Zedelef Pty Ltd has developed a novel transducing technology enabling a new generation of optical sensor networks targeting important markets such as mine monitoring, ocean monitoring for both surveillance and geo-seismic exploration and oil & gas distribution systems. Based on optical fibres and liquid crystals, the resulting technology leads to a dramatic simplification of existing sensing systems and to important reductions in their costs.
Principle of operation
Our patented optical transducer is a variable reflectance mirror, capable of modulating the intensity of the reflected light according to the voltage applied to a liquid crystal cell. An important feature is that the optical response is linear, so that the intensity of the reflected light is simply proportional to the input voltage applied to the transducer. Moreover our transducers are fast (the 3dB bandwidth is in the kHz) and work with voltages as low as tens of microvolts. A standard SMF-28 optical fibre is used to deliver and collect light, allowing easy interfacing with standard telecommunications equipment. It is therefore straightforward to multiplex a number of transducers to create large optical networks. For further information check also our Media page.
Artistic impression of how the optical transducer works
Publications
“A biopotential optrode array: operation principles and simulations”, A. Al Abed, H. Srinivas, J. Firth, F. Ladouceur, N.H. Lovell and L. Silvestri, Scientific Reports 8, 2690 (2018).
“Accurate optical measurement of high voltage waveform using novel optical liquid crystal based sensor”, J. Firth, Z. Brodzeli, M. Ciobotaru, T. Phung, F. Ladouceur and L. Silvestri, Sensors and Actuators A 268, 164-172 (2017).
“Liquid Crystal based optical telemetry applied to 4–20 mA current loop networks”, J. Firth, F. Ladouceur, Z. Brodzeli, C. Bruin, H. Wang and L. Silvestri, Sensors and Actuators A 260, 124-130 (2017).
“A novel optical telemetry system applied to flowmeter networks”, J. Firth, F. Ladouceur, Z. Brodzeli, M. Wyres and L. Silvestri, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation 48, 15-19 (2016).
“Sensors at your fibre tips: a novel liquid crystal-based photonic transducer for sensing systems”, Z. Brodzeli, L. Silvestri, A. Michie, Qi Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev, V. Chigrinov, and F. Ladouceur, J. Lightwave Technology 31, 2940-2946 (2013).
“Reflective mode of Deformed Helix Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal cells for sensing applications”, Z. Brodzeli, L. Silvestri, A. Michie, Q. Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev, V. Chigrinov, and F. Ladouceur, Liquid Crystals 40, 1427-1435 (2013).
“Voltage Sensor with wide Frequency Range using Deformed Helix Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal“, Qi Guo, Z. Brodzeli, L. Silvestri, A.K. Srivastava, E. P. Pozhidaev, V. G. Chigrinov, H. S. Kwok, Photonics Letters of Poland 5, 2-4 (2013).
“Fast electro-optical mode in photo-aligned reflective deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal cells”, G. Qi Guo, Z. Brodzeli, E. P. Pozhidaev, F. Fan, V. G. Chigrinov, H.-S. Kwok, L. Silvestri and F. Ladouceur, Optics Letters 37, 2343-2345 (2012).
“Liquid crystal-based hydrophone arrays”, Z. Brodzeli, L. Silvestri, A. Michie, V. G. Chigrinov, Qi Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev, A. Kiselev and F. Ladouceur, Photonic Sensors 2, 237-246 (2012).
“Reflection from gold-coated deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal cells: theory and experiment”, L. Silvestri, Z. Brodzeli, F. Ladouceur, A. Michie, V. G. Chigrinov, G. Qi Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev and A. D. Kiselev, Third Asia Pacific Optical Sensors Conference, edited by John Canning, Gangding Peng, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8351, 83512J (2012).
“Voltage sensor based on Deformed Helix Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal”, Z. Brodzeli, F. Ladouceur, L. Silvestri, T. Phung, A. Michie, V. G. Chigrinov, G. Qi Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev and A. D. Kiselev, Third Asia Pacific Optical Sensors Conference, edited by John Canning, Gangding Peng, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8351, 83512L (2012).
“Distributed hydrophone array based on liquid crystal cell”, Z. Brodzeli, F. Ladouceur, L. Silvestri, A. Michie, V. G. Chigrinov, G. Qi Guo, E. P. Pozhidaev and A. D. Kiselev, Third Asia Pacific Optical Sensors Conference, edited by John Canning, Gangding Peng, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8351, 83512C (2012).