachined optical bend loss sensor. A neural network is introduced to help identify different load shapes. According to the experimental result, we can conclude that once the neural network has been well trained, it can correctly identify the loading shape. With the neural network, our micromachined optical bend loss Sensor is able to construction the two-dimensional planar force images.

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