Patent ID: 8264692

Claim:
A fiber optic sensor array, comprising: a first coherent optical signal source that produces an optical signal of wavelength λ A ; a first optical fiber in optical communication with the first coherent optical signal source to guide the optical signal of wavelength λ A ; a second coherent optical signal source that produces an optical signal of wavelength λ B ; a second optical fiber in optical communication with the second coherent optical signal source to guide the optical signal of wavelength λ B ; an input wavelength division multiplexer connected to the first and second optical fibers to receive the optical signals of λ A and λ B therefrom as optical signal inputs; a signal transmission optical fiber connected to the input wavelength division multiplexer to guide optical signals of both wavelengths λ A and λ B therefrom; an array of two-wavelength Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors coupled to the signal transmission optical fiber to receive optical signals of wavelengths λ A and λ B therefrom, the array of two-wavelength Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors being arranged to produce interferometer output signals in response to an acoustic pressure wave incident upon the array of two-wavelength Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors, the Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors being formed to have signal outputs that operate in a push-pull mode in response to pressure variations in the acoustic pressure wave; an optical on-off switch connected between the input wavelength division multiplexer and the array of Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors to control transmission of optical signals through the signal transmission optical fiber; a time division multiplexed architecture connected to the optical switch wherein a plurality of optical couplers couple a corresponding plurality of two wavelength Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors to the signal transmission fiber and an output wavelength division multiplexer arranged to divide optical signals output from the plurality of Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors into a first output signal having wavelength λ A and a second output signal having wavelength λ B ; a detector array coupled to the output wavelength division multiplexer to produce electrical signals in response to the interferometer output signals; a signal processor connected to the detector array for processing the electrical signals from the detector array to indicate pressure from the acoustic pressure wave.