All fiber towed array
First Claim
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1. A passive acousto-optical sensor system comprising:
- a plurality of at least partially overlapping optical fibers of differing lengths each configured to sense an acoustic signal along its length;
a receiver operatively connected to the plurality of optical fibers; and
a processor operatively connected to the receiver and configured to;
subtract an output optical signal of a first optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers from an output optical signal of a second optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprise a predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers whose lengths are intermediate the lengths of the first and second optical fibers, for extracting the acoustic signal associated with the portion of the second optical fiber that does not overlap with the first optical fiber; and
alter an operating frequency of the system by changing the predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers having lengths intermediate the lengths of optical fibers to be subtracted.
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Abstract
A system and method for an acoustic sensor array of a bundle of N different length optical fiber sensors. A coherent or noncoherent light source is input to each fiber for transmission along the length of the fiber. The light signal is reflected back at the fiber end point, and the resulting reflected light is diverted to an optical receiver so that perturbations of intensity and/or phase may be extracted.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A passive acousto-optical sensor system comprising:
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a plurality of at least partially overlapping optical fibers of differing lengths each configured to sense an acoustic signal along its length; a receiver operatively connected to the plurality of optical fibers; and a processor operatively connected to the receiver and configured to; subtract an output optical signal of a first optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers from an output optical signal of a second optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprise a predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers whose lengths are intermediate the lengths of the first and second optical fibers, for extracting the acoustic signal associated with the portion of the second optical fiber that does not overlap with the first optical fiber; and alter an operating frequency of the system by changing the predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers having lengths intermediate the lengths of optical fibers to be subtracted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Amethod for processing optical signals in a passive acousto-optical sensor system comprising:
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inputting optical signals to a plurality of at least partially overlapping optical fibers of differing lengths; sensing an acoustic signal acting along the length of the plurality of optical fibers; outputting a plurality of optical signals indicative of the received acoustic signal from each of the plurality of optical fibers, subtracting the output optical signal of a first optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers from the output optical signal of a second optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprise a predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers whose lengths are intermediate the lengths of the first and second optical fibers, for extracting an acoustic signal associated with the portion of the second optical fiber which does not overlap with the first optical fiber; and altering an operating frequency of the system by changing the predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers having lengths intermediate the lengths of optical fibers to be subtracted.
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11. A passive optical sensor array system for use in a towed array sensor comprising:
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a towing platform configured to tow the array sensor; an array comprising a plurality of optical fibers of differing lengths, each operative to sense acoustic signals along its length and cause a change in a characteristic of an optical signal provided to each of the plurality of optical fibers; and a control system comprising components operative to generate the optical signal and process received return optical signals by subtracting an output optical signal of a first optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers from an output optical signal of a second optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprise a predetermined non-zero number of optical fibers whose lengths are intermediate the lengths of the first and second optical fibers, for extracting an acoustic signal associated with the portion of the second optical fiber that does not overlap with the first optical fiber, wherein each of the components of the control system is arranged on or within the towing platform. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification