Distributed Fiber Sensing Interrogator with Pluggable Front-Ends

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing distributed fiber sensing systems are limited to single-function applications and have a maximum reliable sensing distance of about 50 km, experiencing performance degradation at greater distances, which restricts their flexibility and effectiveness in diverse sensing environments.

Innovation Solution

A distributed fiber sensing system with a common line card and pluggable front-end modules that support different signal processing paths, allowing automatic detection and configuration of attached sensors, enabling the system to sense various environmental conditions and extend sensing distances through cascaded configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a distributed fiber sensing system uses a single-function specialized interrogator, then it achieves optimized performance for that specific application, but it lacks flexibility for different types of sensing applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing performanceVSAvoidapplication flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The interrogator is designed with a common platform that can support multiple sensing types (vibration, temperature, acoustic) through configurable signal processing paths and pluggable front-end modules, allowing a single device to perform multiple sensing functions while maintaining optimized performance for each application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the interrogator is directly connected to the sensing optical fiber, then it achieves stable signal transmission, but the sensing distance is limited to about 50 km with performance degradation at greater distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission stabilityVSAvoidsensing distance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing system is divided into modular components including pluggable front-end modules that can be attached at different locations along the fiber, allowing the sensing network to be segmented and extended beyond 50 km while maintaining signal integrity through distributed architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the interrogator is configured for a specific application with specialized optics and electronics, then it achieves optimized performance for that application, but it cannot be easily reconfigured for different sensing types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidreconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interrogator employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities through programmable signal processing paths and pluggable front-end modules that can be hot-swapped, allowing the system to adapt to different sensing applications without complete reconfiguration while maintaining optimized performance for each application type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10797789B2Distributed fiber sensing interrogator with detachable end

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 NEC CORP

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods and structures for distributed fiber sensing systems including interrogator and attached fiber in which the interrogator includes a common line card and function-specific, pluggable front end in which the line card is configurable and supports different signal processing paths and automatically senses the front-end type and uses corresponding firmware/software or signal processing path(s) to process sensed data.