In this paper, the fabrication and characterization of a temperature sensor based on periodically tapered optical fibers (PTOF) are presented. The relation between the geometry of the sensors and sensing ability was investigated in order to find the relatively simple structure of a sensor. Four types of PTOF structures with two, four, six and eight waists were manufactured with the fusion splicer. For each PTOF type, the theoretical free spectral range (FSR) was calculated and compared with measurements. The experiments were conducted for a temperature range of 20–70 °C. The results proved that the number of the tapered regions in PTOF is crucial, because some of the investigated structures did not exhibit the temperature response. The interference occurring inside the structures with two and four waists was found be too weak and, therefore, the transmission dip was hardly visible. We proved that sensors with a low number of tapered regions cannot be considered as a temperature sensor. Sufficiently more valuable results were obtained for the last two types of PTOF, where the sensor’s sensitivity was equal to 0.07 dB/°C with an excellent linear fitting (R² > 0.99). The transmission dip shift can be described by a linear function (R² > 0.97) with a slope α > 0.39 nm/°C.

In this paper, proximity sensors based on ball-lensed single-mode fibers (SMF) are described. Two types of sensors are presented: (1) Type A with one transmitting and four receiving optical fibers and (2) Type B with one transmitting and eight receiving optical fibers. In both types ball-lensed optical fibers are used as a receiving line. Sensitivity of these sensors is compared to sensitivity of sensors with the same configurations, but involving cleaved optical fibers. All developed sensors were tested at two most popular in SMF wavelengths: 1310 nm and 1550 nm. As a refractive surface the silicon wafer was used.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop identification system for fiber optic connectors in passive distribution cabinets. The system should have alternative power supply and wireless communication unlike the identification systems commercially available, which will make the system fully autonomous. Design/methodology/approach: Detailed project and realization of real demonstrator of fully autonomous identification system. After the realization of the demonstrator, its optimization was performed. Findings: It is possible to build fully autonomous identification system which requires 15.6 mJ energy to perform one cycle of identification process. Moreover, it is possible to use the alternative power method to supply this system. Originality/value: Fully autonomous identification system of fiber optic connectors with alternative power supply and wireless communication.