Optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system
First Claim
1. An optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system comprisinga plurality of fiber optic cable buses;
- a plurality of groups of strain and temperature sensors, each of said groups being connected in series in a corresponding one of said buses, a unique address being provided each sensor function by wavelength selection in each of said buses;
demultiplexing means coupled to said buses for demultiplexing the individual wavelengths, said demultiplexing means comprising a laser source coupled to each of said buses and plurality of monochromators each coupled to a corresponding one of said buses and to said laser source, each of said monochromators having control means connected thereto for controlling the operation of the monochromator to which it is connected;
detecting means for detecting analog data from a discrete sensor function;
digitizing means for digitizing detected analog data; and
backbone network means for distributing and processing digitized data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system for a plurality of Bragg sensors connected in series spaced relation in a plurality of single mode fiber optic cable buses. In each of the buses a unique address is provided each sensor function by wavelength selection. Each of a plurality of monochromators is coupled to a corresponding one of the buses and has a control connected to it for controlling the operation of the monochromator. A tunable laser source is coupled to each of the buses. A wavelength sweep generator is coupled to the laser source and provides outputs to the controls of the monochromators. Each of a plurality of photodetector receivers receives the output of a corresponding one of the monochromators and each has an output providing output signals indicating individual wavelengths of the Bragg sensors coupled to it. Each if a plurality of analog to digital converters is connected to the output of a corresponding one of the photodetector receivers. A backbone network connected to the analog to digital converters distributes and processes digitized data.
21 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. An optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system comprising
a plurality of fiber optic cable buses; -
a plurality of groups of strain and temperature sensors, each of said groups being connected in series in a corresponding one of said buses, a unique address being provided each sensor function by wavelength selection in each of said buses; demultiplexing means coupled to said buses for demultiplexing the individual wavelengths, said demultiplexing means comprising a laser source coupled to each of said buses and plurality of monochromators each coupled to a corresponding one of said buses and to said laser source, each of said monochromators having control means connected thereto for controlling the operation of the monochromator to which it is connected; detecting means for detecting analog data from a discrete sensor function; digitizing means for digitizing detected analog data; and backbone network means for distributing and processing digitized data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An optical electronic multiplexing reflection sensor system comprising
a plurality of single mode fiber optic cable buses; -
a plurality of bi-directional couplers coupled in series spaced relation in each of said buses; a plurality of Bragg sensors, each connected to a corresponding one of said couplers via a single mode secondary fiber optic cable, whereby in each of said buses a unique address is provided each sensor function by wavelength selection; a plurality of monochromators each coupled to a corresponding one of said buses, each of said monochromators having control means connected thereto for controlling the operation of the monochromator to which it is connected; a tunable laser source coupled to each of said buses; a wavelength sweep generator coupled to said laser source and providing outputs to said control means of said monochromators; a plurality of photodetector receivers each receiving the output of a corresponding one of said monochromators and each having an output providing output signals indicating individual wavelengths of the Bragg sensors coupled thereto; a plurality of analog to digital converters each connected to the output of a corresponding one of said photodetector receivers; and a backbone network connected to said analog to digital converters for distributing and processing digitized data.
-
-
5. A method of monitoring a plurality of groups of strain and temperature sensors, each group being connected in series in a corresponding one of a plurality of fiber optic cable buses, a unique address being provided each sensor function by wavelength selection in each of said buses, said method comprising the steps of
demultiplexing the individual wavelengths of said buses by coupling a laser source to each of said buses and coupling each of a plurality of monochromators to a corresponding one of said buses and to said laser source, each of said monochromators having control means connected thereto for controlling the operation of the monochromator to which it is connected; -
detecting analog data from a discrete sensor function; digitizing detected analog data; and distributing and processing digitized data.
-
Specification