| 摘要 |
<p>A fiber optic sensor array (10) comprises a single transmit optical fiber (14) for guiding an incident optical signal through a plurality of sensing segments (20A, 20B, 20C) in the transmit optical fiber (14) arranged in a series array. The sensor array (10) may include a single return optical fiber (16), or the sensors may be arranged in groups (20A, 202B, 202C) with all the member of one group (202A) being connected to a corresponding return fiber (212). Optical couplers (18A, 18B, 18C) formed between the transmit (14) and return optical fibers (16) couple a portion of the incident signal into the return fiber (16) after the signal propagates through each sensing segment (20A, 20B, 20C). A loop (100A, 100B, 100C) is formed in the transmit fiber at each optical coupler (18A, 18B, 18C) so that the incident signal travels through the sensing segments in one direction and through the return fiber in the opposite direction. The couplers may be identical and may be have either symmetrical or asymmetrical coupling coefficients. Asymmetrical couplers (290, 308, 310) may be used to attenuate the intensities of undesired signals that recirculate in the loops of the array.</p> |
