We demonstrate a new concept for an all-fiber inclinometer based on a tapered fiber Bragg grating (tFBG) in a fiber ring laser (FRL) with the capability of measuring the tilt angle and temperature simultaneously. The sensor performance is analyzed theoretically and investigated experimentally. The dependence of tilt angle on the spectral response in variable temperature conditions was measured. Two inclinometers with different lengths have been fabricated and characterized in FRL. The sensitivity is 0.583 dB/° and 0.849 dB/°, respectively, in the range of 0° to 90°. Thanks to the FRL system, narrow 3-dB bandwidth (<0.1 nm) and high optical signal-to-noise ratio (~60 dB) are achieved. The tFBG in the FRL system can be used for working as a temperature insensitive inclinometer. The results suggested that the proposed inclinometer has the advantages of compact size and convenient manufacture, enhancing its potential for application prospect.
Keywords: fiber ring laser; inclinometer; tapered fiber Bragg grating.