Equipment location determination system, cover, and equipment location determination method

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device location determination system, a cover, and a device location determination method, which can determine the path of an overhead cable without directly interfering with the overhead cable itself. The device location determination system of this invention includes: an optical fiber 25 along an overhead cable 26; a cylindrical cover 40 that covers the overhead cable 26 at any point along its length; an optical measuring device 20 connected to the end of the optical fiber 25, which acquires the time variation of scattered light from the optical fiber 25 when vibration is applied to the overhead cable 26 from the cover 40, as a time variation of the scattered light intensity distribution along the length of the optical fiber 25; and a signal processing unit 21 that determines the vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to which the vibration was applied based on the scattered light intensity distribution, and determines the actual position of the overhead cable 26 to which the vibration was applied by mapping the vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to the position of the overhead cable 26 on a map.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a technique for representing and determining the path of overhead cables containing optical fibers using the length of optical fibers from a communications aggregation building. Background Technology

[0002] Techniques for determining the position of a device using fiber optic vibration sensors are known (e.g., see Patent Documents 1 and 2). For example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, using the fiber optic vibration sensing device 20 from the communication hub building 10 via the communication fiber optic cable 25, in measuring the vibration of the communication fiber optic cable 25, if an impact 15 is initiated on the cover of the manhole 30, the impact vibration can be measured, and the location (distance from the communication hub building 10 to the point where the vibration is applied) along the length of the fiber optic cable 25 can be determined. Then, by confirming the measurement result, it is possible to determine that the communication fiber optic cable 35 exists underground 6 at that location without opening the manhole 30, and to compare the location of the manhole with the fiber optic cable path map.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-127094

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-052030 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0008] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a device location determination system, a cover, and a device location determination method, which can determine the path of an overhead cable without directly interfering with the overhead cable itself.

[0009] The means used to solve the problem

[0010] On the one hand, while the existence of overhead cables can be visually confirmed, it is unclear whether the visible overhead cables are the targets of the search. Furthermore, directly interfering with the cables (such as by striking them), as in Patent Document 1, could potentially affect communication.

[0011] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device location determination system, a cover, and a device location determination method that can determine the path of an overhead cable without directly interfering with the overhead cable itself.

[0012] Specifically, the equipment location determination system of the present invention is an equipment location determination system for determining the location of overhead cables, comprising:

[0013] Optical fibers along the overhead cable;

[0014] A cylindrical cover that covers the overhead cable at any point along its length;

[0015] An optical measuring instrument, connected to the end of the optical fiber, acquires the time variation of scattered light from the optical fiber when the cover applies vibration to the overhead cable, as a time variation of the scattered light intensity distribution along the length of the optical fiber; and,

[0016] The signal processing unit determines the vibration position on the optical fiber to which the vibration was applied based on the intensity distribution of the scattered light, and determines the actual position of the overhead cable to which the vibration was applied by matching the vibration position on the optical fiber with the position of the overhead cable on a map.

[0017] Furthermore, the equipment location determination method of the present invention is a method for determining the location of overhead cables, comprising:

[0018] At any point along the length of the overhead cable, the overhead cable is covered with a cylindrical cover;

[0019] An optical measuring device is connected to the end of the optical fiber contained in the overhead cable;

[0020] Vibration is applied to the overhead cable from the cover;

[0021] The temporal variation of the scattered light from the optical fiber when the vibration is applied is obtained, which is the temporal variation of the intensity distribution of the scattered light along the length direction of the optical fiber;

[0022] The vibration position on the optical fiber to which the vibration was applied is determined based on the scattered light intensity distribution; and,

[0023] The vibration position on the optical fiber is correlated with the position of the overhead cable on the map to determine the actual location of the overhead cable to which the vibration was applied.

[0024] This device location determination system (method) involves installing a cover at any location on the overhead cable and applying vibration to the cable through the cover. Since this system (method) does not directly strike the overhead cable, it enables fiber optic vibration sensing with minimal potential impact on communication.

[0025] In addition, the equipment location determination method of the present invention can be a method for determining the location of a column supporting an overhead cable, including:

[0026] An optical measuring device is connected to the end of the optical fiber contained in the overhead cable;

[0027] Vibration is applied to any of the columns;

[0028] The temporal variation of the scattered light from the optical fiber when the vibration is applied is obtained, which is the temporal variation of the intensity distribution of the scattered light along the length direction of the optical fiber;

[0029] The vibration position on the optical fiber to which the vibration was applied is determined based on the scattered light intensity distribution; and,

[0030] The vibration position on the optical fiber is correlated with the position of the overhead cable on the map to determine the actual position of the column to which the vibration was applied.

[0031] Therefore, the present invention can provide a device location determination system and a device location determination method, which can determine the path of an overhead cable without directly interfering with the overhead cable itself.

[0032] The cover of the device location determination system of the present invention may also include a vibration mechanism for applying the vibration. That is, the cover includes: a vibration mechanism to generate vibration; and a cylinder to cover an overhead cable containing an optical fiber at any location and transmit the vibration to the overhead cable. The operator does not need to directly strike the cable; it can be operated remotely.

[0033] The cover of the device location determination system of the present invention may also have pleats on its inner wall that contact the overhead cable and transmit the vibration to the overhead cable. That is, the cover comprises: a cylinder that covers the overhead cable containing the optical fiber at any location; and pleats provided on the inner wall of the cylinder that contact the overhead cable and transmit the vibration of the cylinder to the overhead cable. This enables the effective transmission of vibration from the cover to the overhead cable.

[0034] Furthermore, the inventions described above can be combined in as many ways as possible.

[0035] Invention Effects

[0036] This invention provides a device location determination system, a cover, and a device location determination method, which can determine the path of overhead cables without directly interfering with the overhead cables themselves. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the principle of device position determination using fiber optic vibration sensors.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination system of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the cover included in the device location determination system of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination method of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination method of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination method of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 7 This is a table illustrating the application method of the device location determination system of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the distribution of scattered light intensity measured by the optical measuring device of the device location determination system of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating the comparison performed by the device location determination system of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination method of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating the device location determination system of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, in this specification and the accompanying drawings, the same structural elements are designated as identical structural elements.

[0049] (Implementation Method 1)

[0050] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the device location determination system of this embodiment. The device location determination system of the present invention is a system for determining the location of an overhead cable 26, and includes:

[0051] Optical fiber 25 along overhead cable 26;

[0052] A cylindrical cover 40 covers the overhead cable 26 at any point along its length.

[0053] An optical measuring device 20, connected to the end of optical fiber 25, acquires the time variation of scattered light from optical fiber 25 when vibration is applied to overhead cable 26 from cover 40, as a time variation of the intensity distribution of scattered light along the length of optical fiber 25; and,

[0054] The signal processing unit 21 determines the vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to which the vibration was applied based on the intensity distribution of the scattered light, and determines the actual position of the overhead cable 26 to which the vibration was applied by corresponding the vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to the position of the overhead cable 26 on the map.

[0055] The overhead cable 26 is a cable tensioned in the air using posts or the like. The overhead cable 26 can be a metal wire or fiber optic cable used for power supply. The fiber optic cable 25 used in this system runs along the overhead cable 26. Alternatively, when the overhead cable 26 is a fiber optic cable, the optical fibers within the fiber optic cable can be used as fiber optic cable 25.

[0056] Cover 40 is configured to cover overhead cable 26. Cover 40 can be installed during the laying of overhead cable 26, or it can be installed on overhead cable 26 by an operator during each inspection. Cover 40 has the function of transmitting vibrations such as impacts to overhead cable 26. Therefore, in order to effectively transmit vibrations to the cable, cover 40 is preferably made of a material with a high modulus of elasticity (high Young's modulus) and low density, such as metal.

[0057] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of cover 40. Cover 40 includes:

[0058] Tube 41, covering overhead cable 26 at any location;

[0059] The pleats 42 are set on the inner wall of the cylinder 41, in contact with the overhead cable 26, and transmit the vibration of the cylinder 41 to the overhead cable 26.

[0060] Cover 40 covers overhead cable 26 with a tube 41. The tube 41 does not directly contact the overhead cable 26. Cover 40 has pleats 42, which contact the overhead cable 26, creating a space between the tube 41 and the overhead cable 26. Vibrations from the tube 41 are transmitted to the overhead cable 26 through the pleats 42. Thus, vibrations from the tube 41 can be effectively transmitted to the overhead cable 26. Furthermore, the number of pleats 42 and the length L of cover 40 can be adjusted to effectively transmit vibrations.

[0061] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for determining the location of equipment. This method for determining the location of equipment includes:

[0062] At any point along the length of the overhead cable 26, the overhead cable 26 is covered with a cylindrical cover 40 (step S01).

[0063] At the end of the optical fiber 25 contained in the overhead cable 26, an optical measuring device 20 is connected (step S02).

[0064] Vibration is applied to the overhead cable 26 from the cover 40 (step S03);

[0065] The time variation of the scattered light from the optical fiber 25 when the vibration is applied is obtained as the time variation of the scattered light intensity distribution along the length direction of the optical fiber 25 (step S04).

[0066] The vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to which the vibration was given is determined based on the scattered light intensity distribution (step S05); and,

[0067] The vibration position on the optical fiber 25 is correlated with the position of the overhead cable 26 on the map 50, and the actual position of the overhead cable 26 to which the vibration was applied is determined (step S06).

[0068] In step S01, the cover 40 is installed on the overhead cable 26 where the desired location is to be monitored. The number of covers 40 is arbitrary. The covers 40 can be installed during the laying of the overhead cable 26, or they can be installed on the overhead cable 26 by the operator during each inspection.

[0069] One end of the overhead cable 26 is pulled into the communication aggregation building 10. In step S02, the optical fiber 25 is removed from the overhead cable 26 introduced into the communication aggregation building 10 and connected to the optical measuring instrument 20 (the end of the optical fiber 25 connected to the optical measuring instrument 20 is referred to as "one end"). The optical measuring instrument 20 is, for example, an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer).

[0070] In step S03, during the optical test process of inputting test light from the optical measuring device 20 to one end of the optical fiber 25 and measuring the backscattered light output from one end of the optical fiber 25 using the optical measuring device 20, the cover 40 is vibrated. Here, the method of applying vibration is explained.

[0071] (Method 1)

[0072] like Figure 5 As shown, the worker strikes the cover with a hammer or similar object 15. For example, one could say the worker strikes it with a long, thin iron hammer brought from the ground. Alternatively, the worker could move a bulldozer to the vicinity of the cover 40 and strike it with a hammer.

[0073] (Method 2)

[0074] like Figure 6 As shown, the cover 40 includes a vibration mechanism 43 that causes the cylinder 41 to vibrate. The vibration mechanism 43 is disposed, for example, in the cylinder 41, and consists of a piezoelectric generator driven by electromagnetic waves and a solar cell or similar battery that supplies power to the piezoelectric generator. When the cover 40 is equipped with the vibration mechanism 43, the operator can remotely apply vibration without riding in a bucket truck or similar vehicle.

[0075] Figure 7This is a table summarizing the operating methods in step S03. As for the application methods, there are cases where the cover 40 is always installed on the overhead cable 26, and cases where the cover 40 is always installed on the overhead cable 26 during inspection. In either case, as long as the vibration method of striking the cover 40 with a hammer or the like applies vibration, the cover 40 does not require a vibration mechanism, but an operator needs to be dispatched to the work site.

[0076] On the other hand, when the cover 40 is equipped with a vibration mechanism 43, it can be operated remotely without the need to dispatch operators to the work site. However, if power needs to be supplied to the vibration mechanism 43 during operation, operators need to be dispatched.

[0077] In steps S04 and S05, the optical measuring device 20 obtains the light intensity distribution of the backscattered light output from one end of the optical fiber 25. Figure 8 This is an example of the light intensity distribution obtained by the optical measuring device 20. The horizontal axis is the distance from one end of the optical fiber 25. The vertical axis is the light intensity of the backscattered light. A waveform peak is observed at a distance z, indicating that vibration was applied at that location.

[0078] In step S06, the signal processing unit 21 executes the map 50 displaying the configuration of the overhead cable 26 and... Figure 8 A comparison of light intensity distribution. Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating the comparative operation. Map 50 records the route used to lay the overhead cable 26.

[0079] like Figure 9 As shown, by comparing the length of the optical fiber 25 with the length of the laid cable 26, the signal processing unit 21 can determine... Figure 8 Where is the peak position of the light intensity distribution (hitting position 52) located on map 50?

[0080] (Implementation Method Two)

[0081] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the device location determination method of this embodiment. Figure 11 This diagram illustrates a device location determination system used for inspection using this device location determination method. This device location determination method, relative to the device location determination method of Embodiment 1, is a method for determining the device location without the cover 40 installed. This device location determination method includes:

[0082] At the end of the optical fiber 25 contained in the overhead cable 26, an optical measuring device 20 is connected (step S02).

[0083] Vibration is applied to any column 35 supporting the overhead cable 26 (step S13);

[0084] The time variation of the scattered light from the optical fiber 25 when the vibration is applied is obtained as the time variation of the scattered light intensity distribution along the length direction of the optical fiber 25 (step S04).

[0085] The vibration position on the optical fiber 25 to which the vibration was given is determined based on the scattered light intensity distribution (step S05); and,

[0086] The vibration position on the optical fiber 25 is correlated with the position of the overhead cable 26 on the map 50, and the actual position of the column 35 to which the vibration was applied is determined (step S16).

[0087] The device location determination method in this embodiment does not involve striking the cover, but rather striking the post 35 supporting the overhead cable 26. When the post 35 is struck with a hammer 45 or the like, the vibration is transmitted to the optical fiber 25 of the overhead cable 26, and can be obtained using a photometer 20. Figure 8 The scattered light intensity distribution is shown. Therefore, as... Figure 9 As explained, by comparing the distribution of scattered light intensity with a map 50 showing the laying of overhead cable 26, the actual location (location on the map) of column 35 can be determined.

[0088] Compared to the equipment location determination method described in Embodiment 1, this equipment location determination method does not require the installation of a cover on the overhead cable 26, and can easily determine the reference position of the overhead cable 26 and the position of the utility pole.

[0089] [The effects of the invention]

[0090] By applying vibration to the cover or column installed on the overhead cable, without directly impacting the overhead cable, the intensity distribution of scattered light can be obtained without damaging the overhead cable.

[0091] It is possible to determine the location and existence of overhead cables and utility poles at the site where dispatched workers are located, and then compare them with a map.

[0092] If a cover is installed, the location and existence of overhead cables can be determined even in places without utility poles, and then compared with a map.

[0093] If a vibrator is installed on the cover, vibration can be applied to the overhead cable remotely.

[0094] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0095] 5: Ground

[0096] 6: Underground

[0097] 10: Communications Hub Building

[0098] 15: Striking

[0099] 20: Optical measuring instrument

[0100] 21: Signal Processing Department

[0101] 25: Fiber optic

[0102] 26: Overhead cables

[0103] 30: Manhole

[0104] 35: column

[0105] 40: Cover

[0106] 41: Tube

[0107] 42: pleats

[0108] 43: Vibration Mechanism

[0109] 50: Map

[0110] 51: Road

[0111] 52: Strike position.

Claims

1. Equipment location determination system: This system is used to determine the location of overhead cables and includes: Optical fibers along the overhead cable; A cylindrical cover that covers the overhead cable at any point along its length; An optical measuring device, located only at one end of the optical fiber and connected to the end of the optical fiber, acquires the time change of scattered light from the optical fiber when the cover applies vibration to the overhead cable, as the time change of the scattered light intensity distribution along the length of the optical fiber; the optical measuring device is an OTDR. and, The signal processing unit determines the vibration position on the optical fiber to which the vibration was applied based on the intensity distribution of the scattered light, and determines the actual position of the overhead cable to which the vibration was applied by corresponding the vibration position on the optical fiber to the position of the overhead cable on the map. The cover has folds on its inner wall that contact the overhead cable and transmit the vibration to the overhead cable.

2. The equipment location determination system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover has a vibration mechanism for applying the vibration.

3. Cover, equipped with: A vibration mechanism that generates vibration; the vibration mechanism is a remotely operable mechanism and is equipped with piezoelectricity and a battery. A tube, covering any part of an overhead cable containing optical fiber; and, The folds are formed on the inner wall of the cylinder, contact the overhead cable, and transmit the vibration of the cylinder to the overhead cable.

4. Equipment location determination method: This refers to the method for determining the location of overhead cables, including: At any point along the length of the overhead cable, the overhead cable is covered with a cylindrical cover; The cover has pleats on its inner wall that contact the overhead cable and transmit vibrations to the overhead cable; An optical measuring device, which is an OTDR, is connected only to one end of the optical fiber contained in the overhead cable. The vibration is applied to the overhead cable from the cover; The temporal variation of the scattered light from the optical fiber when the vibration is applied is obtained, which is the temporal variation of the intensity distribution of the scattered light along the length direction of the optical fiber; The vibration position on the optical fiber to which the vibration was applied is determined based on the scattered light intensity distribution; as well as, The vibration position on the optical fiber is correlated with the position of the overhead cable on the map to determine the actual location of the overhead cable to which the vibration was applied.

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