Optical fiber structure monitoring and analysis
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a structure having a plurality of structural elements, the system comprising:
- a first optical fiber acoustically coupled via a gel to at least one of the plurality of structural elements;
a first source of optical energy configured to inject optical energy into the first optical fiber;
a first optical detector configured to detect a first optical return signal having characteristics determined at least in part by vibrations of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements;
an analyzer configured to determine a first information concerning a structural integrity of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements based at least on a comparison of the characteristics of the first optical return signal to a plurality of known optical return signal characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring the structural integrity of a structure is provided. An optical fiber is acoustically coupled to one or more of the structural elements. A source of optical energy is configured to inject optical energy into the optical fiber, and an optical detector is configured to detect a first optical return signal having characteristics that are affected by vibrations of the structural elements. An analyzer measures characteristics of the optical return signal to determine information concerning the movement of the structural elements monitored by the fiber optic cable. The results of the analyzer can be stored and so that the analysis of the optical return signal can be compared to previously recorded signals to determine changes in structural integrity over time. Multiple fibers can be acoustically coupled to the monitored structural elements to obtain additional data concerning the structural integrity.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a structure having a plurality of structural elements, the system comprising:
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a first optical fiber acoustically coupled via a gel to at least one of the plurality of structural elements; a first source of optical energy configured to inject optical energy into the first optical fiber; a first optical detector configured to detect a first optical return signal having characteristics determined at least in part by vibrations of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements; an analyzer configured to determine a first information concerning a structural integrity of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements based at least on a comparison of the characteristics of the first optical return signal to a plurality of known optical return signal characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring a structure having a plurality of structural elements, the method comprising:
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injecting optical energy into a first optical fiber acoustically coupled via a gel to at least one of the plurality of structural elements; receiving from the first optical fiber a first optical return signal having characteristics determined at least in part by vibrations of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements; comparing the characteristics of the first optical return signal to a plurality of known optical return signal characteristics; and determining a first information concerning the structural integrity of the at least one of the plurality of structural elements based at least on a result of the comparison of the first optical return signal and the plurality of known optical return signal characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification