A method of measuring locally specific pressures with an instrument that employs a matrix of intersecting columns and lines, each consisiting of pressure-transmitting conductors. The conductors are optical fibers. The column-associated optical fibers and the line-associated optical fibers are arrayed such that a locally specific pressure at their point of intersection produces an area of contact of different size. Light is introduced at at least one end of only a single column-associated or line-associated optical fiber. The amount of light coupled in at the points of intersection is read out at all optical fibers intersecting these optical fibers. The result is a locally specific distribution of pressure.

An optical rotary control device (10) is provided comprising a light source (12) and at least one light receptor (14) linearly spaced, creating a planar axis with the light source (12). A rotatable light director (16) is provided which includes means for directing light from the light source (12) to at least one optical aperture (22) in the light director (16). The optical aperture (22) refracts the directed light from the light director (16) to the light receptor (14). The optical rotary control (10) device further comprises an isolator portion (20) having recesses (24) for receiving and separating the light source (12) and light receptor (14). The means for directing light may include a cut out section (18) in one end of the light director (16 ).

An optical transducer includes a light emitting unit, a light detecting unit, light radiating sensor heads and light receiving sensor heads; the light radiating sensor heads and light receiving sensor heads are alternately arranged at intervals, and moving objects pass through the intervals in such a manner as to intersect light beams between the sensor heads; since the light emitting unit and light detecting unit are remote from the sensor heads, the light emitting unit and light detecting units are optically coupled to the sensor heads through optical fibers; a bundle of optical fibers is clipped on a predetermined route, and the optical fibers swerve from predetermined points of the bundle so that the optical fibers are surely warped so as to exert the resilient force on the inner surfaces of the optical devices, thereby being kept stable during the adhesion therebetween.

An apparatus for optically monitoring a space, the apparatus including light guiding fibers for transmitting received radiation to a sensor device. The light inlets are arranged in an array while the sensors are arranged in a row which is read out in parallel fashion.

A fiber optic signal collection system and method for position sensing or sensing other parameters indicated by light distinctive patterns. The system is particularly suitable for use in aircraft flight control. The system includes a set of fiber optic fibers with first and second ends. The first ends are disposed adjacent a light distinctive pattern indicating a particular pattern such as a relative position. A portion of the second ends are positioned adjacent a light source and a portion of the second ends are disposed adjacent a light sensing electrical device such that light from the light source can be conveyed through the fibers, reflected from the light distinctive pattern, and conveyed through the fibers to the light sensing electrical device in order to detect the pattern in the electrical device. By this means the parameter indicated by the light distinctive pattern can be detected, and the right indication of which can be remotely conveyed through the fiber optic fibers to a conveniently located light sensing electrical device. Multiple parameters can be sensed with a single light sensing electrical device by alternate routing of light from different light distinctive patterns indicating different parameters to the light sensing electrical device.