Distributed Fibre-Optic Interferometric Sensor Noise Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fibre-optic interferometric sensor systems face challenges in reducing noise and cross-sensitivity due to environmental fluctuations, requiring efficient compensation methods and reduced optical power, while existing reference sensors are sensitive to these fluctuations, making isolation costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A method for processing data from distributed fibre-optic interferometric sensor systems involves calculating a common reference time series from multiple sensors to compensate raw measurements, reducing noise and cross-sensitivity by selecting reference sensors based on low noise pickup and spatial distribution, and using this common reference to suppress uncorrelated noise contributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single reference sensor is used to compensate for noise and environmental fluctuations, then the compensation effectiveness is improved, but the sensitivity to environmental parameters causes cross-sensitivity that requires costly isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple reference sensors into a distributed array, where each reference sensor compensates for noise and environmental fluctuations in its local region. This merging approach maintains compensation effectiveness while eliminating the need for costly isolation mechanisms, as the reference sensors naturally experience and compensate for local environmental variations without requiring artificial isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of reference sensors distributed throughout the measurement array. Each reference sensor copy experiences the same environmental fluctuations as its neighboring measurement sensors, allowing for accurate local compensation. This copying strategy provides robust compensation without requiring the reference sensors to be isolated from environmental parameters.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If reference sensors are isolated from environmental fluctuations to reduce cross-sensitivity, then the cross-sensitivity is reduced, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having reference sensors positioned at specific locations within the distributed array, where each reference sensor provides compensation tailored to its local environment. The reference sensors are strategically placed to experience similar environmental conditions as the measurement sensors they compensate for, eliminating the need for artificial isolation while maintaining effective compensation.
3Reliability
If multiple reference sensors are used to improve compensation, then the noise reduction is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compensation process by assigning specific reference sensors to compensate for specific measurement sensors based on their spatial proximity and environmental conditions. This segmentation allows for independent processing of compensation for each sensor pair, reducing the overall processing complexity compared to a centralized approach that would require processing all reference sensors simultaneously for all measurement sensors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces noise and cross-sensitivity, alleviates the need for isolating reference sensors, and decreases the required optical power, improving the reliability and efficiency of fibre-optic interferometric sensor systems.
Implementation Method 1
fibre-optic interferometric sensors which are co-located with a reference device such that optical parameters extracted from the reference signal may be used to correct parameters extracted from a sensor signal
Implementation Method 2
calculating a common reference time series as a measure of central tendency of the raw measurement time series from two or more reference sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A method of processing data from a distributed fibre-optic interferometric sensor system for measuring a measurand, the system comprising multiple interferometric sensors. The method comprises interrogating two or more of the multiple interferometric sensors to record a raw measurement time series for each of the sensors. The method further comprises calculating a common reference time series as a measure of central tendency of the raw measurement time series from two or more reference sensors, the reference sensors being selected from the multiple interferometric sensors. Finally, the method comprises compensating at least one raw measurement time series from a measurement sensor selected from the multiple interferometric sensors with the common reference time series to produce a compensated measurement time series, the measurement sensor being configured to be sensitive to the measurand. The invention further relates to a distributed fibre-optic interferometric sensor system.