Fiber optic grating sensor systems for sensing environmental effects

• US 5,380,995 A
• Filed: 10/20/1992
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Udd, Eric, Clark, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US07/963,687
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.18, 250/227.23, 250/227.21, 250/227.16, 250/227.14, 250/227.19, 356/345
• US Class Current: 250/227.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35303 using a reference fibre, e.g. interferometric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12164 Multiplexing; Demultiplexing

Abstract

One or more optical fiber gratings are used to sense environmental effects that can vary the spacing between the lines of the grating to vary the center frequency of the spectral envelope, either reflected or passed thereby. Light of the sensor grating'"'"'s spectral envelope is transmitted to a local grating unaffected by the environmental effect and compared with the spectral envelope of the local grating to produce an intensity modulated signal, which is detected to sense the environmental effect. The sensor systems so constructed may have one or more local gratings and those local gratings may be modulated to reduce the effects of noise, broaden the dynamic range, vary the sensitivity or discriminate in a multiplexed embodiment. The system can be operated either open or closed loop.

Claims

1. A sensor system to sense an environmental effect, said system including:

a light source producing a first light beam with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein;

a first fiber grating connected to receive said first light beam and positioned for exposure to the environmental effect, said first fiber grating having;

first periodic variations in its optical properties therealong, the instantaneous location of said first periodic variations being affectable by the environmental effect to instantaneously determine a first relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating, said first fiber grating creating a second light beam from said first light beam whose frequency spectrum depends on the environmental effect;

a first local optical filter connected to receive at least portions of said second light beam and positioned for isolation from the environmental effect, said first local optical filter being capable of reflecting a spectrum having a relatively narrow band width overlapping at least some of the frequency spectrum of said second light beam, so that upon exposure to said second light beam, said first local optical filter creates a third light beam whose intensity is representative of the environmental effect; and

first detector means positioned to receive said third light beam and to produce therefrom a first electrical output representative of the environmental effect.

2. The sensor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second light beam is reflected from said first fiber grating, said sensor system further including:

a first beamsplitter having;

a first portion connected to receive said first light beam from said light source;

a second portion connected to said first fiber grating for conducting said first light beam to said first fiber grating; and

a third portion connected to conduct said second light beam from said second portion to said first local optical filter.

3. The sensor system as defined in claim 2 wherein said first local optical filter reflects a portion of said second light beam out of said second light beam to form said third light beam from the remainder thereof.

4. The sensor system as defined in claim 2 wherein said third light beam is that portion of said second light beam reflected by said first local optical filter, said sensor system further including:

a second beamsplitter having;

a first portion connected to receive said second light beam from said third portion of said first beamsplitter;

a second portion connected to said first fiber grating for conducting a said second light beam to said first local optical filter; and

a third portion connected to conduct said third light beam from said first local optical filter to said first detector means.

5. The sensor system as defined in claim 2 further including:

a second local optical filter having a reflective spectrum that is different than said reflective spectrum of said first local optical filter, whereby at least a portion of said reflective spectrum of said first or second local optical filter corresponds to at least a portion of said relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating;

second detector means; and

a second beamsplitter having;

a first portion connected to receive said second light beam from said third portion of said first beamsplitter;

a second portion connected for conducting a first portion of said second light beam to said first local optical filter that creates said third light beam therefrom; and

a third portion connected for conducting a second portion of said second light beam to said second local optical filter to create a fourth light beam therefrom, said first detector means being positioned to receive any portion of said third light beam that passes through said first local optical filter and to produce therefrom said first electrical output representative of at least part of the environmental effect, and said second detector means being positioned to receive any portion of said fourth light beam that passes through said second local optical filter and to produce therefrom a second electrical output representative of part of the environmental effect not represented by said first electrical output.

6. The sensor system as defined in claim 5 further including:

means to combine said first and second electrical outputs into a combined electrical output having a dynamic range greater than either of said first or second electrical outputs.

7. The sensor system as defined in claim 2 wherein said first fiber grating can be subjected

a second local grating having a quiescent reflective spectrum that is different than the quiescent reflective spectrum of said first local grating;

means to vary the spacing of said first local grating at a first frequency; and

means to vary the spacing of said second local grating at a second frequency, whereby at least a portion of one of said varying reflective spectrums of said first or second local grating corresponds to at least a portion of said relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating, and wherein said first detector means includes;

synchronous demodulator means to extract said environmental effect from said third light beam.

8. The sensor system as defined in claim 2 further including:

a second local optical filter having a reflective spectrum that is different than said reflective spectrum of said first local optical filter, whereby at least a portion of said reflective spectrum of said first or second local optical filter corresponds to at least a portion of said relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating;

second detector means;

a second beamsplitter having;

a first portion connected to receive said second light beam from said third portion of said first beamsplitter;

a second portion connected for conducting a first portion of said second light beam to said first local optical filter, whereby a portion of said first portion of said second light beam reflects from said first local optical filter to form said third light beam; and

a third portion connected for conducting a second portion of said second light beam to said second local optical filter, whereby a portion of said second portion of said second light beam reflects from said second local optical filter to form a fourth light beam;

first means to conduct said third light beam to said first detector means to produce therefrom said first electrical output representative of at least a portion of the environmental effect; and

second means to conduct said third light beam to said second detector means to produce therefrom a second electrical output representative of at least a portion of the environmental effect.

9. The sensor system as defined in claim 8 further including:

means to combine said first and second electrical outputs into a combined electrical output having a dynamic range greater than either of said first or second electrical outputs.

10. The sensor system as defined in claim 8 wherein said reflective spectrum of said first local optical filter is spaced in band width from said reflective spectrum of said second local optical filter no greater than said band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating.

11. The sensor system as defined in claim 1 further including:

a second fiber grating positioned for impingement by a second environmental effect; and

optical switch means to switch said first light beam between said first fiber grating and said second fiber grating, when said first light beam is switched to said second fiber grating, said second fiber grating creating a second second light beam, said second fiber grating having;

second periodic variations in its optical properties therealong, the instantaneous location of said second periodic variations being affectable by the second environmental effect to instantaneously determine a relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said second fiber grating, said second fiber grating creating said second second light beam from said first light beam whose frequency spectrum depends on the second environmental effect.

12. The sensor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first local optical filter includes:

means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter, said sensor system further including;

an oscillator having;

an oscillator output connected to drive said means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter; and

a synchronous demodulator connected to said oscillator output and said first electrical output representative of the environmental effect to produce therefrom a first sensor system output representative of the environmental effect.

13. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 wherein said oscillator output is at a relatively high frequency with respect to the environmental effect.

14. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter include:

a piezoelectric member connected to said oscillator output, said first local optical filter being a modulator fiber grating attached to said piezoelectric member for straining thereby.

15. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter include:

a piezoelectric member having;

a generally cylindrical outer surface, said piezoelectric member being connected to said oscillator output for driving thereby, said first local optical filter being a modulator fiber grating wrapped about said generally cylindrical outer surface for straining by variations in the diameter thereof.

16. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 wherein said first local optical filter is a modulator fiber grating and said means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter include:

means to strain said modulator fiber grating in steps; and

means to vary strain of said modulator fiber grating within a step.

17. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 further including:

an integrator connected to said first sensor system output representative of the environmental effect to integrate said first sensor system output into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrate first sensor system output to said light source.

18. The sensor system as defined in claim 12 further including:

an integrator connected to said first sensor system output representative of the environmental effect to integrate said first sensor system output into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrated first sensor system output to said means for varying the center frequency of the spectral envelope of said first local optical filter.

19. The sensor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first fiber grating has:

second periodic variations in its optical properties therealong, the instantaneous location of said second periodic variations in optical properties being affectable by the environmental effect to instantaneously determine a second relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating, said first fiber grating creating a fourth light beam from said first light beam whose frequency spectrum depends on the environmental effect, and wherein said first local optical filter is a first local grating having;

third and fourth periodic variations in its optical properties therealong, the instantaneous location of said third periodic variations determining a third relatively narrow band width of frequencies capable of being reflected by said first local grating, and the instantaneous location of said fourth periodic variations determining a fourth relatively narrow band width of frequencies capable of being reflected by said first local grating, said first local grating being connected to receive at least portions of said fourth light beam so that upon exposure to said at least portions of said fourth light beam, said first local grating creates a fifth light beam whose intensity is representative of the environmental effect.

20. The sensor system as defined in claim 1 further including:

a second light source producing a fourth light beam with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein different than the frequencies in said first light beam; and

means to combine said first and fourth light beams so that said first fiber grating receives said first and fourth light beams, said first fiber grating having;

second periodic variations in its optical properties therealong, the instantaneous location of said second periodic variations being affectable by the environmental effect to instantaneously determine a second relatively narrow band width of frequencies reflected by said first fiber grating, said first fiber grating creating a fifth light beam from said fourth light beam whose frequency spectrum depends on the environmental effect, and wherein said first local optical filter is a first local grating having;

third and fourth periodic variations in its optical properties, the instantaneous location of said third periodic variations in optical properties determining a third relatively narrow band width of frequencies capable of being reflected by said first local grating, and said fourth periodic variations in optical properties determining a fourth relatively narrow band width of frequencies capable of being reflected by said first local grating, said first local grating being connected to receive at least portions of said fifth light beam so that upon exposure to said at least portion of said fifth light beam, said first local grating creates a sixth light beam whose intensity is representative of the environmental effect, said system further including;

second detector means positioned to receive said sixth light beam and to produce therefrom a second electrical output representative of the environmental effect; and

computational means to combine said first and second electrical outputs to separate two different environmental effects components therefrom.

21. A sensor system to sense at least one environmental effect, said system including:

a light source producing a first light beam with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein;

at least one first fiber grating having a first reflective spectral envelope, said at least one first fiber grating being connected to receive said first light beam and to reflect any portion of said first light beam included within said first reflective spectral envelope thereby creating a second light beam;

at least one second fiber grating having a second reflective spectral envelope, said at least one second fiber grating being connected to receive said second light beam, whereby said at least one second fiber grating reflects any portion of said second light beam within said second reflective spectral envelope thereby creating a third light beam, whereby one of said fiber gratings is exposed to the at least one environmental effect; and

first detector means positioned to receive said third light beam and produce therefrom an electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect when at least one of said fiber gratings is exposed to the at least one environmental effect.

22. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one second fiber grating is exposed to a second environmental effect so that said electrical output of said first detector means is representative of the at least one environmental effect as it varies from the second environmental effect.

23. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one second fiber grating is exposed to the at least one environmental effect and wherein said at least one first fiber grating includes:

means for varying the center frequency of said first reflective spectral envelope, said sensor system further including;

an oscillator having;

an oscillator output connected to drive said means for varying the center frequency of said first reflective spectral envelope; and

a synchronous demodulator connected to said oscillator output and electrical output of said first detector means to produce therefrom a first sensor system output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

24. The sensor system as defined in claim 23 further including:

an integrator connected to said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect to integrate said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrated first sensor system output to said means for varying the center frequency of said first reflective spectral envelope.

25. The sensor system as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for varying the center frequency of said first reflective spectral envelope include:

a piezoelectric member having;

a generally cylindrical outer surface, said piezoelectric member being connected to said oscillator output for driving thereby, said at least one first fiber grating being a modulator fiber grating wrapped about said generally cylindrical outer surface for straining by variations in the diameter thereof.

26. The sensor system as defined in claim 23 wherein said at least one first fiber grating is a modulator fiber grating and said means for varying the center frequency of said first reflective spectral envelope include:

means to strain said modulator fiber grating in steps; and

means to vary strain of said modulator fiber grating within a step.

27. The sensor system as defined in claim 23 further including:

an integrator connected to said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect to integrate said first sensor system output into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrated first sensor system output to said light source.

28. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one first fiber grating is exposed to a large environmental effect and wherein said at least one second fiber grating includes:

means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope at a first predetermined frequency, said sensor system further including;

a third fiber grating having a third reflective spectral envelope different than said second reflective spectral envelope, said third fiber grating being connected to receive said second light beam and including;

means for varying the center frequency of said third reflective spectral envelope at a second predetermined frequency, whereby at least one of said second or third fiber gratings reflect a portion of said second light beam thereby creating a third light beam; and

synchronous demodulator means connected to said electrical output of said first detector means to produce therefrom a first sensor system output representative of the large environmental effect.

29. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein said at least one first fiber grating is exposed to the at least one environmental effect and wherein said at least one second fiber grating includes:

means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope, said sensor system further including;

an oscillator having;

an oscillator output connected to drive said means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope; and

a synchronous demodulator connected to said oscillator output and electrical output of said first detector means to produce therefrom a first sensor system output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

30. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 wherein said oscillator output is at a higher frequency than the at least one environmental effect.

31. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 wherein said means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope include:

a piezoelectric member connected to said oscillator output, said at least one second fiber grating being a modulator fiber grating attached to said piezoelectric member for straining thereby.

32. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 wherein said means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope include:

a piezoelectric member having;

a generally cylindrical outer surface, said piezoelectric member being connected to said oscillator output for driving thereby, said at least one second fiber grating being a modulator fiber grating wrapped about said generally cylindrical outer surface for straining by variations in the diameter thereof.

33. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 wherein said at least one first fiber grating is a modulator fiber grating and said means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope include:

means to strain said modulator fiber grating in steps; and

means to vary strain of said modulator fiber grating within a step.

34. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 further including:

an integrator connected to said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect to integrate said first sensor system output into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrated first sensor system output to said light source.

35. The sensor system as defined in claim 29 further including:

an integrator connected to said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect to integrate said electrical output representative of the at least one environmental effect into an integrated first sensor system output and connected to feed back said integrated first sensor system output to said means for varying the center frequency of said second reflective spectral envelope.

36. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein the environmental effect is applied to said at least one second fiber grating and said least one first fiber grating is isolated from the environmental effect.

37. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 wherein the environmental effect is applied to said at least one first fiber grating and said least one second fiber grating is isolated from the environmental effect.

38. The sensor system as defined in claim 21 further including:

a second light source producing a fourth light beam with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein, said at least one first fiber grating having;

first and second reflective spectral envelopes, said at least one first fiber grating being connected to receive said first and fourth light beams and to reflect any portion of said first and fourth light beams included within said first and second reflective spectral envelopes thereby creating second and fifth light beams, said at least one second fiber grating having;

first and second reflective spectral envelopes similar to said first and second reflective spectral envelopes of said at least one first fiber grating, said at least one second fiber grating being connected to receive said second and fifth light beams, whereby said at least one second fiber grating reflects any portion of said second and fifth light beams within said first and second reflective spectral envelopes thereby creating third and sixth light beams, whereby one of said fiber gratings is exposed to at least two environmental effects; and

second detector means positioned to receive said sixth light beam and produce therefrom an electrical output representative of the environmental effects, said electrical output representative of said first detector means also being representative of the least two environmental effects.

39. A sensor system to sense at least one environmental effect, said system including:

light source means producing light with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein;

fiber grating means exposed to the at least one environmental effect, said fiber grating means being capable of separating a first spectral envelope from broadband light, said first spectral envelope having;

a first center wavelength that is determined at least in part by the at least one environmental effect and varies therewith;

controlled means being capable of separating a second spectral envelope from broadband light, said second spectral envelope having;

a second center wavelength controlled thereby;

means conducting light from said light source means to said fiber grating means and to said controlled means so that said first and second spectral envelopes are mixed to produce at least one output light beam whose intensity varies with the at least one environmental effect; and

first detector means positioned to receive said at least one output light beam and produce therefrom an output representative of the at least one environmental effect when said fiber grating means are being exposed to the at least one environmental effect.

40. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said controlled means include:

a fiber grating isolated from the at least one environmental effect.

41. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said controlled means include:

spectral modulator means that controllably shift said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope; and

means to produce a modulator signal indicative of the shifting of said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope, and wherein said first detector means include;

a detector producing a detector output; and

demodulator means connected to receive said detector output and said modulator signal to produce therefrom said output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

42. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said controlled means include:

spectral modulator means capable of controllably shifting said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope; and

signal generator means connected to said spectral modulator means and producing a modulator signal for shifting said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope, and wherein said first detector means include;

a detector producing a detector output;

demodulator means connected to receive said detector output and said modulator signal to produce therefrom a demodulator signal; and

integrator means connected to receive said demodulator signal and to produce therefrom an integrator output connected to said spectral modulator means for shifting said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope, said integrator output being representative of the at least one environmental effect.

43. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said controlled means include:

spectral modulator means capable of controllably shifting said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope; and

signal generator means connected to said spectral modulator means and producing a modulator signal for shifting said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope, and wherein said first detector means include;

a detector producing a detector output;

demodulator means connected to receive said detector output and said modulator signal to produce therefrom a demodulator signal; and

integrator means connected to receive said demodulator signal and to produce therefrom an integrator output connected to said light source means to vary the intensity of the light produced thereby, said integrator output being representative of the at least one environmental effect.

44. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said controlled means include:

means separating a plurality of spectral envelopes from broadband light;

spectral modulator means that controllably shift the center wavelengths of said plurality of spectral envelopes at different frequencies; and

means to produce modulator signals indicative of the shifting of said center wavelengths of said plurality of spectral envelopes, and wherein said first detector means include;

a detector producing detector outputs; and

demodulator means connected to receive said detector outputs and said modulator signals to produce therefrom said output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

45. The sensor system as defined in claim 44 wherein said fiber grating means include:

means to separate a plurality of first spectral envelopes from broadband light, each first spectral envelope having;

a first center wavelength different from said other first center wavelengths.

46. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said means conducting light from said light source means to said fiber grating means and to said controlled means include:

at least a first fiber beamsplitter having;

a central portion having;

first and second sides;

a first arm;

a second arm;

a third arm; and

a fourth arm, said light source means producing said light with a relatively broad band of frequencies into said first arm, said controlled means being connected to said second arm, and said fiber grating means being connected to said third arm.

47. The sensor system as defined in claim 46 wherein said first and second arms are located on said first side of said central portion and said third and fourth arms are located on said second side of said central portion.

48. The sensor system as defined in claim 47 wherein said first spectral envelope is reflected from said fiber grating means.

49. The sensor system as defined in claim 47 wherein said first spectral envelope is reflected from said fiber grating means and said second spectral envelope is reflected from said controlled means.

50. The sensor system as defined in claim 46 wherein said first and third arms are located on said first side of said central portion and said second and fourth arms are located on said second side of said central portion.

51. The sensor system as defined in claim 50 wherein said first spectral envelope is reflected from said fiber grating means.

52. The sensor system as defined in claim 50 wherein said first spectral envelope is reflected from said fiber grating means and said second spectral envelope is reflected from said controlled means.

53. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said first and second spectral envelopes each has a relatively narrow band width, said light with a relatively broad band of frequencies therein having a band width at least large enough to include said first and second spectral envelopes.

54. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said fiber grating means include:

a first fiber grating exposed to a first environmental effect, said first fiber grating being capable of separating said first spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said first center wavelength being determined at least in part by the first environmental effect;

a second fiber grating exposed to a second environmental effect, said second fiber grating being capable of separating;

a third spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said third spectral envelope having;

a third center wavelength that is determined at least in part by the second environmental effect;

a third fiber grating exposed to a third environmental effect, said third fiber grating being capable of separating;

a fourth spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said fourth spectral envelope having;

a fourth center wavelength that is determined at least in part by the third environmental effect, said first, second, and third fiber gratings being connected serially together, wherein said controlled means are first controlled means capable of separating said second spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said sensor system further including;

second controlled means being capable of separating;

a fifth spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said fifth spectral envelope having;

a fifth center wavelength controlled thereby; and

third controlled means being capable of separating;

a sixth spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said sixth spectral envelope having;

a sixth center wavelength controlled thereby, and wherein said means conducting light from said light source means to said fiber grating means and to said controlled means include;

means conducting light from said light source means to said first fiber grating and to said first controlled means so that said first and second spectral envelopes are mixed to produce an output light beam whose intensity varies with the first environmental effect;

means conducting light from said light source means to said second fiber grating and to said second controlled means so that said third and fifth spectral envelopes are mixed to produce an output light beam whose intensity varies with the second environmental effect; and

means conducting light from said light source means to said third fiber grating and to said third controlled means so that said fourth and sixth spectral envelopes are mixed to produce an output light beam whose intensity varies with the third environmental effect.

55. The sensor system as defined in claim 54 wherein said output light beam whose intensity varies with the first environmental effect, said output light beam whose intensity varies with the second environmental effect, and said output light beam whose intensity varies with the third environmental effect are all conducted to said first detector means to produce an output representative of the first, second, and third environmental effects.

56. The sensor system as defined in claim 55 wherein said first controlled means include:

first spectral modulator means that produce a first modulator signal and that controllably shift said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope;

second spectral modulator means that produce a second modulator signal and that controllably shift said fifth center wavelength of said fifth spectral envelope;

third spectral modulator means that produce a third modulator signal and that controllably shift said sixth center wavelength of said sixth spectral envelope;

first demodulator means connected to receive said first modulator signal and said output representative of the first, second, and third environmental effects and to produce therefrom a first sensor output representative of the first environmental effect;

second demodulator means connected to receive said second modulator signal and said output representative of the first, second, and third environmental effects and to produce therefrom a second sensor output representative of the second environmental effect; and

third demodulator means connected to receive said third modulator signal and said output representative of the first, second, and third environmental effects and to produce therefrom a third sensor output representative of the third environmental effect.

57. The sensor system as defined in claim 56 wherein said first sensor output is fed back to said first controlled means, wherein said second sensor output is fed back to said second controlled means, and wherein said third sensor output is fed back to said third controlled means.

58. The sensor system as defined in claim 56 wherein said first sensor output is integrated and fed back to said first controlled means, wherein said second sensor output is integrated and fed back to said second controlled means, and wherein said third sensor output is integrated and fed back to said third controlled means.

59. The sensor system as defined in claim 39 wherein said fiber grating means exposed to the at least one environmental effect include:

a first fiber grating exposed to a first environmental effect, said first fiber grating being capable of separating said first spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said first center wavelength being determined at least in part by the first environmental effect;

a second fiber grating exposed to a second environmental effect, said second fiber grating being capable of separating;

a third spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said third spectral envelope having;

a third center wavelength that is determined at least in part by the second environmental effect;

a third fiber grating exposed to a third environmental effect, said third fiber grating being capable of separating;

a fourth spectral envelope from light from said light source means, said fourth spectral envelope having;

a fourth center wavelength that is determined at least in part by the third environmental effect, said first, second, and third fiber gratings being connected serially together, wherein said controlled means is first controlled means reflecting said second spectral envelope to said first, second, and third fiber gratings so that said first and second spectral envelopes are mixed to produce intensity variations with the first environmental effect in an output light beam, said sensor system further including;

second controlled means reflecting;

a fifth spectral envelope having;

a fifth center wavelength controlled thereby, said second controlled means reflecting said fifth spectral envelope light from said light source means to said first, second, and third fiber gratings so that said third and fifth spectral envelopes are mixed to produce intensity variations with the second environmental effect in said output light beam; and

third controlled means reflecting;

a sixth spectral envelope having;

a sixth center wavelength controlled thereby, said third controlled means reflecting said sixth spectral envelope light from said light source means to said first, second, and third fiber gratings so that said fourth and sixth spectral envelopes are mixed to produce intensity variations with the third environmental effect in said output light beam, wherein said first controlled means include;

first spectral modulator means that produce a first modulator signal and that controllably shift said sixth center wavelength of said sixth spectral envelope, wherein said second controlled means include;

second spectral modulator means that produce a second modulator signal and that controllably shift said second center wavelength of said second spectral envelope, wherein said third controlled means include;

third spectral modulator means that produce a third modulator signal and that controllably shift said fifth center wavelength of said fifth spectral envelope, wherein said first detector means includes;

a first detector positioned to receive light passing through said first spectral modulator means and to produce a first detector output therefrom;

a second detector positioned to receive light passing through said second spectral modulator means and to produce a second detector output therefrom; and

a third detector positioned to receive light passing through said third spectral modulator means and to produce a third detector output therefrom, and wherein said first controlled means include;

first demodulator/integrator means connected to receive said first modulator signal and said first detector output and to produce therefrom a first sensor output representative of the third environmental effect;

second demodulator/integrator means connected to receive said second modulator signal and said second detector output and to produce therefrom a second sensor output representative of the first environmental effect; and

third demodulator/integrator means connected to receive said third modulator signal and said second detector output and to produce therefrom a third sensor output representative of the second environmental effect.

60. A sensor system to sense first and second environmental effects that occur at a single location, said system including:

light source means producing light with first and second bands of frequencies therein;

first fiber grating means exposed to the first and second environmental effects, said first fiber grating means being capable of separating;

a first spectral envelope from said first band of light frequencies having;

a first center wavelength that is determined in part by the first environmental effect and in part by said second environmental effect; and

a second spectral envelope from said second band of light frequencies having;

a second center wavelength that is determined in part by the first environmental effect and in part by said second environmental effect;

optical filter means being capable of separating;

a third spectral envelope from said first band of light frequencies, said third spectral envelope overlapping at least a portion of said first spectral envelope and having;

a third center wavelength; and

a fourth spectral envelope from said second band of light frequencies, said fourth spectral envelope overlapping at least a portion of said second spectral envelope and having;

a fourth center wavelength;

means conducting light from said light source means to said first fiber grating means and to said optical filter means so that said first and third, and second and fourth spectral envelopes are mixed to produce first and second output light beams whose intensity varies differently with the two environmental effects; and

detector means positioned to receive said first and second output light beams and to produce therefrom a first output representative of the first environmental effect and a second output representative of the second environmental effect.

61. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said first fiber grating means include:

a double fiber grating exposed to changes in the first and second environmental effects, and said optical filter means are second fiber grating means that include;

two fiber gratings isolated from changes in the first and second environmental effects.

62. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said optical filter means include:

spectral modulator means that controllably shift said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope; and

means to produce a modulator signal indicative of the shifting of said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and the shifting of said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope, and wherein said detector means include;

a first detector producing a first detector output from said first light output beam;

a second detector producing a second detector output from said second light output beam; and

demodulator means connected to receive said first and second detector outputs and said modulator signal to produce therefrom said first output representative of the first environmental effect and said second output representative of the second environmental effect.

63. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said optical filter means include:

spectral modulator means that controllably shift said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope; and

signal generator means connected to said spectral modulator means and producing a modulator signal for shifting said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and shifting said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope, and wherein said detector means include;

a first detector producing a first detector output from said first light output beam;

a second detector producing a second detector output from said second light output beam;

demodulator means connected to receive said first and second detector outputs and said modulator signal to produce therefrom first and second demodulator signals;

bias means connected to receive said first and second demodulator signals and to produce therefrom a bias output connected to said spectral modulator means for shifting said third and fourth center wavelengths of said third and fourth spectral envelopes; and

processor means that receive said first and second demodulator signals and produce therefrom said first output representative of the first environmental effect and said second output representative of the second environmental effect.

64. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said optical filter means include:

spectral modulator means that controllably shift said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope; and

signal generator means connected to said spectral modulator means and producing a modulator signal for shifting said third center wavelength of said third spectral envelope and shifting said fourth center wavelength of said fourth spectral envelope, and wherein said detector means include;

a first detector producing a first detector output from said first light output beam;

a second detector producing a second detector output from said second light output beam;

demodulator means connected to receive said first and second detector outputs and said modulator signal to produce therefrom first and second demodulator signals;

bias means connected to receive said first and second demodulator signals and to produce therefrom a bias output connected to said light source means to vary the intensity of the light produced thereby; and

processor means that receive said first and second demodulator signals and produce therefrom said first output representative of the first environmental effect and said second output representative of the second environmental effect.

65. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein an even number of said spectral envelopes are reflected spectral envelopes.

66. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said first and second spectral envelopes are reflected spectral envelopes.

67. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said means conducting light from said light source means to said first fiber grating means and to said optical filter means include:

a wavelength division multiplexing element having;

a first arm;

a second arm; and

a third arm, said light source means producing said light with said first band of frequencies into said first arm and producing said light with said second band of frequencies into said second arm, said first fiber grating means and said optical filter means being connected to receive light in said first and second bands of frequencies from said third arm.

68. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said detector means include:

a first detector;

a second detector; and

a wavelength division multiplexing element having;

a first arm connected to conduct said spectral envelopes from said first fiber grating means and said optical filter means;

a second arm connected to deliver said first and second spectral envelopes to said first detector; and

a third arm connected to deliver said third and fourth spectral envelopes to said second detector.

69. The sensor system as defined in claim 60 wherein said first and second spectral envelopes are reflected from said first fiber grating means and said third and fourth spectral envelopes are reflected from said optical filter means.

70. A system for sensing at least one environmental effect, said system including:

first fiber means positioned for exposed to the at least one environmental effect, said first fiber means having;

a length; and

first periodic variation in optical properties along said length thereof, said first periodic variation in optical properties being affectable by the at least one environmental effect, so said first fiber means can reflect a first spectrum of a relatively narrow group of frequencies that depends on said first periodic variation in optical properties and the at least one environmental effect, and can pass a second spectrum of a first relatively large number of frequencies from which said first spectrum is removed;

a first local optical filter isolated from direct action by the at least one environmental effect, said first local optical filter being capable of separating a third spectrum of a relatively narrow group of frequencies from a fourth spectrum of a second relatively large number of frequencies, said third spectrum overlapping at least some of said first spectrum; and

first comparison means capable of comparing at least one of said first and second spectra with at least one of said third and fourth spectra, and capable of producing therefrom at least a first output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

71. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said first local optical filter is comprised of:

second fiber means isolated from direct interaction with the at least one environmental effect having;

a length; and

second periodic variation in optical properties along said length thereof capable of reflecting said third spectrum dependent on said second periodic variation and passing said fourth spectrum.

72. The system as defined in claim 71 wherein said first fiber means has:

third periodic variation in optical properties along said length, said third periodic variation being affectable by the at least one environmental effect, so said first fiber means can reflect a fifth spectrum of a relatively narrow group of frequencies that depends on said third periodic variation in optical properties and the at least one environmental effect, and can pass said second spectrum of a relatively large number of spectrum of a relatively narrow group of frequencies that depends on said third periodic variation in optical properties and the at least one environmental effect, and can pass said second spectrum of a relatively large number of frequencies from which said fifth spectrum is also removed, and wherein said second fiber means has;

fourth periodic variation in optical properties along said length thereof capable of reflecting a sixth spectrum dependent on said fourth periodic variation and passing said fourth spectrum with said sixth spectrum removed therefrom; and

second comparison means capable of comparing said spectra other than spectra capable of comparison by said first comparison means and capable of producing therefrom at least a second output representative of the at least one environmental effect.

73. The system as defined in claim 72 further including:

a first light source creating light with a relatively broad band of frequencies including said first and third spectra for producing first light for transmission to said first and second fiber means;

a second light source creating light with a relatively broad band of frequencies that is different than the frequencies produced by said first light source and including said fifth and sixth spectra for producing second light for transmission to said first and second fiber means.

74. The system as defined in claim 73 wherein said first and second light sources are located closer to said second fiber means than to said first fiber means.