Fiber Optic Communications with Subsea Sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensing system, comprising:
- a sensor configured to measure parameter data;
a transducer unit configured to convert an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of the parameter data into an encoded acoustic signal representative of the electrical signal;
a fiber optic system in proximity to the transducer unit, wherein the fiber optic system is configured for monitoring or transferring data not related to the parameter data and detecting the acoustic signal;
a fiber optic analyzer configured to decode optical signals from the fiber optic system to produce a data stream; and
a deconvolution system configured to separate the parameter data from the data stream.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present techniques are directed to systems and methods for monitoring parameter data from sensors, for example, in a subsea environment. In one method, an electrical signal including data from the subsea unit is converted into an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is directed through the water column towards a fiber optic cable. The acoustic signal is detected by changes in a light signal carried in the fiber optic cable, and the changes in the light signal are decoded to obtain a data stream representing the parameter data.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A sensing system, comprising:
-
a sensor configured to measure parameter data; a transducer unit configured to convert an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of the parameter data into an encoded acoustic signal representative of the electrical signal; a fiber optic system in proximity to the transducer unit, wherein the fiber optic system is configured for monitoring or transferring data not related to the parameter data and detecting the acoustic signal; a fiber optic analyzer configured to decode optical signals from the fiber optic system to produce a data stream; and a deconvolution system configured to separate the parameter data from the data stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for monitoring a subsea unit, comprising:
-
converting an electrical signal comprising parameter data from the subsea unit into an acoustic signal; directing the acoustic signal through a water column towards a fiber optic cable; detecting the acoustic signal by changes in a light signal carried in the fiber optic cable; and decoding the changes in the light signal to obtain a data stream representing the parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for monitoring data, comprising:
-
converting an electrical signal comprising parameter data into an acoustic signal; detecting the acoustic signal by changes in a light signal carried in a fiber optic cable that is also carrying other data unrelated to the parameter data; converting the light signal into an electrical signal representing a data stream; and deconvoluting the electrical signal to separate the parameter data from the data stream. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A sensing system, comprising:
-
a sensor configured to measure parameter data; a transducer unit configured to convert an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of the parameter data into an encoded acoustic signal representative of the electrical signal; a fiber optic system in proximity to the transducer unit and configured for detecting the acoustic signal; and a fiber optic analyzer configured to decode optical signals from the fiber optic system to produce a data stream.
-
Specification