Matrix time division multiplex (MTDM) interrogation
View Patent ↗Embodiments of present system encompass: a plurality of laser sources that produce a plurality of respectively different optical wavelengths; a matrix switch having a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the plurality of laser sources, each of the plurality of inputs receiving a respective optical wavelength; and the matrix switch having an output that produces a series of interleaved pulses of the different optical wavelengths.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a laser source that produces optical wavelengths;
a matrix switch having an input operatively coupled to the laser source; and
the matrix switch having outputs, the outputs producing respectively optical wavelengths, the optical wavelengths being interleaved relative to one another;
wherein outputs of the apparatus are operatively coupled to sensors, and wherein the apparatus interrogates XYZ sensors, where XYZ is the number of sensors, with X lasers that form the laser source, where X is the number of lasers, Y sensor returns per laser, where Y is the number of sensor returns per laser, and Z switch positions for a Z x Z matrix switch in the apparatus, where Z is the number of switch positions, and where X, Y, and Z are whole numbers.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix switch has one input and m outputs, where m is the number of matrix switch outputs, and where m is a whole number.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of an optical gate, a phase modulator, and a series combination of an optical gate and a phase modulator is operatively coupled between the laser source and the matrix switch.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the matrix switch has m inputs and one output, where m is the number of matrix switch inputs, and where m is a whole number.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix switch has functions of gating and switching.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a time division multiplexer-wavelength division multiplexer (TDM-WDM) system.
7. An apparatus, comprising:
m laser sources that produce respectively m different optical wavelengths;
a matrix switch having m inputs operatively coupled to the m laser sources, a respective input of the m inputs receiving a respective optical wavelength of the m different optical wavelengths; and
the matrix switch having n outputs, each of the outputs producing a respectively different optical wavelength, the optical wavelengths being interleaved relative to one another, and each output producing a series of interleaved pulses of the different optical wavelengths;
wherein each output produces a repeating series of m pulses, where the m pulses respectively have the m optical wavelengths, where m is the number of lasers, and where m is a whole number; and
wherein outputs of the apparatus are operatively coupled to sensors, and wherein the apparatus interrogates XYZ sensors, where XYZ is the number of sensors, with X lasers, where X is the number of lasers, Y sensor returns per laser, where Y is the number of sensor returns per lasers, and Z switch positions for a Z x Z matrix switch in the apparatus, where Z is the number of switch positions and where X, Y, and Z are whole numbers.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein each output of the matrix switch is operatively coupled to respectively at least one of an optical gate, a phase modulator, and a series combination of an optical gate and a phase modulator.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the matrix switch has functions of gating and switching.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is a time division multiplexer - wavelength division multiplexer (TDM-WDM) system.