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US5675674A
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US
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Optical fiber modulation and demodulation system
Assignee: MULTI-SHOT D/B/A MS ENERGY SERVICES LLC
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Filing: 1995-08-24
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-08-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed toward a fiber optic modulation and demodulation system, and more particularly directed toward a telemetry system for relaying signals from sensors in remote, harsh environments. Light is modulated using one or more optical reflective grating and piezoelectric crystal combinations, and demodulated using an interferometer system. The one or more modulators are driven by the responses of one or more sensors thereby modulating one or more carrier wavelengths of a carrier light source. The modulated light signal is transmitted from the sensor or sensors, over an optical fiber, to an interferometer which is used to demodulate the reflected signals and thereby determine the responses of one or more sensors. One embodiment of the invention set forth is that of a telemetry system linking sensors within a borehole to detection and processing equipment at the surface of the earth.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Stephens Weis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H9/00; G01H9/004; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/12; E21B47/13; E21B47/135; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02057; G02B6/02076; G02B6/02195; G02B6/022; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/293; G02B6/29304; G02B6/29316; G02B6/29317; G02B6/29319; G02B6/2932; G02B6/29346; G02B6/2935; G02B6/29352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber; (b) one or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled with said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) distortion devices with one distortion device being affixed to said elongated optical fiber at a location coincident with each said one or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said one or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals; (d) a broadband light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said one or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said one or more Bragg gratings; (e) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said wave properties of said reflected light from said one or more of said Bragg gratings are determined; and (f) a processing system for relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber; (b) one or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled with said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) distortion devices with one distortion device being affixed to said elongated optical fiber at a location coincident with each said one or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said one or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals; (d) a broadband light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said one or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said one or more Bragg gratings; (e) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said wave properties of said reflected light from said one or more of said Bragg gratings are determined; and (f) a processing system for relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 comprising two or more Bragg gratings wherein each Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said processor system comprises: (a) a processor; and (b) a clock which cooperates with said light source and said processor to launch light from said light source in discrete bursts, and to time discriminate signals which are generated by said reflected light from said two or more Bragg gratings which are input into said processor thereby identifying the specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said processor system comprises two or more pairs of processors and band pass filters, wherein each processor-band pass filter pair cooperates with said photodetector to identify a specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said one or more distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said detection system comprises: (a) an interferometer into which said reflected light is input; (b) a photodetector which cooperates with said interferometer and converts the optical output of said interferometer to corresponding electrical signals; (c) a processor system which cooperates with said photodetector and converts said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices; and (d) a recorder for recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
292 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) An elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) a plurality of Bragg gratings with differing periodicities and spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of said first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) a plurality of distortion devices wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating element; (d) a plurality of sensors with a single sensor cooperating with each said distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of each grating is varied as a function of the response of said cooperating sensor; (e) a light source for launching sequential pulses of light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said plurality Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wavelength of each component of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of the Bragg grating reflecting that component; (f) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said wavelength of each component of reflected light is determined, and the specific distortion device-grating element reflecting each said component of reflected light is determined; and (g) a processing system for relating said determined wavelength of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
292 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) An elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) a plurality of Bragg gratings with differing periodicities and spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of said first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) a plurality of distortion devices wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating element; (d) a plurality of sensors with a single sensor cooperating with each said distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of each grating is varied as a function of the response of said cooperating sensor; (e) a light source for launching sequential pulses of light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said plurality Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wavelength of each component of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of the Bragg grating reflecting that component; (f) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said wavelength of each component of reflected light is determined, and the specific distortion device-grating element reflecting each said component of reflected light is determined; and (g) a processing system for relating said determined wavelength of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said detection system comprises: (a) an interferometer into which said reflected light is input; (b) a photodetector which cooperates with said interferometer and converts the optical output of said interferometer to corresponding electrical signals; (c) a processor which cooperates with said photodetector and converts said electrical signals input from said photodetector into measures of the responses of said plurality of sensors; (e) a clock which cooperates with said pulsed light source and said processor thereby identifying the responding sensor; and (d) a recorder for recording said sensor responses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said photodetector comprises a photodiode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said interferometer comprises an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said sensor responses are recorded as a function of depth within the borehole at which they are determined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the time duration of said pulses of launched light is equal to or less than the sum of the time for transmitted light and reflected light to travel between any two distortion device-grating elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7 wherein each of said distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said light source comprises a diode-pumped Er-doped superfluorescent producing about 300 micro Watts of power with a 35 nanometer bandwidth encompassing a wavelength range of about 1530 nanometers to about 1565 nanometers.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
337 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) a plurality of Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of said first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) a plurality of distortion devices wherein a single distortion device is affixed to each said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion devicegrating elements; (d) a plurality of modulation systems wherein a single modulation system cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of distortion device-grating element is modulated by the cooperating modulation system, and wherein each said modulation system further comprises (i) an oscillator which supplies a periodic carrier frequency to the distortion device-grating element with which it cooperates; (ii) a modulator which modulates said carrier frequency based upon the response of a sensor with which said modulator cooperates; (e) a light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the frequency of each component of said reflected light is a function of the modulated periodicity of the Bragg grating reflecting that component; (f) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said frequency of each said component of reflected light is determined and the Bragg grating reflecting each said component of reflected light is determined; and (g) a processing system for relating said determined frequency of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular modulation system of the distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
337 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) a plurality of Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of said first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) a plurality of distortion devices wherein a single distortion device is affixed to each said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion devicegrating elements; (d) a plurality of modulation systems wherein a single modulation system cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of distortion device-grating element is modulated by the cooperating modulation system, and wherein each said modulation system further comprises (i) an oscillator which supplies a periodic carrier frequency to the distortion device-grating element with which it cooperates; (ii) a modulator which modulates said carrier frequency based upon the response of a sensor with which said modulator cooperates; (e) a light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the frequency of each component of said reflected light is a function of the modulated periodicity of the Bragg grating reflecting that component; (f) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber wherein said frequency of each said component of reflected light is determined and the Bragg grating reflecting each said component of reflected light is determined; and (g) a processing system for relating said determined frequency of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular modulation system of the distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said detection system comprises: (a) an interferometer into which said reflected light is input; (b) a photodetector which cooperates with said interferometer and converts the optical output of said interferometer to corresponding electrical signals; (c) a processing system which cooperates with said photodetector and converts said electrical signals into measures of the responses of said plurality of sensors; and (d) a recorder for recording said sensor responses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said photodetector comprises a photodiode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said processing system comprises: (a) a plurality of bandpass filters wherein one bandpass filter encompassing the frequency range of each component of reflected light; and (b) a plurality of processors wherein one processor cooperates with one said bandpass filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said interferometer comprises an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said sensor responses are recorded as a function of depth within the borehole at which they are determined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said distortion devices comprise a piezoelectric crystals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said light source comprises a diodepumped Er-doped superfluorescent producing about 300 micro Watts of power with a 35 nanometer bandwidth encompassing a wavelength range of about 1530 nanometers to about 1565 nanometers.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber; (b) providing one or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled to said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber wherein one distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each said one or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said one or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals; (d) launching broadband light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said one or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said one or more Bragg gratings; (e) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wave properties of said reflected light from said one or more of said Bragg gratings; and (f) relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber; (b) providing one or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled to said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber wherein one distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each said one or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said one or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals; (d) launching broadband light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said one or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said one or more Bragg gratings; (e) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wave properties of said reflected light from said one or more of said Bragg gratings; and (f) relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 comprising two or more Bragg gratings wherein each Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 24 wherein relating determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices further comprises: (a) providing a process; and (b) providing a clock which (i) cooperates with said light source to launch light from said broad band source in discrete bursts, and (ii) cooperates with said processor to time discriminate signals which are generated by said reflected light from said plurality of Bragg gratings thereby identifying the specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 24 wherein relating determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices comprises providing two or more pairs of processors and band pass filters, wherein each processor-band pass filter pair is used to identify a specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 wherein each of said one or more distortion devices comprise a piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said detection of wave properties of reflected light further comprises: (a) inputting said reflected light into an interferometer and obtaining an optical output therefrom; (b) converting said optical output of said interferometer into electrical signals representative of said optical output; (c) converting said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distorting devices; and (d) recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) providing a plurality of Bragg gratings with differing periodicities and spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing a plurality of distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating elements; (d) providing a plurality of sensors wherein a single sensor cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of each distortion device-grating element is varied as a function of the response of said cooperating sensor; (e) launching from said light source, in the form of sequential pulses of light, into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each distortion device-grating element back to said second end of the elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wavelength of each component of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of the Bragg grating of the distortion device-grating element reflecting that component; (f) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wavelength of each component of reflected light and determining each specific distortion devise-grating element reflecting each said component of reflected light; and (g) providing a processing system for relating said determined wavelength of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) providing a plurality of Bragg gratings with differing periodicities and spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing a plurality of distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating elements; (d) providing a plurality of sensors wherein a single sensor cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of each distortion device-grating element is varied as a function of the response of said cooperating sensor; (e) launching from said light source, in the form of sequential pulses of light, into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each distortion device-grating element back to said second end of the elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wavelength of each component of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of the Bragg grating of the distortion device-grating element reflecting that component; (f) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wavelength of each component of reflected light and determining each specific distortion devise-grating element reflecting each said component of reflected light; and (g) providing a processing system for relating said determined wavelength of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the determination said wavelength of each said component of reflected light, and the identification of each specific distortion devise-grating element reflecting each said component of reflected light further comprises: (a) providing an interferometer into which said reflected light is input; (b) converting the optical output of said interferometer into corresponding electrical signals representing the magnitudes of said optical output; (c) providing a processor which converts said electrical signals into measures of the responses of said plurality of sensors; (e) providing a clock which cooperates with said pulsed light source and said processor to identify the responding sensor; and (d) recording said sensor responses.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said interferometer comprises an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said sensor responses are recorded as a function of depth within the borehole at which they are determined.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the time duration of said pulses of launched light is equal to or less than the sum of the time for transmitted light and reflected light to travel between any two distortion device-grating elements.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said photodetector comprises a photodiode.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said light source comprises a diode-pumped Er-doped superfluorescent producing about 300 micro Watts of power with a 35 nanometer bandwidth encompassing a wavelength range of about 1530 nanometers to about 1565 nanometers.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 29 wherein each of said distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
340 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) providing a plurality of Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing a plurality of distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating elements; (d) providing a plurality of modulation systems wherein a single modulation system cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of each distortion device-grating element is modulated, and wherein each said modulation system further comprises (i) an oscillator which supplies a periodic carrier frequency to the distortion device-grating element with which it cooperates; (ii) a modulator which modulates said carrier frequency based upon the response of a sensor with which said modulator cooperates; (e) launching light from a broad band light source into said second end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said distortion element-grating element back to said second end of the elongated optical fiber, and wherein the frequency of each component of said reflected light is a function of the modulated periodicity of the Bragg grating of the distortion device-grating element reflecting that component; (f) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said frequency of each component of reflected light and the Bragg grating reflecting each said component of reflected light; and (g) providing a processing system for relating said determined frequency of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular modulation system of the distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
340 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors located in a borehole, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber with a first end located within said borehole and a second end located at the surface of the earth; (b) providing a plurality of Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally within the core of said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber; (c) affixing a plurality of distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein a single distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each Bragg grating thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced distortion device-grating elements; (d) providing a plurality of modulation systems wherein a single modulation system cooperates with a single distortion device-grating element such that the periodicity of the Bragg grating of each distortion device-grating element is modulated, and wherein each said modulation system further comprises (i) an oscillator which supplies a periodic carrier frequency to the distortion device-grating element with which it cooperates; (ii) a modulator which modulates said carrier frequency based upon the response of a sensor with which said modulator cooperates; (e) launching light from a broad band light source into said second end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein the bandwidth of said light source is sufficiently broad such that a portion of said launched light is reflected by each of said distortion element-grating element back to said second end of the elongated optical fiber, and wherein the frequency of each component of said reflected light is a function of the modulated periodicity of the Bragg grating of the distortion device-grating element reflecting that component; (f) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said frequency of each component of reflected light and the Bragg grating reflecting each said component of reflected light; and (g) providing a processing system for relating said determined frequency of each identified reflected light component to the response of the sensor which cooperates with the particular modulation system of the distortion device-grating element generating that reflected light component.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said determination of said frequency of each component of reflected light, and the identification of the distortion devicegrating element reflecting each said component of reflected light further comprises: (a) imputing said reflected light into an interferometer and obtaining optical outputs; (b) converting said optical outputs to corresponding electrical signals indicative of the magnitude of said optical outputs; (c) converting said electrical signals into measures of the responses of said plurality of sensors; and (d) recording said sensor responses.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said conversion of electrical signals into measures of the responses of said plurality of sensors further comprises: (a) providing a plurality of bandpass filters wherein one bandpass filter encompassing the frequency range of each component of reflected light; and (b) providing a plurality of processors wherein one processor cooperates with one band pass filter thereby frequency demodulating the component of reflected light of frequency encompassed by the band pass filter.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said interferometer comprises an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said optical outputs of the interferometer are converted to corresponding electrical signals by means of a photodiode.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said sensor responses are recorded as a function of depth within the borehole at which they are determined.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said light source comprises a diode-pumped Er-doped superfluorescent producing about 300 micro Watts of power with a 35 nanometer bandwidth encompassing a wavelength range of about 1530 nanometers to about 1565 nanometers.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
334 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber; (b) two or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled with said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein each said Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity; (c) distortion devices with one distortion device being affixed to said elongated optical fiber at a location coincident with each said two or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals; (d) a light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said two or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said two or more Bragg gratings; (e) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein said wave properties of said reflected light from said two or more of said Bragg gratings are determined, and wherein said detection system comprises (i) an interferometer into which said reflected light is input, (ii) a photodetector which cooperates with said interferometer and converts the optical output of said interferometer to corresponding electrical signals, (iii) a processor system which cooperates with said photodetector and converts said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices, and (iv) a recorder for recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices; and (f) a processing system for relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
334 words
A system for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) an elongated optical fiber; (b) two or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled with said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein each said Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity; (c) distortion devices with one distortion device being affixed to said elongated optical fiber at a location coincident with each said two or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices comprise piezoelectric crystals; (d) a light source for launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said two or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said two or more Bragg gratings; (e) a detection system cooperating with said second end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein said wave properties of said reflected light from said two or more of said Bragg gratings are determined, and wherein said detection system comprises (i) an interferometer into which said reflected light is input, (ii) a photodetector which cooperates with said interferometer and converts the optical output of said interferometer to corresponding electrical signals, (iii) a processor system which cooperates with said photodetector and converts said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices, and (iv) a recorder for recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices; and (f) a processing system for relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 45 wherein said processor system comprises: (a) a processor; and (b) a clock which cooperates with said light source and said processor to launch light from said light source in discrete bursts, and to time discriminate signals which are generated by said reflected light from said two or more Bragg gratings which are input into said processor thereby identifying the specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 45 wherein said processor system comprises two or more pairs of processors and band pass filters, wherein each processor-band pass filter pair cooperates with said photodetector to identify a specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
317 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber; (b) providing two or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled to said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein each Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity; (c) affixing distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein one distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each said two or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said two or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices comprise a piezoelectric crystal; (d) launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said two or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said two or more Bragg gratings; (e) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wave properties of said reflected light from said two or more of said Bragg gratings, wherein said determination of wave properties of reflected light further comprises (i) inputting said reflected light into an interferometer and obtaining an optical output therefrom, (ii) converting said optical output of said interferometer into electrical signals representative of said optical output, (iii) converting said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distorting devices, and (iv) recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices; and (f) relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
317 words
A method for telemetering signals from sensors in a remote location, comprising: (a) providing an elongated optical fiber; (b) providing two or more Bragg gratings spaced longitudinally along and optically coupled to said elongated optical fiber in the vicinity of a first end of said elongated optical fiber, wherein each Bragg grating is formed with a different periodicity; (c) affixing distortion devices to said elongated optical fiber, wherein one distortion device is affixed to said elongated optical fiber coincident with each said two or more Bragg gratings, and wherein each said two or more distortion devices responds to signals applied thereto and correspondingly perturbs the periodicity of each said coincident Bragg grating as a function of the magnitude of said applied signals, and wherein each of said two or more distortion devices comprise a piezoelectric crystal; (d) launching light into a second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein a portion of said launched light is reflected by said two or more Bragg gratings back to said second end of said elongated optical fiber, and wherein the wave properties of said reflected light is a function of the periodicity of said two or more Bragg gratings; (e) at said second end of said elongated optical fiber, determining said wave properties of said reflected light from said two or more of said Bragg gratings, wherein said determination of wave properties of reflected light further comprises (i) inputting said reflected light into an interferometer and obtaining an optical output therefrom, (ii) converting said optical output of said interferometer into electrical signals representative of said optical output, (iii) converting said electrical signals into measures of said signals applied to said one or more distorting devices, and (iv) recording said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices; and (f) relating said determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said one or more distortion devices.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 48 wherein relating determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices further comprises: (a) providing a processor; and (b) providing a clock which (i) cooperates with said light source to launch light from said broad band source in discrete bursts, and (ii) cooperates with said processor to time discriminate signals which are generated by said reflected light from said plurality of Bragg gratings thereby identifying the specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 48 wherein relating determined wave properties to the magnitudes of said signals applied to said two or more distortion devices comprises providing two or more pairs of processors and band pass filters, wherein each processor-band pass filter pair is used to identify a specific Bragg grating from which said reflected light is reflected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4761073A
Cited
US4996419A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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