Distributed fibre optic sensing

摘要

The invention relates to a distributed fiber optic sensor (104, 106) having a first spatial resolution (301, 303) and a second, different, spatial resolution (302, 304). The sensor, which may be a distributed acoustic sensor, has an optical source (112) configured to interrogate an optical fiber (104) with optical radiation and a detector (116) configured to detected optical radiation back-scattered from within the fiber. A processor (108) is configured to process the detected back-scatter radiation to provide a plurality of longitudinal sensing portions of fiber. The optical source and processor are adapted to provide the first and second spatial resolutions, for instance by changing the duration and/or separation of the optical pulses and analysis bins. The first and second spatial resolutions may be provided sequentially or simultaneously and the spatial resolution used may be varied as part of a default pattern or in response to a detection event.

主权项

1. A distributed fibre optic sensor comprising an optical source configured to interrogate an optical fibre with optical radiation, a detector configured to detect optical radiation back-scattered from within the fibre and a processor configured to process the detected back-scatter radiation to provide a plurality of longitudinal sensing portions of fibre wherein the optical source is configured to launch one or more pulses effecting a first spatial resolution into the optical fibre to perform one or more interrogations of the fibre and to launch one or more pulses effecting a second different spatial resolution into the fibre to perform one or more different interrogations of the fibre and wherein the processor is configured to process said detected backscatter radiation at the first spatial resolution and at the second, different spatial resolution.