OPTICAL FIBER SENSING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An alarm condition detection method for an optical fiber sensing system, the alarm condition detection method comprising:
- conducting a fast scan of a plurality of fiber optic sensing elements using an interrogator with a light source, a spectrometer, and a data processor;
calculating a first environmental parameter value for each fiber optic sensing element from spectrographic data collected by the interrogator during the fast scan;
comparing the first environmental parameter value with a first threshold value for each fiber optic sensing element;
conducting a high resolution slow scan of the current fiber optic sensing element in response to the first environmental parameter value exceeding the first threshold value; and
reporting an alert if the high resolution slow scan of the current fiber optic sensing element indicates the alarm condition.
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Abstract
A method is presented for detecting an alarm condition with an optical fiber sensing system. An interrogator with a light source, a spectrometer, and a data processor is used to conduct a fast scan of a plurality of fiber optic sensing elements. First environmental parameter values are calculated for each fiber optic sensing element from spectrographic data collected by the interrogator during the first scan, and compared with a first threshold value. If the first environmental parameter value exceeds the first threshold value for any fiber optic sensing element, the fast scan is interrupted to perform a high resolution slow scan of that fiber optic sensing element. The optical fiber sensing system reports an alert if this high resolution slow scan indicates the alarm condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An alarm condition detection method for an optical fiber sensing system, the alarm condition detection method comprising:
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conducting a fast scan of a plurality of fiber optic sensing elements using an interrogator with a light source, a spectrometer, and a data processor; calculating a first environmental parameter value for each fiber optic sensing element from spectrographic data collected by the interrogator during the fast scan; comparing the first environmental parameter value with a first threshold value for each fiber optic sensing element; conducting a high resolution slow scan of the current fiber optic sensing element in response to the first environmental parameter value exceeding the first threshold value; and reporting an alert if the high resolution slow scan of the current fiber optic sensing element indicates the alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical fiber sensing system comprising:
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an interrogator with a light source and a spectrometer; a plurality of fiber optic sensing elements; an optical switch configured to sequentially connect the interrogator to each of the plurality of fiber optic sensing elements; and a data processor configured to calculate environmental parameter values from spectroscopic analysis by the spectrometer of light refracted from the each of the plurality of fiber optic sensing elements; wherein the data processor is configured to control the optical switch to scan each fiber optic sensing element at a fast scan rate to calculate a rough environmental parameter value, and if the rough environmental parameter value for a particular fiber optic sensing element exceeds a first threshold, to scan that fiber optic sensing element at a slow scan rate to calculate a precise environmental parameter value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification