A signal conditioner to measure the length of an interferometric gap in a
Fabry-Perot sensor (interferometer). The invention includes a light
source, a Fabry-Perot interferometer capable of spanning a range of gaps
in response to physical changes in the environment, a second
interferometer that is placed in series with the Fabry-Perot
interferometer which does not filter any particular wavelengths of light
but acts as an optical cross-correlator, a detector for converting the
correlated light signal into electronic signals, and an electronic
processor which controls system elements and generates a signal
indicative of the length of the gap spanned by the Fabry-Perot sensor.