Reflector configuration for distributed sensing in an optical fiber network using multiple sets of circulators
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- an interrogator that includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver;
a transmission optical fiber optically coupled to the optical transmitter;
a sensing optical fiber optically coupled to the optical receiver; and
a plurality of reflectors optically coupled to the transmission optical fiber, each reflector of the plurality of reflectors being positioned within a separate reflector region of a plurality of reflector regions within the transmission optical fiber, the plurality of reflector regions being defined by a first set of circulators, each reflector of the plurality of reflectors further being associated with a distinctive optical wavelength,wherein the plurality of reflectors includes a first reflector that is associated with a first wavelength and is responsive to an optical signal in the first wavelength from the optical transmitter by reflecting a reflected optical signal that includes the optical signal to a first circulator of the first set of circulators, the first circulator being positioned between the optical transmitter and the first reflector, andwherein the sensing optical fiber is divided into separate sensing regions defined by a second set of circulators, the second set of circulators including a second circulator that is operable for receiving the reflected optical signal from the first circulator and routing the reflected optical signal toward a sensing region of the separate sensing regions to generate a backscatter optical signal corresponding to the reflected optical signal and for communication toward the optical receiver.
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Abstract
A distributed optical fiber sensing system is provided. The system can include an interrogator, a transmission optical fiber, a sensing optical fiber, and a reflector. Each of the transmission optical fiber and the sensing optical fiber includes at least one circulator. The reflector is optically coupled to the transmission optical fiber for sensing separate regions along the sensing optical fiber.
38 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an interrogator that includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver; a transmission optical fiber optically coupled to the optical transmitter; a sensing optical fiber optically coupled to the optical receiver; and a plurality of reflectors optically coupled to the transmission optical fiber, each reflector of the plurality of reflectors being positioned within a separate reflector region of a plurality of reflector regions within the transmission optical fiber, the plurality of reflector regions being defined by a first set of circulators, each reflector of the plurality of reflectors further being associated with a distinctive optical wavelength, wherein the plurality of reflectors includes a first reflector that is associated with a first wavelength and is responsive to an optical signal in the first wavelength from the optical transmitter by reflecting a reflected optical signal that includes the optical signal to a first circulator of the first set of circulators, the first circulator being positioned between the optical transmitter and the first reflector, and wherein the sensing optical fiber is divided into separate sensing regions defined by a second set of circulators, the second set of circulators including a second circulator that is operable for receiving the reflected optical signal from the first circulator and routing the reflected optical signal toward a sensing region of the separate sensing regions to generate a backscatter optical signal corresponding to the reflected optical signal and for communication toward the optical receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal onto a transmission optical fiber, the optical signal having a selected optical wavelength associated with a desired region of a sensing optical fiber; reflecting the optical signal by a reflector positioned between two circulators of the transmission optical fiber, the reflector being associated with the selected optical wavelength to generate a reflected optical signal; routing, by a first circulator of the two circulators, the reflected optical signal to a second circulator coupled to the sensing optical fiber, the sensing optical fiber being divided into multiple sensing regions that includes the desired region; routing, by the second circulator, the reflected optical signal into the desired region to generate a backscatter signal; and receiving the backscatter signal from the sensing optical fiber for measuring a parameter of the desired region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a transmission optical fiber including a first plurality of circulators defining a reflector region of the transmission optical fiber, the reflector region including a reflector positioned between two circulators of the first plurality of circulators, the reflector being responsive to an optical signal at an optical wavelength by communicating a reflected optical signal that includes that optical signal to a first circulator of the first plurality of circulators; and a sensing optical fiber including a second plurality of circulators defining a sensing region of the sensing optical fiber, the second plurality of circulators including a second circulator that is operable for receiving the reflected optical signal from the first circulator and routing the reflected optical signal toward the sensing region. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification