International Business Machines Corporation
Remote optical sensor with optical fiber for brake condition monitoring

Abstract:

An apparatus for monitoring condition of a braking system includes a brake pad with a friction material, a plurality of light transmission fibers, and a plurality of optical image fibers. A first end of each of the plurality of light transmission fibers coupled to one or more light emitting-diodes and a second end of each of the plurality of light transmission fibers directed towards a contact surface of the brake rotor. A first end of each of the plurality of optical image fibers coupled to an image sensor and a second end of each of the plurality of optical image fibers directed towards the contact surface of the brake rotor, where the plurality of light transmission fibers and the plurality of optical image fibers are configured to capture an image of at least a section of the contact surface of the brake rotor.