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Apparatus and method for monitoring a structure using a counter-propagating signal method for locating events

  • US 6,778,717 B2
  • Filed: 04/29/2003
  • Issued: 08/17/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring a structure to locate the position of an event, including the steps of:

  • launching light into a waveguide so that the light is caused to propagate in both directions along the waveguide to thereby provide counter-propagating optical signals in the waveguide, the waveguide being capable of having the counter-propagating optical signals or some characteristic of the signals modified or effected by an external parameter caused by the event, to provide modified counter-propagating optical signals which continue to propagate along the waveguide; and

    substantially continuously and simultaneously monitoring the modified counter-propagating optical signals, so that when an event occurs, both of the modified counter-propagating optical signals effected by the external parameter are detected; and

    determining the time difference between the detection of the modified signals in order to determine the location of the event.

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