Optical Fibre Sensors based on Multi-Mode fibres and MIMO signal processing: An experimental Approach

摘要

In this paper multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal processing is investigated for fibre optic sensor applications. A (2 × 2) MIMO implementation is realized by using lower-order and higher-order mode groups of a graded-index (GI) multi-mode fibre (MMF) as separate transmission channels. A micro-bending pressure sensor changes these separate transmission characteristics and introduces additional crosstalk. By observing the weight-factors of the MIMO system the amount of load applied was determined. Experiments verified a good correlation between the change of the MIMO weight coefficients and the load applied to the sensor and thus verified that MIMO signal processing can beneficially be used for fibre optic sensor applications.