Evaluating the position of an optical fiber disturbance
US8670662B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D5/35303
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for evaluating the position of a time-varying disturbance on an optical waveguide. The steps include: transmitting sensing signals onto the optical waveguide, which sensing signals have imposed thereon a modulation which is dependent, at least in part, on their time of transmission; receiving returned sensing signals, which signals have been exposed to the disturbance; and, from the previously imposed modulation on the returned sensing signals, evaluating the position of the disturbance. Because the sensing signals have a modulation that is dependent at least in part on their transmission time, the round-trip time for the signals to travel to and from a disturbance can be inferred. From this round trip time, or a value related thereto, it is possible to directly or indirectly evaluate the position of the disturbance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.