OPTICAL FREQUENCY DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE FIBERS PER DETECTION CHAIN

摘要

An optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system is provided with an optical radiation source (LS) connected to a plurality of measurement paths (MP1, MP2, MP3) and a reference path (RFP) via a first coupling point (CP1). The measurement paths (MP1, MP2, MP3) are arranged for optical connection to respective optical sensing fibers (SF1, SF2, SF3). The measurement paths (MP1, MP2, MP3) have different optical path lengths (L1, L2, L3), so as to allow an optical detection unit (ODU) to essentially uncorruptedly detect optical radiation from parts of the respectiveoptical sensing fibers (SF1, SF2, SF3) that are intended to have a sensory function. The optical detection unit (ODU) is connected to the reference path (RFP) and the measurement paths (MP1, MP2, MP3) via a second coupling point (CP2). Thus, via the common reference path (RFP) for several measurement paths (MP1, MP2, MP3), only one detection chain is required to serve several sensing fibers (SF1, SF2, SF3).