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:
Mar. 25, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2011
Alexander M. Barry, Roanoke, VA (US);
Roger Glen Duncan, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Brooks A. Childers, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Robert M. Harman, Troutville, VA (US);
Daniel S. Homa, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Ajit Balagopal, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Philip Robin Couch, Devon, GB;
Alexander M. Barry, Roanoke, VA (US);
Roger Glen Duncan, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Brooks A. Childers, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Robert M. Harman, Troutville, VA (US);
Daniel S. Homa, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Ajit Balagopal, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Philip Robin Couch, Devon, GB;
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for estimating a distance includes: generating an optical signal having a wavelength that is within a wavelength range, the optical signal modulated via a modulation signal having a modulation frequency; transmitting the modulated optical signal from a light source into the optical fiber, the optical fiber in contact with a moveable strain inducing element located at the position along the optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of sensing locations configured to reflect light within the wavelength range when under strain from the strain inducing element and transmit light within the wavelength range when not under strain from the strain inducing element; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from at least one of the sensing locations; demodulating the reflected signal with a reference signal to generate reflected signal data; and determining the distance to the position along the optical fiber based on the reflected signal data.