System and method for extending the range of hard-wired electrical systems

A method for extending the operating reach of systems that have conventionally communicated narrow broadband electrical signals entirely over electrically conductive media, comprising:

• providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
• converting said first electrical signals to said optical signals;
• providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
• providing at least one optical fiber, said optical fiber in operable communication with said means for transmitting said optical signals;
• transmitting said optical signals over said optical fiber;
• providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
• receiving said optical signals;
• providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals;
• converting said optical signals to said second electrical signals;
• providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals;
• and
• transmitting said second electrical signals,
• wherein said method permits said electrical signals to be transmitted at a distance greater than conventional methods employing only electrically conductive media.

A method for retaining the characteristics of narrow broadband electrical signals that have been conventionally communicated entirely over electrically conductive media, comprising:

• providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
• converting said first electrical signals to said optical signals;
• providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
• providing at least one optical fiber, said optical fiber in operable communication with said means for transmitting said optical signals;
• transmitting said optical signals over said optical fiber;
• providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
• receiving said optical signals;
• providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals;
• converting said optical signals to said second electrical signals;
• providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals;
• and
• transmitting said second electrical signals,
• wherein said method preserves characteristics of said electrical signals better than conventional methods employing only electrically conductive media.

An apparatus for retaining characteristics of electrical signals that have been conventionally communicated entirely over electrically conductive media in a system, comprising:

• means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
• means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
• at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
• means for receiving said converted optical signals, said means for receiving in operable communication with said optical fiber;
• means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, and
• means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals;
• wherein said apparatus preserves the characteristics of said electrical signals better than systems not incorporating said apparatus.

A time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensor system that communicates narrow broadband RF signals partially over electrically conductive media and partially over optical fiber, comprising:

• means for initiating at least one signal on said electrically conductive media;
• means for facilitating simultaneous transmission of said signals and receipt of reflections of said signals, said means for facilitating in operable communication with said electrically conductive media;
• means for conditioning said signals and said reflections, said means for conditioning in operable communication with said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
• means for impedance matching said signals and said reflections, said means for impedance matching in operable communication with at least one said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
• at least one sensor in operable communication with said means for impedance matching;
• means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals, said means for converting first said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for conditioning;
• means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
• at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
• means for receiving said converted optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
• means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals, and
• means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals,
• wherein said system is able to operate at a distance greater than conventional systems incorporating only electrically conductive media.

A method for operating a time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensor system communicating narrow broadband RF signals partially over electrically conductive media and partially over optical fiber, comprising:

• providing means for initiating at least one said RF signal on said electrically conductive media;
• transmitting said RF signal on said electrically conductive media;
• providing means for facilitating simultaneous transmission of said signals and receipt of reflections of said signals, said means for facilitating in operable communication with said electrically conductive media;
• providing means for conditioning said signals and said reflections, said means for conditioning in operable communication with at least said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
• providing means for impedance matching said signals and said reflections, said means for impedance matching in operable communication with at least one said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
• providing at least one sensor in operable communication with said means for impedance matching;
• providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals, said means for converting first said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for conditioning;
• providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
• providing at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
• providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with at least said optical fiber;
• providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals, and
• providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals,
• wherein said method facilitates operation at a distance greater than that available to conventional TDR sensor systems incorporating only electrically conductive media.