Patent ID: 8165469

Claim:
An optical signal processor for use in a cascade sensor, the optical signal processor having: a source input port containing broadband optical energy; a signal input port optionally containing previous response wavelengths; a source output port; a signal output port; a splitter having an input and coupled to said source input port, a first output coupled to said source output port, and a second output coupled to a circular input port, said circular also having a sensor port and an output port coupled to a combiner which forms an output coupled to said signal output port from said circulator output port and said signal input port; where said circular sensor port is coupled to a sensor string having one or more fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, each said fiber Bragg grating sensor operative in a unique wavelength; whereby broadband optical energy which enters said source input port has a fraction of said optical energy directed through said splitter to said circular, which directs said broadband optical energy to said sensor string, return energy from said sensor string being directed back to said circulator and thereafter to said combiner where said sensor optical energy combines with optical energy in said signal input port to form optical energy in said signal output port.