Accession Number:

ADD014466

Title:

Serial Interferometric Fiber-Optic Sensor Array.

Descriptive Note:

Patent, Filed 18 Aug 88, patented 26 Dec 89,

Corporate Author:

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Kersey, Alan D.
• Dandridge, Anthony

Report Date:

1989-12-26

Pagination or Media Count:

7.0

Abstract:

A new serial interferometric fiber-optic sensor array configuration is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention pulsed light from a laser source is transmitted into a long input fiber which forms a series of N sensor elements, each of optical path length L. Each sensor element is responsive to any change in an associated predetermined physical parameter for changing its optical path length. A small portion of the optical power in the input fiber is tapped-off to a long output fiber at tap points between adjacent sensor elements and at tap points before the first and after the last sensor elements in order to produce at the output of the last sensor a series of N 1 pulses separated in the time domain. This series of N 1 pulses from the output of the last sensor element is applied to each of two paths in a compensating interferometric of optical path imbalance L. The compensating interferometer coherently mixes pulses obtained from each adjacent pair of tap points to obtain a series of interferometric signals respectively indicative of any change in the physical parameters to which the sensor elements are respectively responsive. Keywords Patents PAT-CL-250-227. kr

Descriptors:

• *OPTICAL DETECTORS
• *FIBER OPTICS
• *INTERFEROMETRY
• *PATENTS
• COMPENSATION
• INPUT
• INTERFEROMETERS
• INVENTIONS
• LASERS
• LENGTH
• LIGHT PULSES
• OPTICAL PROPERTIES
• OPTICS
• OUTPUT
• PARAMETERS
• PATHS
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• POWER
• SIGNALS
• SOURCES
• TIME DOMAIN

Subject Categories:

• Fiber Optics and Integrated Optics
• Optical Detection and Detectors

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE