Sensing a disturbance along an optical path
First Claim
1. A sensing system for sensing a disturbance in a sensing region, the sensing system comprising:
- a source of optical radiation;
an upstream junction for channeling light along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; and
,a downstream junction for combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for sensing a disturbance in a sensing region along an optical path. The sensing system includes: a source of optical radiation; an upstream junction for channelling light along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; and, a downstream junction for combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A sensing system for sensing a disturbance in a sensing region, the sensing system comprising:
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a source of optical radiation; an upstream junction for channeling light along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; and
,a downstream junction for combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of sensing a disturbance in a sensing region, the method comprising:
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at an upstream junction, channeling optical radiation along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; and
,at a downstream junction, interferometrically combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A sensing system for sensing a disturbance in a sensing region, the sensing system comprising:
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a source of optical radiation; an upstream junction for channeling light along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; a downstream junction for combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred; and
,wherein each of the paths includes at least one optical amplifier and optical fiber portions extending to and from the amplifier, each amplifier being arranged to allow amplified light to pass in a travel direction and to prevent light traveling in the reverse direction from passing.
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12. A method of sensing a disturbance in a sensing region, the method comprising:
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at an upstream junction, channeling optical radiation along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; at a downstream junction, interferometrically combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred; and
,wherein each of the paths includes at least one optical amplifier and optical fiber portions extending to and from the amplifier, each amplifier being arranged to allow amplified light to pass in a travel direction and to prevent light traveling in the reverse direction from passing.
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Specification