Patent ID: 8203707
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: G01D,G01F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for distributed sensing, comprising: an optical fiber waveguide as a sensing element, said optical fiber guide including a heating coating, the temperature of said optical fiber being controlled by at least one of an electrical method and an optical method applied to said heating coating so as to provide a plurality of point sensors along said optical fiber waveguide for the detection of optical scattering; at least one light source operatively in connection with said optical fiber waveguide; at least one light detection device, operatively in connection with said fiber waveguide, for measuring scattered light waves resulting from optical scattering at one or more said point sensors along said optical fiber waveguide; and at least one optical signal processing unit, operatively in connection with said light detection device, for analyzing characteristics of said optical scattering and determining physical or chemical parameters as a function of point sensor position of said optical scattering along said optical fiber waveguide.