IP Library Granted Patent US 12693141
Granted Patent B2
US 12693141 · App. 18/270,669 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Optical fiber sensing system, host sensing device, remote sensing device, sensing method, and sensing device control method

Inventors: Yukihide Yoda (Tokyo, JP); Koyo Mori (Tokyo, JP); Tadayuki Iwano (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
G01D5/35358G01D5/35354G01D5/35383G01M11/3154
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693141
App. No.
18/270,669
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The optical fiber sensing system includes: a host sensing device including a first optical sensor for receiving, from a first optical fiber, first light corresponding to first pulse light input into the first optical fiber and first signal light and outputting first data for the first optical fiber corresponding to the first light and second data included in the first signal light, and a first data communicator for outputting a data signal including the first data and second data; and a remote sensing device including a second optical sensor for receiving, from a second optical fiber, second light that corresponds to second pulse light input into the second optical fiber and outputting second data including sensing results for the second optical fiber corresponding to the second light, and a second data communicator for outputting, to the first optical fiber, first signal light including the second data.

Claims (67)

1 . An optical fiber sensing system comprising:

a host sensing device including:

a first optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and output first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light; and

a first data communication circuit configured to output a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data; and

a remote sensing device including:

a second optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and output the second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light; and

a second data communication circuit configured to output the first signal light including the second sensing data to the first optical fiber.

2 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first optical sensing circuit includes:

a first pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the first pulse light;

a first optical reception circuit configured to receive the first light;

a data processing circuit configured to output the first sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the first light; and

an optical interface configured to output the second sensing data included in the first signal light.

3 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 2 , wherein the first data communication circuit is configured to output, to the optical interface, data to be transmitted to the remote sensing device, and

wherein the optical interface is configured to output data signal light including the data to the first optical fiber.

4 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 3 , wherein the second data communication circuit converts the data signal light being received from the first optical fiber into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the second optical sensing circuit.

5 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the second optical sensing circuit includes:

a second pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the second pulse light;

a second optical reception circuit configured to receive the second light; and

a second data processing circuit configured to output the second sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the second light.

6 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first light and the second light are backscattered light of the first optical fiber in response to the first pulse light and backscattered light of the second optical fiber in response to the second pulse light, respectively.

7 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 1 , wherein wavelengths of the first pulse light, the first light, and the first signal light do not overlap one another.

8 . The optical fiber sensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an analysis device including:

a reception circuit configured to receive the data signal from the host sensing device; and

an analysis engine configured to output a sensing result of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, based on the first sensing data and the second sensing data that are included in the data signal.

9 . A host sensing device comprising:

a first optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and output first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light; and

a first data communication circuit configured to output a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data,

wherein the first optical sensing circuit includes:

a first pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the first pulse light;

a first optical reception circuit configured to receive the first light;

a data processing circuit configured to output the first sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the first light; and

an optical interface configured to output the second sensing data included in the first signal light,

wherein the first data communication circuit is configured to output, to the optical interface, data to be transmitted to another device; and

wherein the optical interface is configured to output data signal light including the data to the first optical fiber.

10 . A remote sensing device comprising:

a second optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and output second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light; and

a second data communication circuit configured to output first signal light including the second sensing data to a first optical fiber,

wherein the second optical sensing circuit includes:

a second pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the second pulse light;

a second optical reception circuit configured to receive the second light; and

a second data processing circuit configured to output the second sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the second light.

11 . The remote sensing device according to claim 10 , wherein the second data communication circuit is configured to convert data signal light being received from the first optical fiber into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the second optical sensing circuit.

12 . A sensing method comprising:

receiving, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and outputting first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light;

outputting a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data;

receiving, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and outputting the second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light; and

outputting the first signal light including the second sensing data to the first optical fiber.

13 . A method for controlling a sensing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and outputting first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light;

outputting a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data,

wherein the sensing device includes:

a first pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the first pulse light;

a first optical reception circuit configured to receive the first light;

a data processing circuit configured to output the first sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the first light; and

an optical interface configured to output the second sensing data included in the first signal light,

wherein the method further comprises:

outputting, to the optical interface, data to be transmitted to another device; and

outputting, by the optical interface, data signal light including the data to the first optical fiber.

14 . A method for controlling a sensing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and outputting second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light; and

outputting first signal light including the second sensing data to a first optical fiber,

wherein the sensing device includes:

a second pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the second pulse light;

a second optical reception circuit configured to receive the second light; and

a second data processing circuit configured to output the second sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the second light, and

wherein the method further comprises converting data signal light being received from the first optical fiber into an electric signal, and outputting the electric signal to the second optical sensing circuit.