Spread spectrum techniques for distributed multimeasurand optical fiber sensors

Abstract

Spread spectrum techniques offer an alternate solution to the urgency for distributed optical fiber sensors. These techniques are based on the properties of pseudorandom sequences that have triangular autocorrelation functions with peaks only at regions of no delay. This affords an opportunity to give the desired signal a power advantage over many types of interference and noise. A study in employing spread spectrum techniques for multiplexing optical fiber sensors is presented. A mathematical analysis of the system is conducted with due consideration given to performance issues. Simulations in software are conducted to characterize system performance. Hardware developed for this project operates at over 1 Mbps and is capable of simultaneously monitoring four sensors. Real time experiments conducted on these multiplexed sensors affirm the technical feasibility of the system. Configurations for viable applications of the system are also suggested.