Phase masks and FBG interrogators for FBG sensing systems

Enabling stable, high‑precision measurements in FBG sensing systems

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensing systems are widely used to measure strain, temperature, pressure, vibration, and structural health in demanding environments such as energy infrastructure, civil engineering, aerospace, and industrial monitoring. Each FBG sensor encodes the measured parameter as a shift in its Bragg wavelength, enabling accurate, EMI‑immune, and long‑distance measurements over standard optical fibers.

Ibsen supports this market with phase masks and FBG interrogators for FBG sensing systems. Our precision phase masks are used to write stable, high‑quality FBGs with well‑defined spectral characteristics, while our compact I‑MON interrogation monitors serve as high‑resolution FBG interrogators capable of tracking wavelength shifts in real time. Together, these components enable robust, scalable, and high‑performance FBG sensing solutions across a wide range of industries.

Why choose Ibsen’s Phase masks and I-MON interrogation monitors for FBG sensing?

Ibsen Photonics is your trusted and stable supplier of phase masks and FBG interrogators for FBG sensing systems. Our high‑quality phase masks for FBG manufacturing are backed by more than 30 years of product and market expertise. At the core of our phase‑mask production is Ibsen’s holographic and interferometric patterning technology, globally recognized for delivering exceptional grating‑period accuracy and chirp precision.

Our I‑MON interrogation monitors serve as compact, high‑performance FBG interrogators, built around Ibsen’s fused‑silica transmission gratings to provide high sensitivity, excellent wavelength resolution, and a robust, thermally stable design. With decades of experience and thousands of I‑MON units deployed worldwide, these interrogators are well known for their environmental stability, long‑term reliability, and suitability for demanding industrial and structural‑health monitoring applications.

FBG interrogator for FBG sensing systems

Why leading OEMs partner with Ibsen for phase masks:

  • Design flexibility: Pitches down to 260 nm, optimized for laser writing from 193 nm to 1065 nm, supporting FBG wavelengths across the 1310 nm and 1550 nm ranges.

  • High grating period accuracy: Better than 0.01 nm

  • Deep suppression of 0th order: Typically, below 2%

  • High uniformity: Our phase masks are inherently free of stitching errors

  • OEM tailoring & customization: We go beyond off-the-shelf solutions, offering advanced custom grating designs to meet your specific requirements

  • ISO 9001 certified quality: Our manufacturing processes meet the rigorous quality management standards required for your supply chain.

Why leading OEMs partner with Ibsen for I-MON interrogation monitors:

  • Application-specific flexibility: Choose between different options to match your need for wavelength range, measurement speed and maximum number of FBGs.

  • High speed: up to 30 kHz measurement frequency

  • Unmatched instrument consistency: Engineered for volume manufacturing with ultra-tight production tolerances, ensuring seamless integration and minimal unit-to-unit variation.

  • Superior optical throughput: Leveraging in-house transmission gratings with up to 90% diffraction efficiency for maximum signal collection.

  • Rugged and stable: A robust design with no moving parts, verified through extensive qualification to withstand harsh environments.

  • Compact designs: FBG interrogators with footprints below 25 cm2
  • Easy system integration: Multiple interface options (OEM, USB, DISB) and developer kits streamline evaluation and product development

  • OEM tailoring & customization: We go beyond off-the-shelf solutions, offering custom optical designs to meet your specific instrument requirements.

  • ISO 9001 certified quality: Our manufacturing processes meet the rigorous quality management standards required for your supply chain.

Where are phase masks and FBG interrogators used for FBG sensing systems?

FBG manufacturing

Phase‑masks are manufacturing tools used to produce high‑quality Fiber Bragg Gratings, enabling precise and repeatable inscription of periodic index changes directly into the fiber core. In a typical setup, a UV laser – most commonly operating at 193 nm (ArF excimer), 248 nm (KrF excimer), or frequency‑doubled/frequency‑tripled solid‑state sources around 244–266 nm – illuminates the fused‑silica phase mask to generate a stable interference pattern with the exact pitch required for the target Bragg wavelength. Recently, light sources in the visible and near-IR ranges are being used for FBG writing as well.

Because the phase mask defines the grating period, its dimensional accuracy and long‑term durability is critical for maintaining wavelength consistency across high‑volume production. The intense UV fluence places stringent demands on material purity, thermal stability, and surface quality, ensuring that the mask can deliver uniform fringe contrast, minimal wavefront distortion, and reliable performance over thousands of writing cycles. Together, these characteristics make phase masks the preferred tool for producing industrial-grade FBGs with tight spectral tolerances and excellent batch‑to‑batch repeatability.

FBG writing using phase mask for FBG sensing system
FBG interrogation monitor for FBG sensing system

FBG interrogation monitoring

FBG sensing systems rely on a broadband light source, a number of FBGs acting as strain or temperature sensors, and an FBG interrogator that converts tiny Bragg‑wavelength shifts into precise sensor readings. Because these shifts are often only a few picometers, interrogators must deliver high wavelength resolution, low noise, excellent thermal stability, and fast update rates to capture dynamic events and long‑term structural changes. They must also remain reliable over wide temperature ranges and support long fiber runs in industrial or outdoor environments.

Ibsen addresses these requirements with our I‑MON interrogation monitors, which are compact spectrometer‑based FBG interrogators built around fused‑silica transmission gratings for exceptional stability and sensitivity. Their robust optical design, high resolution, and proven environmental performance make them ideal for demanding applications such as structural‑health monitoring, energy infrastructure, aerospace, and industrial process control.

Our phase masks and FBG interrogators for FBG sensing systems

Ibsen Photonics’ phase masks are produced using more than three decades of optical‑grating expertise, combining deep process know‑how with holographic and interferometric patterning methods that deliver exceptional control of grating period, chirp, and uniformity.

Our I‑MON interrogation monitor family offers compact FBG interrogators built around Ibsen’s proprietary fused‑silica transmission gratings. This optical architecture ensures outstanding wavelength resolution, high sensitivity, and excellent thermal stability. With a long field history and thousands of units operating in real‑world installations, I‑MON interrogators have earned a strong reputation for environmental robustness, long‑term reliability, and consistent performance in demanding industrial and structural‑health monitoring applications.

For more information about our Phase masks and FBG interrogators for FBG sensing systems please select below:

Phase masks: +1/-1 | 0/-1 
I-MON:  OEM | USB | High-speed | DISB

More resources

FBG buyer’s guide

I-MON interrogation monitors?

Light sources for FBG sensing systems

Phase mask cleaning services

Technical notes and white papers

Other resources by category

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