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US 12,590,861 B2Granted
Method and system for detecting events in a conduit
AssigneeHifi Engineering Inc.
InventorsArne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There are described methods, systems, and computer-readable media for detecting events in a conduit. Multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside a conduit are used to detect a signal. For each length of optical fiber, interferometric data is obtained from the detected signal. The interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber is compared to the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the signal originated from the conduit.
Claims20
A method of detecting events in a conduit, comprising:
- using multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit to detect a signal, wherein each length of optical fiber comprises at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), and wherein detecting the signal comprises, for each length of optical fiber, reflecting one or more light pulses off the at least one pair of FBGs;
- for each length of optical fiber, obtaining interferometric data from the detected signal;
- comparing the interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber to the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber, wherein comparing the interferometric data comprises determining when each length of optical fiber detected the signal;
- and
- determining, based on i) the comparison, ii) when each length of optical fiber detected the signal, and iii) on relative positions of the lengths of optical fiber, whether the signal originated from the conduit, wherein determining whether the signal originated from the conduit comprises determining that a first length of optical fiber detected the signal before one or more other lengths of optical fiber, and wherein the first length of optical fiber is closer to the conduit than the one or more other lengths of optical fiber.
2 more elements
A system for detecting events in a conduit, comprising:
- the conduit;
- multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit, wherein each length of optical fiber comprises at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs);
- an optical fiber interrogator configured to detect a signal by interrogating each length of optical fiber by transmitting one or more light pulses along each length of optical fiber and receiving reflections of the one or more light pulses reflected by the at least one pair of FBGs;
- and
- one or more processors communicative with a memory having stored thereon computer program code configured when executed by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- for each length of optical fiber, obtaining interferometric data from the detected signal;
- and
- comparing the interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber with the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber, wherein comparing the interferometric data comprises determining when each length of optical fiber detected the signal;
- and
- determining, based on i) the comparison, ii) when each length of optical fiber detected the signal, and iii) on relative positions of the lengths of optical fiber, whether the signal originated from the conduit, wherein determining whether the signal originated from the conduit comprises determining that a first length of optical fiber detected the signal before one or more other lengths of optical fiber, and wherein the first length of optical fiber is closer to the conduit than the one or more other lengths of optical fiber.
7 more elements
A method of detecting events in a conduit, comprising:
- using multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit to detect a signal, wherein each length of optical fiber comprises at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), and wherein detecting the signal comprises, for each length of optical fiber, reflecting one or more light pulses off the at least one pair of FBGs;
- for each length of optical fiber, obtaining interferometric data from the detected signal;
- comparing the interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber to the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber, wherein comparing the interferometric data comprises determining which length of optical fiber detected the signal having the greatest magnitude;
- and
- determining, based on i) the comparison, ii) which length of optical fiber detected the signal having the greatest magnitude, and iii) on relative positions of the lengths of optical fiber, whether the signal originated from the conduit.
2 more elements
A system for detecting events in a conduit, comprising:
- the conduit;
- multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit, wherein each length of optical fiber comprises at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs);
- an optical fiber interrogator configured to detect a signal by interrogating each length of optical fiber by transmitting one or more light pulses along each length of optical fiber and receiving reflections of the one or more light pulses reflected by the at least one pair of FBGs;
- and
- one or more processors communicative with a memory having stored thereon computer program code configured when executed by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- for each length of optical fiber, obtaining interferometric data from the detected signal;
- and
- comparing the interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber with the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber, wherein comparing the interferometric data comprises determining which length of optical fiber detected the signal having the greatest magnitude;
- and
- determining, based on i) the comparison, ii) which length of optical fiber detected the signal having the greatest magnitude, and iii) on relative positions of the lengths of optical fiber, whether the signal originated from the conduit.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.