Differential detection system over optical fiber based on Brillouin stimulated scattering.

Summary of the technology

A Spanish research group from the Department of Electronics of Alcalá University has developed a system and method for optical fiber sensing based on Brillouin stimulated scattering. This method consists in separating the two signals which comprises the probe signal to obtain the difference between amplification band and attenuation stimulated band or vice versa. The group is looking for companies in the technology sector and telecommunications to reach licensing agreements, collaboration and commercial agreements with technical assistance.

New and innovative aspects

Sensing system and method that implements any of the techniques based on stimulated Brillouin scattering by a differential detection of amplified and attenuated bands.

Distributed sensing comprising separating the two signals corresponding to the amplified band and attenuated band. Obtaining a signal with higher amplitude and improving the signal to noise ratio.

Main advantages of its use

With this method the sensor signal relationship between signals to noise is improved. Dynamic range and scope length increase as well as reduces the measurement uncertainty.

The common noise presented in the two bands of the probe signal is eliminated.

In the case of using a balanced detector for detection, the detector saturation characteristics are improved, and can be obtained with much larger amplitudes than in the conventional case of signal detection.

Specifications

As a first aspect of the invention, a distributed sensing system is presented which comprises:

  • Light emitting means adapted to emit the probe and pump signals on the optical fiber.
  • Discriminating means adapted to separate the two signals corresponding to the amplified band and attenuated band along the optical fiber subject to monitoring.
  • Detection Means adapted to obtain the difference between band of amplification and stimulated attenuation band or vice versa.
  • Analyzing means, adapted to implement the distributed sensing technique based on Brillouin scattering using the differential measurement of amplification band and the attenuation stimulated band, instead of the measurement of a single band as in conventional systems.

Two preferred options for the discriminating means are:

• A device which discriminates in frequency.

• A device which discriminates in polarization.

Once separated the two signals (amplified band and attenuated band) so that they can be analyzed independently, two preferred detection means methods are:

• A balanced detector

• Two simple sensors (photoreceptors)

As a second aspect of the invention, a distributed sensing method is shown consisting in separating the two signals corresponding to the amplified band and attenuated band along the optical fiber subject to be  monitoring. Thus is obtained a signal with higher amplitude than in the case of performing a detection with a single band. With this increase in the amplitude the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor signal is improved, improving the dynamic range and increasing the length scope and at the same time decreasing the uncertainty of the measurement.

The present invention solves the long-standing problems by means of the system and method of sensing which implements any of the techniques based on Brillouin stimulated scattering (systems BOTDA, BOCDA and BOFDA including their variants) by a differential detection of amplified and attenuated bands.

Applications

  • Civil engineer, industry, energy and environment

Related Keywords

  • Optical Networks and Systems
  • Energy supply system
  • Installations related to construction (energy, lighting, …)
  • Fibre Optics
  • Energy Distribution
  • Engineering services
  • Engineering and consulting services related to construction
  • Construction companies
  • distributed fiber optic sensor
  • brillouin scattering
  • differential detection.

About Universidad de Alcalá-OTRI

The Technology Transfer Office at Alcalá University serves as a liaison between the University and its socioeconomic environment in terms of research and innovation. It encorages collaboration between research groups from universities and companies/institutions, with the objective to promote and commercialize research results and scientific capabilities.

Some of the services offered by this office are specified in the following list:

- Promotion of R & D and improvement of the relationships with companies.
- Promote the participation in R & D projects applicants to public calls (regional, national and European).
- Advising, processing and monitoring of patents and other forms of industrial protection.
- Support in the negotiation of contracts and agreements for R&D&i

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