RF-photonic system for acoustic and/or vibrational sensing using optical fiber and method thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for sensing vibrational and/or acoustical signals from a target area comprising:
- an optoelectronic oscillator comprising a light generator, a modulator, and at least one optical fiber, the optoelectronic oscillator operating to send a modulated carrier signal having a carrier frequency through the optical fiber into a target area and receive a return signal comprising a carrier frequency component and sideband signals that resonate within the optoelectronic oscillator;
a circuit for removal of signals other than sideband signals operatively connected to the optoelectronic oscillator for receiving of the optical return signal from the target area and substantially removing the carrier frequency;
the circuit for removal of the carrier frequency comprising;
a phase shifter;
a mixer operatively connected to the phase shifter;
a control circuit operatively connected to the mixer and the phase shifter for controlling the phase shifter and operating to remove the carrier frequency;
a signal processor operatively connected to the circuit for removal of the carrier frequency, the signal processor operating to process the sideband signals to detect acoustical and/or vibrational signals from the target area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system comprising:
- an optoelectronic oscillator comprising a light generator, a modulator, and at least one optical fiber, the optoelectronic oscillator operating to send a modulated carrier signal through the optical fiber into a target area and receive the return signal;
- a circuit for removal of the carrier frequency operatively connected to the oscillator comprising at least one phase shifter; at least one mixer operatively connected to the at least one phase shifter; at least control circuit operatively connected the at least one mixer and the at least one phase shifter for controlling the phase shifter and operating to cancel signals other than the sideband signals;
- a signal processor for processing the sideband signals to detect acoustical and/or vibrational signals from the target area. The method comprises sensing vibrational and/or acoustical signals for detection of acoustical and/or vibrational signals in the target area.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for sensing vibrational and/or acoustical signals from a target area comprising:
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an optoelectronic oscillator comprising a light generator, a modulator, and at least one optical fiber, the optoelectronic oscillator operating to send a modulated carrier signal having a carrier frequency through the optical fiber into a target area and receive a return signal comprising a carrier frequency component and sideband signals that resonate within the optoelectronic oscillator; a circuit for removal of signals other than sideband signals operatively connected to the optoelectronic oscillator for receiving of the optical return signal from the target area and substantially removing the carrier frequency;
the circuit for removal of the carrier frequency comprising;a phase shifter; a mixer operatively connected to the phase shifter; a control circuit operatively connected to the mixer and the phase shifter for controlling the phase shifter and operating to remove the carrier frequency; a signal processor operatively connected to the circuit for removal of the carrier frequency, the signal processor operating to process the sideband signals to detect acoustical and/or vibrational signals from the target area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for sensing acoustic and/or vibrations from a target area comprising:
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providing an oscillating circuit comprising; a light generator, a modulator operatively connected to the light generator, an optical fiber operatively connected to the modulator, a delay line operatively connected to the optical fiber; a sensor operatively connected to the optical fiber, and an RF coupler operatively connected to the optical fiber; generating light utilizing the light generator; modulating the light utilizing the modulator to create a radio frequency carrier signal; transmitting the carrier signal through the optical fiber to the sensor; the sensor operating to receive vibrational and/or acoustical signals to create sideband signals; receiving the return carrier signal and sidebands through the optical fiber by the RF coupler for transfer of an electronic signal to the modulator to complete the oscillating circuit; providing a circuit for removal of the carrier frequency operatively connected to the oscillating circuit to substantially remove the carrier frequency comprising at least one phase shifter operatively connected to an output of the sensor; at least one mixer having at least two inputs;
first input operatively connected to the at least one phase shifter and a second input operatively connected to the sensor through a delay line such that the signal received at the second input is a delayed output signal of the sensor;at least control circuit operatively connected the at least one mixer and the at least one phase shifter for controlling the phase shifter and operating to cancel signals other than the sideband signals; processing the sideband signals using a signal processor operatively connected the mixer to process the information contained in the sideband signals relating to the vibrational and/or acoustical signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for sensing vibrational and/or acoustical signals from a target area comprising:
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an optoelectronic oscillator comprising; at least one light generator, at least one modulator operatively connected to the light generator, at least one optical fiber operatively connected to the light generator, a sensor operatively connected to the optical fiber, and at least one output, the at least one modulator operating to modulate the light from the at least one light generator to create a radio frequency carrier signal for passage through the optical fiber to the sensor, the sensor operating to sense vibrational and/or acoustical signals which create sidebands in the carrier signal, the optical fiber operating to return the carrier signal with sidebands to the modulator and to at least one output; a circuit for removal of signals other than sideband signals operatively connected to the oscillating circuit to substantially remove frequencies other the sidebands comprising; at least one phase shifter operatively connected to another of the at least one output; at least one mixer operatively connected to the at least one phase shifter; at least control circuit operatively connected the at least one mixer and the at least one phase shifter for controlling the phase shifter and operating to cancel or remove signals other than the sideband signals; the at least one mixer operating to output the remaining sideband signals; a signal processor operatively connected to the at least one mixer for processing the sideband signals to detect vibrational and/or acoustic signals from the target area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification