Optical interrogator for performing interferometry using fiber Bragg gratings

US10416005B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HIFI ENGINEERING INC. · CA

Inventors

• Brian Moore · Edmonton, CA
• Walter J. Shakespeare · Macungie, US
• Phillip William Wallace · Bernardsville, US
• Viet Hoang · Leuven, BE
• Tom Clement · Calgary, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 2015
• Grant date: Sep 17, 2019
• Expiry date: Apr 4, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B2290/70
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical fiber interrogator for interrogating optical fiber that includes fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”). The interrogator includes a light source operable to emit phase coherent light, amplitude modulation circuitry optically coupled to the light source and operable to generate pulses from the light, and control circuitry communicatively coupled to the amplitude modulation circuitry that is configured to perform a method for interrogating the optical fiber. The method includes generating a pair of light pulses by using the amplitude modulation circuitry to modulate light output by the light source without splitting the light.