Fiber optic-based probe for use in saltwater and similarly conductive media as found in unenclosed natural environments
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring and alerting to change in media situated in an unenclosed natural environment adjacent a part of said system, comprising:
- at least one array of parallel optical fibers, each said fiber of a different length one from the other and each said fiber incorporating an approximately right angle bend at its terminus in said media, said array affixed to an external surface of a support immersed in water and sediment in said unenclosed natural environment, said support having a length, width and depth,wherein said array communicates a pre-specified level of detail as data regarding said change, said level of detail permitting determination of at least the relative level of said water and said sediment about said support;
at least one source of optical signals in operable communication with each said optical fiber at least during a portion of operation of said system;
at least one optical coupler in operable communication with each of said optical fibers; and
at least one sub-system in operable communication with each said optical fiberat least during a portion of operation of said system,wherein said data are processed by said sub-system to provide measurement of and alerting to said change, andwherein said change may be recorded and displayed via said sub-system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Arrays of optical fibers connected to specially configured electronics, e.g., a phototransistor, an LED, an amplifier, a detector, and display, software and PCMCIA A/D board available on a personal computer, are used to obtain continuous real-time acquisition, processing, and visualization of change in a media occurring in natural environments. Alternatively, many of the individual circuit elements above may be replaced with a power meter. In a specific application, data are collected on the depth of sediment below a body of water. As the sediment depth is changed by an event, the ends of the optical fibers in the array display a different reflection or transmission coefficient indicating that water has replaced sediment or vice versa. By knowing which of the optical fiber ends in the array is indicating the changed reflection or transmission coefficient, scour depth or silt accretion may be estimated. A method of employment of the system is also described.
33 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring and alerting to change in media situated in an unenclosed natural environment adjacent a part of said system, comprising:
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at least one array of parallel optical fibers, each said fiber of a different length one from the other and each said fiber incorporating an approximately right angle bend at its terminus in said media, said array affixed to an external surface of a support immersed in water and sediment in said unenclosed natural environment, said support having a length, width and depth, wherein said array communicates a pre-specified level of detail as data regarding said change, said level of detail permitting determination of at least the relative level of said water and said sediment about said support; at least one source of optical signals in operable communication with each said optical fiber at least during a portion of operation of said system; at least one optical coupler in operable communication with each of said optical fibers; and at least one sub-system in operable communication with each said optical fiber at least during a portion of operation of said system, wherein said data are processed by said sub-system to provide measurement of and alerting to said change, and wherein said change may be recorded and displayed via said sub-system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for monitoring and alerting to change in media situated in an unenclosed natural environment, comprising:
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at least one optical means for sensing change in at least one characteristic of said media and transmitting data representing said change; at least one array of parallel said optical means, each said means of a different length one from the other and each said means incorporating an approximately right angle bend at its terminus in said media, wherein an end of each said optical means is affixed to an external surface of a support immersed in water and sediment in said unenclosed natural environment, said support having a length, width and depth, and wherein said array communicates a pre-specified level of detail as data regarding said change, said level of detail permitting determination of at least the relative level of said water and said sediment about said support, and wherein said array communicates a pre-specified level of detail regarding said change, said level of detail permitting determination of at least the relative level of said water and said sediment about said support; at least one means for energizing each said optical means, said means for energizing in operable communication with each said optical means; at least one means for processing said data, said means for processing in operable communication with each said optical means, wherein said means for processing provides measurement of and alerting to said change, and wherein said means for processing displays and records said change; and at least one means for coupling together said optical means, said means for energizing and said means for processing.
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23. A method for monitoring and alerting to change in media situated in an unenclosed natural environment, comprising:
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providing at least one array having at least one optical fiber, each said fiber of a different length one from the other and each said fiber incorporating an approximately right angle bend at its terminus in said media, said array affixed to an external surface of at least one support immersed in water and sediment in said unenclosed natural environment, said support having a length, width and depth; configuring said array to provide a pre-specified level of detail regarding said change, said level of detail permitting determination of at least the relative level of said water and said sediment about said support; impressing an optical signal from at least one source on each said optical fiber in said array; collecting said impressed optical signal and a response signal of said media to said impressed optical signal; providing a sub-system in operable communication with each said optical fiber, wherein said sub-system processes said response to enable measurement of and alerting to said change, and wherein said sub-system displays and records said change; and providing at least one coupler in operable communication with each said optical fiber, said source, and said sub-system.
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Specification