Patent ID: 7526147

Claim:
A sensor array for a perimeter defense system, comprising: an intensity modulated broadband optical signal source arranged to produce optical signals in a plurality of wavelength bands; a demultiplexer/multiplexer pair arranged to receive optical signals from the optical signal source and produce a separate optical signal for each of the plurality of wavelength bands; an optical coupler arranged to receive the separate optical signals; a first optical fiber having a first portion connected to the optical coupler and arranged to guide a clockwise wave for each of the separate optical signals along a corresponding optical path, the first optical fiber having a second portion connected to the optical coupler and arranged to guide a counter clockwise wave for each of the separate optical signals along the corresponding optical paths; wherein each of the corresponding optical paths includes a second optical fiber optically coupled to the first optical fiber such that the clockwise and counter clockwise waves for each of the separate optical signals are coupled into the second optical fiber and a plurality of sensors optically coupled to the second optical fiber such that the clockwise and counter clockwise waves for each of the separate optical signals propagate through the plurality of sensors and then combine in the optical coupler to form a plurality of clockwise and counter clockwise propagating interference signals in each wavelength band, the plurality of sensors being arranged in an interferometric sensor array having a plurality of sensor zones that operate in each of the plurality of wavelength bands, the sensor zones being arranged such that adjacent sensor zones operate in different wavelength bands; a first multiplexer optically coupled to the optical coupler to receive interference signals therefrom; and a first detector array arranged to receive the interference signals from the first multiplexer, the first detector array having a first selected detector corresponding to the each of the plurality of wavelength bands and arranged to provide an electrical signal that indicates the interference signals for each wavelength band.