Patent ID: 6667935
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: G01D,G01H,G01S

Abstract:
A sensor system that senses perturbations over first and second dynamic ranges, the sensor system comprising:a source of input light pulses at a first wavelength; a source of input light pulses at a second wavelength; an array of sensors; a first optical delay path at the first wavelength; a second optical delay path at the second wavelength; a first detection system responsive to light at the first wavelength; a second detection system responsive to light at the second wavelength; and an input/output system that receives the input light pulses at the first wavelength and the second wavelength, the input/output system directing a first portion of each light pulse at the first wavelength having a first polarization through the array of sensors in a first direction, then through the first optical delay path, and then to the first detection system, the input/output system directing a second portion of each light pulse at the first wavelength in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization through the first optical delay path, then through the array of sensors in a second direction, and then to the first detection system, the first detection system detecting variations in received light caused by perturbations varying over the first dynamic range, the input/output system directing a first portion of each light pulse at the second wavelength having a first polarization through the array of sensors in a first direction, then through the second optical delay path, and then to the second detection system, and the input/output system directing a second portion of each light pulse at the second wavelength in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization through the second optical delay path, then through the array of sensors in a second direction, and then to the second detection system, the second detection system detecting variations in received light caused by perturbations varying over the second dynamic range.