The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 24, 1992
Karlheinz vonBieren, Camarillo, CA (US);
Donald A Frederick, Canoga Park, CA (US);
Litton Systems, Inc., Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic sensor system includes a plurality of interferometric sensors arranged in an array to monitor a selected parameter and means for providing two-mode optical signals to each of the interferometric sensors. The two modes have different propagation velocities so that each sensor produces an optical signal indicative of changes in the parameter. A return optical fiber receives signals output from each of the plurality of interferometric sensors. The optical signals in the return fiber are separated and input to a Fourier transform lens that forms a plurality of spatially separated fringe patterns on a grating. Each fringe pattern corresponds to the optical signal output from a selected sensor. A photodetector array monitors the fringe patterns simultaneously and continuously to detect changes in the parameter. A phase modulator modulates the phase of one of the optical sensor signals output from the sensor array. Changes in the parameter either shift the locations of the fringe patterns or produce and additional phase modulation in the fringe patterns.