Outboard Optical Cable Sensor System and Method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsLynn T. Antonelli, Armando M. Simao, Donald I. Woodward
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Abstract
A plurality of optical sensors are mounted to a housing made of optically conductive material. The housing seals the optical sensors from a water-filled tube which extends through said housing. The optically conductive material provides optical coupling with the water-filled cable tube whereby a plurality of light beams are directed through the housing and the water-filled tube in a predetermined pattern, which provides certainty of the absence or presence of a cable within the water-filled cable tube for a minimum cable diameter regardless of the orientation of the cable within the water-filled tube.
Claims10
An optical sensor system for detecting the presence or absence of a cable within a water-filled tube, said cable comprising a cable diameter less than one-half of a tube diameter of said water-filled tube, said optical sensor system comprising:
- a housing comprising an optically clear material which surrounds said water-filled tube, said housing being optically coupled to said water-filled tube whereby said housing is operable for conducting light into said water-filled tube;
- a first optical sensor comprising a first optical transmitter and a first optical receiver which are mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube so as to be sealed off from said water by said optically clear material, said first optical sensor being operable to direct a first light beam into said water-filled tube and detect said first light beam if said cable does not block said first light beam;
- a second optical sensor comprising a second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver which are mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube so as to be sealed off from said water by said optically clear material, said second optical sensor being operable to direct a second light beam into said water-filled tube and detect said second light beam if said cable does not block said second light beam;
- a third optical sensor comprising a third optical transmitter and a third optical receiver which are mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube so as to be sealed off from said water by said optically clear material, said third optical sensor being operable to direct a third light beam into said water-filled tube and detect said third light beam if said cable does not block said third light beam;
- and
- a detector electrically connected to said first optical sensor, said second optical sensor, and said third optical sensor so as to be operable to produce a signal indicative of a presence or absence of said cable within said water-filled tube.
A method for detecting the presence or absence of a cable within a water-filled tube, said cable comprising a cable diameter less than one-half of a tube diameter of said water-filled tube, said method comprising:
- providing a housing which surrounds said water-filled tube;
- providing that at least a portion of said housing comprises an optically clear material to thereby provide optical coupling to said water-filled tube;
- providing a first optical sensor which comprises a first optical transmitter and a first optical receiver mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube;
- utilizing said first optical sensor to direct a first light beam through at least a portion of said housing into said water-filled tube;
- providing a second optical sensor comprising a second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube;
- utilizing said second optical sensor to direct a second light beam through at least a portion of said housing into said water-filled tube;
- providing a third optical sensor comprising a third optical transmitter and a third optical receiver mounted to said housing on opposite sides of said water-filled tube;
- utilizing said third optical sensor to direct a third light beam through at least a portion of said housing into said water-filled tube;
- and
- monitoring said first optical sensor, said second optical sensor, and said third optical sensor to produce a signal indicative of a presence or absence of said cable within said water-filled tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.