Multi-fiber optic sensing system

• US 10,444,083 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Nosrati, Mohammad
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Jamil
• Application Number:
  US15/819,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20190154521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35387 using wavelength division multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/32 using changes in transmittance, scattering or luminescence in optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/3213 using changes in luminescence, e.g. at the distal end of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29317 Light guides of the optical fibre type

Abstract

A fiber optic sensing system includes a plurality of optical probes, a light source, and a light splitting unit connecting the light source to the plurality of optical probes. The light splitting unit splits a light emitted from the light source into a plurality of divided lights, the divided lights being transmitted to the plurality of optical probes.

Claims

1. A fiber optic sensing system comprising:

a plurality of optical probes;

a light source;

a light splitting unit connecting the light source to the plurality of optical probes; and

at least one optical filter disposed in a light path from the light source to the plurality of optical probes for controlling simultaneous or sequential temperature measurement by the plurality of optical probes,

wherein the light splitting unit splits a light emitted from the light source into a plurality of divided lights, the divided lights being transmitted to the plurality of optical probes.

2. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the light splitting unit includes at least two groups of light splitters.

3. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 2, wherein the light splitting unit includes a first group of splitter connected to the light source, and a second group of splitters disposed between the first group of splitter and the optical probes.

4. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 2, wherein the first group of splitter includes a primary splitter for splitting a light emitted from the light source into a first divided light and a second divided light.

5. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 4, wherein the second group of splitters include two secondary light splitters for splitting the first and second divided lights into two third divided lights and two fourth divided lights, respectively.

6. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the light splitting unit includes n groups of light splitters for splitting the light from the light source into 2ⁿ divided lights for used with 2ⁿ optical probes, wherein n is a natural number.

7. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 6, wherein the first group of light splitter is directly connected to the light source and includes only one light splitter.

8. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 1 wherein the optical filter is disposed in a main light path and between the light splitting unit and the light source.

9. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 8, further comprising an optical detector disposed adjacent to the optical filter.

10. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical filter includes a plurality of optical filters disposed in paths of the divided lights and between the light splitting unit and the plurality of optical probes.

11. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of optical detectors adjacent the plurality of optical filters.

12. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the optical splitting unit is selected from a group consisting of multiple groups of light splitters, a multi-furcated cable assembly, and a wave division multiplexing device.

13. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 12, further comprising an optical switch module disposed between the light splitting unit and the plurality of optical probes.

14. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 13, wherein the optical switch module is configured to allow or block one or more of the divided lights to reach the plurality of optical probes.

15. A fiber optic sensing system comprising:

a plurality of optical probes each including a fluorescent material for detecting a temperature of a target;

a light source;

a controller;

a light splitting unit for splitting a light emitted from the light source into a plurality of divided lights; and

at least one optical filter disposed in a light path from the light source to the plurality of optical probes for controlling simultaneous or sequential temperature measurement by the plurality of optical probes,

wherein the divided lights travel to the plurality of optical probes and are absorbed and re-emitted by the fluorescent materials of the plurality of optical probes, the controller determining temperatures of the targets based on re-emitted lights by the plurality of optical probes.

16. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 15, wherein the controller determines the temperature of the plurality of targets simultaneously.

17. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of optical filters disposed in the paths of the divided lights.

18. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 16, wherein the controller determines the temperature of the plurality of targets sequentially.

19. The fiber optic sensing system according to claim 15, further comprising an optical switch module for controlling transmission and blocking of the divided lights to the optical probes.

20. A fiber optic sensing system comprising:

a single light source;

a plurality of optical probes;

at least one optical filter disposed in a light path from the light source to the plurality of optical probes for controlling simultaneous or sequential temperature measurement by the plurality of optical probes; and

a plurality of light splitters disposed between the single light source and the plurality of optical probes, the plurality of light splitters including n groups of light splitters that split the light emitted from the light source into 2ⁿ divided lights for use with 2ⁿ optical probes.