# US 11,112,331 B1 · Distributed sensing system for network cable systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,331 B1 - Document ID: US11112331B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/194,189 - Filed: 2021-03-05 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Marmon Utility LLC - Applicants: Marmon Utility LLC - Inventors: Rick Williamson; Michael P. Norton; Sergio Arellano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112331B1 ## CPC - G01M 5/0025: {of elongated objects, e.g. pipes, masts, towers or railways (G01M5/0058 takes precedence)} - G01H 9/004: {using fibre optic sensors (light guides per se G02B6/00, acousto-optical devices specially adapted for gating or modulating in optical wave guides G02F1/125)} - G01K 1/026: {arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing} - G01K 1/14: Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations - G01K 11/32: using changes in transmittance, scattering or luminescence in optical fibres - G01M 5/0041: {by determining deflection or stress} - G01M 5/0066: {by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration (vibration testing of structures G01M7/00)} - G01M 11/085: {the optical fiber being on or near the surface of the DUT} - G01V 8/24: using optical fibres - G01H 9/00: Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract A monitoring system is disclosed herein that is configured to utilize a distributed sensing system to monitor both a cable and cable accessories included within a cable circuit. In various embodiments, the monitoring system may include a distributed sensing system and one or more cable accessory wrap assemblies. The distributed sensing system may include a distributed sensing fiber following (or integrated into) the cable and connected to a cable accessory wrap assembly for each of the one or more cable accessories in-line with cable. In various embodiments, each cable accessory wrap assembly may comprise a cable wrap embedded with a distributed sensing fiber. The distributing sensing fiber of a cable accessory wrap assembly may be configured to provide measurements to distributed sensing system indicating that an anomaly event occurred at a given cable accessory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wrap assembly configured to affix to a cable accessory in-line with a cable within a cable circuit, the wrap assembly comprising: a wrap comprising a top layer and a substrate layer, wherein the wrap assembly is configured to affix to a cable accessory in-line with a cable; and a distributed sensing fiber embedded within the wrap between the top layer and the substrate layer, wherein the distributed sensing fiber is connected at a first end of the wrap assembly to a distributed sensing system of the cable via a fiber running the length of the cable, wherein the distributed sensing fiber is configured to provide measurements to the distributed sensing system indicating that an anomaly event occurred at the cable accessory. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable accessory comprises a splice, elbow joint, or connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensing fiber comprises a distributed temperature sensing fiber, a distributed strain sensing fiber, and/or a distributed acoustic sensing fiber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wrap assembly of claim 3, wherein the measurements provided to the distributed sensing system by the distributed sensing fiber enable the distributed sensing system to determine that a temperature, strain, or acoustic event anomaly occurred at the cable accessory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensing fiber extends from the first end of the wrap assembly to a second end of the wrap assembly opposite the first end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wrap assembly of claim 5, wherein the wrap assembly further comprises a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector is configured to connect the distributed sensing fiber to the fiber running the length of the cable at the first end of the wrap assembly, and the second connector is configured to connect the distributed sensing fiber to the fiber running the length of the cable at the second end of the wrap assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensing fiber is weaved back and forth within the wrap to increase a length of the distributed sensing fiber within the wrap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The wrap assembly of claim 7, wherein the length of the distributed sensing fiber is sufficient to enable the distributed sensing system to resolve the cable accessory as a data point when determining where the anomaly event within a cable circuit comprising the cable occurred. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom side of the top layer includes adhesive to bond the top layer to the distributed sensing fiber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein a top side of the substrate layer includes adhesive to bond the substrate layer to the distributed sensing fiber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensing fiber embedded within the wrap is at least 0.5 meters in length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein the wrap assembly further comprises one or more communication fibers to extend a fiber optic communication network of a cable circuit comprising the cable past the cable accessory. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wrap assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom side of the wrap includes adhesive to adhere the wrap assembly to the cable accessory. ### Claim 14 A system for monitoring both cables and cable accessories included within a cable circuit using distributed sensing, the system comprising: a distributed sensing system configured to receive measurements from one or more distributed sensing fibers and identify where within a cable circuit an anomaly event occurred based on the received measurements, wherein the cable circuit comprises a cable and at least one cable accessory in-line with the cable; a first distributed sensing fiber connected directly to the distributed sensing system and running the length of the cable; and a second distributed sensing fiber associated with the at least one cable accessory and connected to the distributed sensing system via the first distributed sensing fiber, wherein the second distributed sensing fiber is configured to provide measurements to the distributed sensing system indicating that an anomaly event occurred at the cable accessory. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cable accessory comprises a splice, elbow joint, or connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the measurements provided to the distributed sensing system by the second distributed sensing fiber enable the distributed sensing system to determine that a temperature, strain, or acoustic event anomaly occurred at the cable accessory. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, the system further comprising: a wrap assembly comprising the second distributed sensing fiber and configured to affix to the at least one cable accessory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the wrap assembly comprises: a wrap comprising a top layer and a substrate layer, wherein the second distributed sensing fiber is embedded within the wrap between the top layer and the substrate layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein a bottom side of the wrap includes adhesive to adhere the wrap assembly to the cable accessory. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cable accessory comprises a splice, and wherein the system further comprises: a shell covering comprising a shell body and a runway trench comprising the second distributed sensing fiber, wherein the runway trench is configured to receive and protect the second distributed sensing fiber.