Dynamics Technology Awarded Patent for Shape Sensing Optical Fiber

Dr. G. Minot Clements Receives Patent for “Fiber Optic Sensor for Precision 3-D Position Measurement”

ARLINGTON, VA , November 5, 2004 – Dynamics Technology, Inc. (DTI), a world-class provider of advanced imaging sonar, integrated navigation, signal processing software and neutron imaging systems, has been awarded a patent for its invention of a fiber-optic based “smart cable” sensor. The new patent, titled “Fiber Optic Sensor for Precision 3-D Position Measurement” is a shape sensing optical fiber that can be used for precision determination of cable shape, endpoint position and orientation.

Originated by Dr. G. Minot Clements, a senior research scientist at Dynamics Technology, the concept for the “smart cable” was based on the idea of inferring the shape of a thin cable from measurements entirely restricted to its interior. Sufficiently accurate measurements of the local curvature and torsion along the cable allow reconstruction of the entire cable shape and length, including the 3-D position and orientation of the endpoints. The proposed technology for making these measurements is a multi-core optical fiber with individual fiber cores constructed to operate in the single mode regime. These fibers are positioned close enough to generate cross-talk (mode coupling) between the cores over the length of the fiber.

The patent-winning technology has many potential applications, including shape measurement of towed acoustic arrays, precision placement of urban transmission cables and pipelines, advanced robotics for sensing of body and limb position , advanced surgical techniques, guidance for steerable drilling systems, 3-D computer input, and spatial registration of sensor data.

Additionally, the fiber optic smart cable has distinct decisive advantages over current technologies. For example, the smart cable has no line-of-sight requirement; measures both position and orientation at any point along the cable; is immune to many interference sources; accommodates a range of active volumes/cable lengths; tracks cable motion at useful rates; is easily portable; and can potentially have a small cable diameter (e.g. < 1mm).

“The 3-D fiber shape and position sensor provides an enabling technology for short-range micro-navigation and complex shape measurement to support a wide range of applications such as computer input devices, noninvasive surgery, dynamic array beamforming, and search and rescue,” said Michael Dube, Vice President of Corporate Development for Dynamics Technology.

Dynamics Technology, Inc. (DTI) is a diversified, employee-owned research and development company providing integrated sensor and signal processing products and services for marine, intelligence and homeland security missions. DTI employs over 100 people at offices in Southern California and the metropolitan Washington D.C. area. For further information on DTI’s advanced sensor and signal processing technologies contact business@dynatec.com or visit our Web site at www.dynatec.com.