Patent · US Expired

System and method for resolution enhancement of a distributed sensor

US7245790B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
2References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 24, 2005
Grant dateJul 17, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M11/39
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Analysis (BOTDA) distributed sensor system and method use a continuous wave (cw) Stokes wave interrupted with a dark pulse for improved spatial resolution. The cw Stokes wave causes a continuous depletion of the pump wave. The dark pulse causes the depletion to stop for the duration of the pulse. Brillouin interactions are measured during the dark pulse. Very narrow dark pulses can be used because sufficient Stokes wave energy is maintained. The system produces a stronger time-domain signal and narrower linewidth Brillouin spectra than traditional techniques using a bright Stokes pulse. Narrower measurement pulses can be used leading to improved spatial resolution. A quasi-cw Stokes wave can be used to reduce the effect of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in long measurement fibers. The system can be used for distributed strain or temperature measurements.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.