Optical fiber hygrometer system integration

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Maxwellian Inc. is a Montreal based company that innovates the first optical fiber humidity probe to measure humidity and dew point in any fields with high resolution in real-time manner. Their humidity probe is optical fiber based and uses light to measure moisture and humidity, even in harsh environments. The sensor is highly accurate while being calibration and drift free in any environment with a long lifetime of up to ten years. This customizable optical sensing technology thus provides high performance at low maintenance and low production costs. Maxwellian Inc. proprietary technology has already been validated with prototypes that are composed of three main parts: (i) the sensor package that includes the optical fiber, a thermoelectric cooler (TEC), electrical connectors and the metallic enclosure; (ii) the interrogator box with the electronic boards and circuits to control the sensor and extract measurements data; (iii) the electrical/optical connections between the interrogator box and the sensor package. Maxwellian prototype outperforms the electrical and bulk optics technologies competition in terms of cost efficiency as well as speed and precision [GE], [Kahn], [Mich]. The form factor and dimensions of the sensor is similar or smaller than competitors products, however it would greatly benefit from a miniaturized package with the electronic that would be brought closer to the sensor or be part of the packaged system as in Internet of Things (IoT) type sensors. As a first step towards sensor miniaturization, Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) and Maxwellian Inc. will collaborate in this research project to reach two main objectives. Firstly, they will design and fabricate a mechanical miniaturized sensor package with a commercial or micro-fabricated Peltier and the optical fiber for lab testing. Secondly, they will evaluate feasibility of a sensor package that complies with hygrometer specifications in harsh environment standard Cass1/Division 2 through mechanical and thermal design and simulation. The interrogator box and electrical optical connections are kept as is. They may be part of a following project to enhance miniaturization.