Multi-channel array processor
A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more environmental parameters using interferometric sensor(s), a cross-correlator, a two-dimensional photosensitive array and optical focusing means are described. The method and apparatus allows for near simultaneous monitoring of the parameter(s) of interest.
1. A fiber optic sensing system for monitoring an environmental parameter comprising:
a light source;
a optical fiber;
at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber and which modulates light received from the light source in response to changes in an environmental parameter;
an optical cross-correlator which receives the modulated light;
a two-dimensional photosensitive detector array; and
optical focusing means for providing the modulated light to the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array, where the optical focusing means focuses the modulated light from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam wherein the optical focusing means comprises a cylindrical mirror.
2. A fiber optic sensing system for monitoring an environmental parameter comprising:
a light source;
a optical fiber;
at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber and which modulates light received from the light source in response to changes in an environmental parameter;
an optical cross-correlator which receives the modulated light;
a two-dimensional photosensitive detector array; and
optical focusing means for providing the modulated light to the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array, where the optical focusing means focuses the modulated light from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam wherein the optical focusing means comprises a cylindrical lens.
3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical crosscorrelator is interposed between the two-dimensional photosensitive detector array and the optical focusing means.
4. A system according to claim 1 having a plurality of interferometric sensors, each of said interferometric sensors modulating light received from the light source in response to changes in a plurality of respective environmental parameters.
5. A method for monitoring at least one environmental parameter using a two-dimensional detector and at least one interferometric sensor that modulates light in response to the environmental parameters, the method comprising:
providing light through an optical fiber to at least one interferometric sensor positioned outside the optical fiber, said interferometric sensor modulating the light in response to a corresponding environmental parameter;
focusing and optically cross-correlating the modulated light so that the light is focused from a two-dimensional beam to a line beam and provided to the two-dimensional detector having a plurality of light sensing units;
scanning the plurality of light sensing units to identify a correlation burst for each interferometric sensor and creating an output representative of each environmental parameter being monitored; and
providing an optical cross-correlator to optically cross-correlate the modulated light; and calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with an optical thickness of the optical cross-correlator.
6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with a specific channel in the multiplexed signal conditioner.
7. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
providing an optical cross-correlator to optically cross-correlate the modulated light; and calibrating the two-dimensional detector so that each light sensing unit is associated with a specific channel in the multiplexed signal conditioner and so that each light sensing unit is also associated with an optical thickness of the optical cross-correlator.
8. A method according to claim 5 , wherein light is provided to a plurality of interferometric sensors and wherein a plurality of outputs are created with each scan.