Patent ID: 8488114

Claim:
A system for monitoring a plurality of components distributed in different space locations, comprising: at least one optical fiber path; an optical radiation source capable of being adapted to inject optical radiation into the at least one optical fiber path; at least one first and at least one second optical branches branching from the at least one optical fiber path and capable of being adapted to spill respective portions of said optical radiation, the first and second optical branches capable of being adapted to operatively associate with a respective component to be monitored, wherein: the first optical branch comprises: a first optical reflector and is capable of being adapted to reflect the spilled optical radiation portion, unless the respective component at least partially breaks; and a length of optical fiber capable of being wrapped around the respective component to be monitored; the second optical branch comprises: at least one passive optical attenuator capable of being adapted to operatively couple to the respective component to be monitored, and having an attenuation capable of changing in response to a change in operating conditions of the respective monitored component when operatively coupled thereto, and a second optical reflector; and an optical receiver capable of being adapted to detect back-reflected optical radiation reflected by said first and second optical branches.