Optical fiber sensing system, host sensing device, remote sensing device, sensing method, and sensing device control method

A host sensing device comprising:

• a first optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and output first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light;
• and
• a first data communication circuit configured to output a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data,
• wherein the first optical sensing circuit includes:
• a first pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the first pulse light;
• a first optical reception circuit configured to receive the first light;
• a data processing circuit configured to output the first sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the first light;
• and
• an optical interface configured to output the second sensing data included in the first signal light,
• wherein the first data communication circuit is configured to output, to the optical interface, data to be transmitted to another device;
• and
• wherein the optical interface is configured to output data signal light including the data to the first optical fiber.

A remote sensing device comprising:

• a second optical sensing circuit configured to receive, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and output second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light;
• and
• a second data communication circuit configured to output first signal light including the second sensing data to a first optical fiber,
• wherein the second optical sensing circuit includes:
• a second pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the second pulse light;
• a second optical reception circuit configured to receive the second light;
• and
• a second data processing circuit configured to output the second sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the second light.

A sensing method comprising:

• receiving, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and outputting first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light;
• outputting a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data;
• receiving, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and outputting the second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light;
• and
• outputting the first signal light including the second sensing data to the first optical fiber.

A method for controlling a sensing device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first optical fiber, first light in response to first pulse light being input to the first optical fiber, and first signal light, and outputting first sensing data about the first optical fiber in response to the first light and second sensing data included in the first signal light;
• outputting a data signal including the first sensing data and the second sensing data,
• wherein the sensing device includes:
• a first pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the first pulse light;
• a first optical reception circuit configured to receive the first light;
• a data processing circuit configured to output the first sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the first light;
• and
• an optical interface configured to output the second sensing data included in the first signal light,
• wherein the method further comprises:
• outputting, to the optical interface, data to be transmitted to another device;
• and
• outputting, by the optical interface, data signal light including the data to the first optical fiber.

A method for controlling a sensing device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a second optical fiber, second light in response to second pulse light being input to the second optical fiber, and outputting second sensing data including a sensing result of the second optical fiber in response to the second light;
• and
• outputting first signal light including the second sensing data to a first optical fiber,
• wherein the sensing device includes:
• a second pulse light transmission circuit configured to intermittently output the second pulse light;
• a second optical reception circuit configured to receive the second light;
• and
• a second data processing circuit configured to output the second sensing data including a physical quantity in response to the second light, and
• wherein the method further comprises converting data signal light being received from the first optical fiber into an electric signal, and outputting the electric signal to the second optical sensing circuit.