Remotely deployed optical fiber circulator
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring at least one parameter, comprising:
- an optical source coupled to at least one forward optical waveguide for transmitting incident light onto the forward optical waveguide;
an optical detector coupled to at least one return optical waveguide for receiving reflected light from the return optical waveguide;
at least one optical circulator remotely deployed from at least the optical source, wherein the forward fiber optic cable and the return fiber optic cable are coupled to the circulator; and
at least one fiber-optic based sensor coupled to the circulator and responsive to the parameter, wherein the sensor is interrogated by the incident light and produces the reflected light.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fiber-optic-based systems and methods for monitoring physical parameters using a remotely deployed circulator are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the circulator is remotely deployed with respect to an optical source/detector and coupled thereto by two dedicated fiber optical cables: a forward line for passing light from the source through the circulator to fiber-optic-based sensors, and a return line for passing light reflected from the sensors through the circulator back to the detector. By using separate forward and return lines in conjunction with the circulator, backscattering phenomenon experienced on the forward line will not interfere with the reflected light signals coming from the sensors. The circulator, and hence the sensors, may therefore be remotely deployed from the source/detector present at a monitoring station, greatly expanding distances which optical sensing systems can span.
67 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring at least one parameter, comprising:
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an optical source coupled to at least one forward optical waveguide for transmitting incident light onto the forward optical waveguide;
an optical detector coupled to at least one return optical waveguide for receiving reflected light from the return optical waveguide;
at least one optical circulator remotely deployed from at least the optical source, wherein the forward fiber optic cable and the return fiber optic cable are coupled to the circulator; and
at least one fiber-optic based sensor coupled to the circulator and responsive to the parameter, wherein the sensor is interrogated by the incident light and produces the reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for monitoring at least one parameter, comprising:
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transmitting an incident light from a optical source onto at least one first optical waveguide;
receiving the incident light from the first optical waveguide at at least one node remotely deployed from the optical source;
transmitting the incident light from the node to at least one sensor;
receiving reflected light from the sensor at the node; and
transmitting the reflected light from the node to an optical detector through a second optical waveguide different from the first optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification