METHODS AND APPARATUS SEGMENTED CALIBRATION OF A SENSING OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

Optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) circuitry to perform tasks on an optical fiber to generate calibration or correction data for calibrating or correcting a reference OFDR data set. A segmented technique is used which permits precise and accurate determination of the correction data for even initial and long fiber lengths. Correction information for each segment is stitched together to generate the correction data for the fiber.

主权项

1. A method comprising the steps of:
a—placing an optical fiber into an initial configuration; b—determining an initial optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) data set including phase information for the optical fiber in the initial configuration; c—placing a first segment of the optical fiber into a predetermined configuration; d—determining a first segment OFDR data set including phase information for the first segment of the optical fiber in the predetermined configuration; e—placing a next segment of the optical fiber into the predetermined configuration, the next segment overlapping a portion of the first segment; f—determining a next segment OFDR data set including phase information for the next segment of the optical fiber in the predetermined configuration; g—matching the first segment OFDR data set with a corresponding first portion of the initial OFDR data set; h—matching the next segment OFDR data set with a corresponding next portion of the initial OFDR data set; i—comparing phase information from matching OFDR data sets for the first and next segments in the overlapping portion of the fiber to determine a phase difference for the overlapping portion; j—using the phase difference for the overlapping portion to correct the next segment phase information; k—extending the first segment phase information using the corrected next segment phase information to generate segment correction data, where at least some of the corrected next segment phase information is for a portion of the next segment that does not overlap the first segment; and l—storing the segment correction data.