Fiber Optic Sensors

Fiber Optic Sensors

This BCC study analyzes the status of global markets for fiber optic sensors. Fiber optic sensors (FOSs) began as a by-product of optical fiber research and development. The first sensors were designed to measure the performance and status of an optical network. Optical networks transmit voice and data across the U.S. and around the world. The networks require constant monitoring to ensure signal transmission along the fibers in the network.

Faults or flaws along the length of the fiber affected the characteristic of the transmitted signal in measurable ways. Differences in temperature, strain, and pressure can be measured over long distances. The ability to multiplex a large number of wavelengths along a single fiber offers a means to gather a large amount of data from a single fiber. With the ability to operate in harsh environments and imperviousness to electromagnetic interference, FOSs can be applied in conditions in which electronic sensors fail. The cost of FOS technology remains higher than electronic sensors, thus FOSs have penetrated only where the unique advantages of FOSs justify the higher expense, or in which they are the only option for the conditions.

This report considers market conditions and opportunities in regional areas around the globe. The report also considers the potential new applications that will emerge in the next 5 years. The slowing of the telecom sector has led to attempts to leverage the optical fiber sensor technology developed for one application into new applications. Optical fiber sensors measure temperature; pressure, humidity, acceleration, and strain, and can operate in harsh conditions. This report considers the different types of sensor, what they can measure, and where they are used.

In addition to telecom applications, optical fiber sensors are used in oil and gas services, medicine, defense, and aerospace applications. Fiber optic sensors represent a disruptive technology within the oil and gas market, as they opened an entire new revenue stream for service providers.

Although familiarity with fiber sensor technology has increased and sensor prices have decreased, fiber sensors still find most application in areas where electronic sensors cannot compete. In cases in which fiber optic sensors attempt to replace existing electronic technology that meets the defined need adequately and for lower cost, the electronic option still dominates. Cost and unfamiliarity remain the primary barriers to fiber optic sensor growth into new applications. This report provides a standard 5-year planning cycle and revenue estimates through 2014. It defines product segments for optical coating technology categories, analyzes technology options, and determines current application markets as well as likely future opportunities.

Additionally, this report defines and graphically analyzes these fiber optic sensor markets from many perspectives, categorizes and profiles the companies involved, defines unique nomenclature, and details policy organizations, conferences, authors, and consortiums. 
 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

INTENDED AUDIENCE

SCOPE OF REPORT

INFORMATION SOURCES

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

RELATED REPORTS

BCC ONLINE SERVICES

DISCLAIMER

CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY

SUMMARY TABLE U.S. MARKET FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS, BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)

SUMMARY FIGURE U.S. MARKET FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS, BY TYPE, 2007¨C2014 ($ MILLIONS)

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW

INDUSTRY DEFINITION

IMPORTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY

CONCEPTS IN THE INDUSTRY

Consolidation

Vertical Integration

Long Development Lifetime

HISTORY

TABLE 1 BRIEF HISTORY OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

FIBER OPTIC GYROSCOPES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DRIVES DEVELOPMENT

DEFENSE APPLICATIONS SPUR RESEARCH

EXTENDING DRILLERS REACH

SURGICAL MINIATURIZATION

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

BIOMEDICAL

PETROCHEMICAL

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

EXISTING MARKETS

TABLE 2 EXISTING MARKETS FOR FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

Petrochemical

Medical

IAS002D ©¤ Fiber Optic Sensors Security

Military/Aerospace

Structural

Industrial

NEW MARKETS

Infrastructural Monitoring

Lighting

Lighting (Continued)

CHAPTER FOUR: TECHNOLOGY

TYPES OF SENSORS

TABLE 3 TYPES OF SENSORS COVERED IN THIS REPORT

FABRY-PEROT INTERFEROMETERS

FIBER OPTIC GYRO

FIBER BRAGG GRATING

Fiber Bragg Grating (Continued)

Long Period Grating

BROUILLON/RAMAN

COATED FIBER SENSORS

ADVANTAGE OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

TABLE 4 CHARACTERISTICS OF FOS

NO ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE

SMALL SENSING ELEMENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL RUGGEDNESS

MULTIPLEXING OF SIGNALS

SECURITY

DISADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

TABLE 5 DISADVANTAGES OF FOS

WEIGHT CONSIDERATIONS

COST

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY

PATENT ANALYSIS

PATENT PORTFOLIOS OF MAJOR COMPANIES

TABLE 6 PATENTS GRANTED TO MAJOR COMPANIES (PATENTS ISSUED BETWEEN 1976 AND JUNE 2008)

Oil and Gas

Military

Medical

Other

PATENTS BY COUNTRY

TABLE 7 PATENTS BY COUNTRY (PATENTS ISSUED BETWEEN 1976 TO JUNE 2008)

IAS002D ©¤ Fiber Optic Sensors PATENTS BY YEAR OF ISSUANCE

TABLE 8 FOS RELATED PATENTS ISSUED BY YEAR (NUMBER THROUGH JUNE 2008)

FIGURE 1 FOS RELATED PATENTS ISSUED BY YEAR (THROUGH JUNE 2008)

PATENTS BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE

TABLE 9 PATENTS BY PRODUCT TYPE (THROUGH JUNE 2008)

CHAPTER FIVE: MARKETS BY SENSOR TYPE

FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

Prices

Pricing Trends

TABLE 10 GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY PRODUCT,THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

FIGURE 2 TOTAL GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY PRODUCTS,2007-2014 ($ MILLIONS)

FIBER BRAGG GRATING (FBG) SENSORS

FIGURE 3 GLOBAL VALUE OF FBG SENSORS, 2007-2014 ($ MILLIONS)

Growth Drivers and Inhibitors

TABLE 11 MARKET FOR FBG SENSORS,Oil and Gas Services

Defense

Industrial

Structural

FABRY-PEROT SENSORS

TABLE 12 APPLICATION MARKETS FOR FABRY-PEROT FIBER SENSORS

Medical

Structural

Industrial

FIGURE 4 TOTAL GLOBAL VALUE OF FABRY-PEROT SENSORS,2007-2014 ($ MILLIONS)

FIBER OPTIC GYROSCOPE (FOG)

FIGURE 5 TOTAL GLOBAL VALUE OF FOG SENSORS, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)

OTHER TYPES OF SENSORS

FIGURE 6 TOTAL GLOBAL VALUE OF OTHER FIBER OPTIC SENSORS, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)

Other types of sensors (continued)

CHAPTER SIX: MARKETS BY APPLICATION

TABLE 13 GLOBAL VALUE OF FOS MARKET BY APPLICATION,

THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)

OIL AND GAS

DISTRIBUTED SENSING

Passive Seismic

Horizontal Drilling

Smart Reservoirs

Pipelines

Population Shift

Risk of Terrorism

Fears of Leakage

FIGURE 7 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR FOS USED IN OIL AND GAS SERVICES; THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

GROWTH DRIVERS

Continued Consumption in Developed Nations

Economic Growth in Developing Nations

Hydrocarbons Still Dominate

GROWTH INHIBITORS

Slow Down in Drillings

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 14 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR FBG IN OIL AND GAS SERVICES THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

MEDICAL

IN VIVO SENSING

A Number of FOS Designed for In Vivo

GROWTH DRIVERS

Less Invasive Treatment

Precision Treatment

GROWTH INHIBITORS

Need for Selectivity

Slow Adoption Curve

Regulatory Delays

Alternative Technologies

Cost of Technology

FIGURE 8 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR MEDICAL, 2007-2014($MILLIONS)

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 15 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR MEDICAL BY SENSOR TYPE THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

SECURITY

FIGURE 9 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR SECURITY APPLICATIONS, 2007-2014 ($MILLIONS)

GROWTH DRIVERS

GROWTH INHIBITORS

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 16 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR SECURITY BY SENSOR TYPE THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

DEFENSE/AEROSPACE

FIGURE 10 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR DEFENSE/AEROSPACE, 2007-2014 ($MILLIONS)

GROWTH DRIVERS

Potential New Deployments

GROWTH INHIBITORS

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 17 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR DEFENSE/AEROSPACE BY SENSOR TYPE, THROUGH 2014($MILLIONS)

STRUCTURAL

GROWTH DRIVERS

Bridges

Tunnels

Power Grid

Pipelines

Wind Turbines

Market Forecast

FIGURE 11 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR STRUCTURAL, 2007-

2014 ($MILLIONS)

GROWTH INHIBITORS

Worldwide Economy

Competing Technologies

Institutional Barriers

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 18 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR STRUCTURAL,THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

INDUSTRIAL

FIGURE 12 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR INDUSTRIAL,THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

GROWTH DRIVERS

GROWTH INHIBITORS

SENSOR TYPES

TABLE 19 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR INDUSTRIAL,THROUGH 2014 ($MILLIONS)

CHAPTER SEVEN: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

DRIVING FORCES

STRATEGIES FOR STAYING COMPETITIVE

Form Joint Ventures

Lower Processing Costs

IMPORTANT SHIFTS

LARGER COMPANIES DOMINATE

VENTURE CAPITAL UNINTERESTED

ATTRIBUTES LIMITS PENETRATION

COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES

MARKET SEGMENTATION

CHAPTER EIGHT: INTERNATIONAL MARKET CONSIDERATIONS

TABLE 20 FORECAST MARKET VALUE BY REGION, THROUGH 2014($ MILLIONS)

AMERICAS

DEFENSE

OIL AND GAS

SECURITY

EUROPE

OIL AND GAS

ASIA

CHINA

Infrastructure Investment

REST OF WORLD

FOREIGN INVESTMENT

LEADING FOREIGN SUPPLIERS

EUROPE

ASIA

CHAPTER NINE: COMPANY PROFILES

REGIONAL SURVEY

TABLE 21 SUPPLIERS BY REGION

TABLE 21 (CONTINUED)

TABLE 22 MARKET SHARE OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN FOS, 2008 ($ MILLION, %)

AITHER

AVANTES BV

Avantes U.S.A

Avantes China

AVENSYS

BAKER HUGHES

BAUMER ELECTRIC AG

COMPUDYNE

CONTRINEX SA

DAVIDSON INSTRUMENTS

DATASCOPE

DICON FIBEROPTICS

Global Fiberoptics Inc

ENDOSENSE SA

FIBERPRO

FIBERSENSING

FORTEBIO

FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC. (FOX-TEK)

HALLIBURTON

WELL DYNAMICS

HALMA GROUP

Labsphere

Ocean Optics

HITACHI CABLE, LTD

HONEYWELL SENSING AND CONTROL

INTELLIGENT FIBER OPTICS SYSTEMS (IFOS)

INTELLIGENT OPTICAL SYSTEMS

KEYENCE

KVH TECHNOLOGIES

LASERSCOPE, INC

LIOS TECHNOLOGY

LUMASENSE

LUNA INNOVATIONS

LXSIX

MICRON OPTICS

NELLCOR

NEOPTIX

NONIN MEDICAL

NORTHROP GRUMMAN NAVIGATION SYSTEMS DIVISION

NXTPHASE R&D

O/E LAND

OMRON

OPSENS

OPTELLIOS

OZ OPTICS

PHOTONICS LABORATORIES

PRIME PHOTONICS

ROCTEST GROUP

FISO Technologies Subsidiary

Smartec SA Subsidiary

SABEUS SENSOR SYSTEMS

SAMBA SENSOR SYSTEMS

SCHLUMBERGER

SENSORET LTD

SENSORTRAN

SENSOTEC GMBH

SENTEC CORPORATION

SHANGHAI LANBAO SENSOR CO, LTD

SILICANN TECHNOLOGIES

SMARTER SECURITY SYSTEM

TECHNO-SCIENCES

WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL LTD

WENZHOU STORD ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC

ZIEBEL AS

Ziebel AS (Continued)

APPENDIX

KEY PATENTS

SUN OIL COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Fiber Optic Liquid Level Sensor

Abstract

XEROX CORPORATION

Differential Fiber Optic Sensing Method And Apparatus for Ink Jet Recorders

Abstract

ANDREW CORPORATION

Optical-Fiber Directional Coupler Using Boron Oxide as Interstitial Material

Abstract

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Phase Modulator for Fiber-Optic Sensors

Abstract

Distributed, Spatially Resolving Optical Fiber Strain Gauge

Abstract

Distributed Multiplexed Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrangement

Abstract

Using an Optical Fiber Grating Sensor

Abstract

HITACHI CABLE, LTD.; HITACHI, LIMITED

Fiber-Optic Gyroscope Having Angular Velocity Correction

Abstract

SENTEC CORPORATION

Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor

Abstract

Fiber Optic Pressure Catheter

Abstract

LUNA INNOVATIONS, INC

Optical Sensor Arrangement

Abstract

Fiber-Optic Apparatus and Method for Making Simultaneous Multiple Parameter Measurements

Abstract

KVH, INC.

Apparatus And Method for Electronic RIN Reduction in Fiber-Optic Sensors

Abstract

Current Sensor

Abstract

THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Solution Anion Sensor

Abstract

LITTON CORPORATION

Passive Sampling Interferometric Sensor Arrays

Abstract

Dual Fiber Optic Gyroscope

Abstract

Long Distance, All-Optical Telemetry for Fiber Optic Sensor Using Remote Optically Pumped Edfas

Abstract

Multichannel Interferometer with Phase Generated Carrier Demodulation and Quadrature Error Correction

Abstract

SCHLUMBERGER

Vortex Flowmeter Transducer

Abstract

Multiple Mode Pre-Loadable Fiber Optic Pressure and Temperature Sensor

Abstract