Method and devices for time domain demultiplexing of serial fiber bragg grating sensor arrays
US6571027B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/29319
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and devices for time division multiplexing of a fiber optic serial Bragg grating sensor array containing more than one Bragg grating. The device provides a pulse read-out system that allows for a reduction in system noise and an increase in sensor resolution and flexibility. In one aspect the optical signals reflected from the Bragg grating sensor array are gated by an electronically controlled optical modulator before any wavelength measurement is performed to determine the sensor information. This offers significant advantages since the sensor information is encoded into the wavelength of the optical signal and not its intensity. Therefore the sensor signal information is not distorted by the gating. Since the gating or switching of the optical modulator is performed on the optical signal, the speed of the electronic processing needs only to be performed at the speed of variation of the sensor information and the choice of methods of wavelength measurement is not influenced by the gating action. The device may include one or more optical amplifiers that provide the ability to demultiplex the reflected signals electronically.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.