Diode laser interrogated single-mode fiber optics with a hetero-core structure for a wearable glove sensing application

We have developed hetero-core fiber techniques interrogated with a semiconductor diode laser based on single-mode transmission for wearable glove sensing applications. The hetero-core fiber sensor is suitable for the wearable sensing glove because of the advantages of the capable optical intensity-based measurement with the excellent stability of the usage of the single-mode transmission fiber and independence of temperature fluctuation. In order that the hetero-core sensor was unaffected to the random wrinkles at the position of joints in a glove garment, the hetero-core sensor elements were located in the back of hand. As a result, the hetero-core flexion sensor could detect the joint angle of fingers regardless of differences of their size of hands, and the hetero-core sensing technique enables the sensing glove to equip the minimum number of sensors. The optical loss performances of the hetero-core sensors have indicated monotonic characteristics with the flexion angle of joints. The optical loss change is 1.35 dB for the flexion angle of approximately 97.2 degrees with accuracy of detectable flexion angle of 0.84 degree. Real-time hand motion capturing was successfully demonstrated by means of the proposed wearable sensing glove with hetero-core fiber techniques without restricting human natural behaviors.