Multi-channel array processor

• US 7,835,598 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Lopushansky, Richard L., Berthold, John W., Jeffers, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy; Brian M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Guy G
• Application Number:
  US11/314,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 367/149, 356345-346, 356357-358, 356/355, 385 12- 13, 385/39, 250/227.14, 250/227.18, 250/227.11, 738/41
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/266 by interferometric means G01D5/353 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35383 using multiple sensor devices using multiplexing techniques

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more environmental parameters using interferometric sensor(s), a cross-correlator, a two-dimensional photosensitive array and optical focusing means are described. The method and apparatus allows for near simultaneous monitoring of the parameter(s) of interest.

Claims

1. A fiber optic sensing system for monitoring an environmental parameter comprising:

a light source;

a optical fiber;

at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber and which modulates light received from the light source in response to changes in an environmental parameter;

an optical cross-correlator which receives the modulated light;

a two-dimensional photosensitive detector array; and

optical focusing means for providing the modulated light to the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array, where the optical focusing means focuses the modulated light from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam wherein the optical focusing means comprises a cylindrical mirror.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical crosscorrelator is interposed between the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array and the optical focusing means.

4. A system according to claim 1 having a plurality of interferometric sensors, each of said interferometric sensors modulating light received from the light source in response to changes in a plurality of respective environmental parameters.

2. A fiber optic sensing system for monitoring an environmental parameter comprising:

a light source;

a optical fiber;

at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber and which modulates light received from the light source in response to changes in an environmental parameter;

an optical cross-correlator which receives the modulated light;

a two-dimensional photosensitive detector array; and

optical focusing means for providing the modulated light to the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array, where the optical focusing means focuses the modulated light from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam wherein the optical focusing means comprises a cylindrical lens.

5. A method for monitoring at least one environmental parameter using a two-dimensional detector and at least one interferometric sensor that modulates light in response to the environmental parameters, the method comprising:

providing light through an optical fiber to at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber, said interferometric sensor modulating the light in response to a corresponding environmental parameter;

focusing and optically cross-correlating the modulated light so that the light is focused from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam and provided to the two-dimensional detector having a plurality of light sensing units;

scanning the plurality of light sensing units to identify a correlation burst for each interferometric sensor and creating an output representative of each environmental parameter being monitored; and

providing an optical cross-correlator to optically cross-correlate the modulated light; and

calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with an optical thickness of the optical cross-correlator.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with a specific channel in the multiplexed signal conditioner.

7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

providing an optical cross-correlator to optically cross-correlate the modulated light; and

calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with a specific channel in the multiplexed signal conditioner and so that each light sensing unit is also associated with an optical thickness of the optical cross-correlator.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein light is provided to a plurality of interferometric sensors and wherein a plurality of outputs are created with each scan.