Maryland's Defense Patent Database

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Undersea pipeline intrusion detection system using low-frequency guided acoustic waves and distributed optical fiber

Patent image
NRL

A method and an apparatus for intrusion detection. The apparatus includes an acoustic source, a laser light source, a pressure-sensitive optical fiber including a first end and a second end. The second end is connected to the laser light source and oriented toward the acoustic source. The laser light source generates a laser pulse traveling through the pressure-sensitive optical fiber toward the acoustic source. The laser pulse includes a time-of-flight. The acoustic source generates an acoustic wave. The acoustic wave includes a plurality of evanescent wave fronts. The plurality of evanescent wave fronts, upon scattering from a non-uniform material region, radially contracts the pressure-sensitive optical fiber to alter the time-of-flight of the laser pulse along the pressure-sensitive optical fiber by increasing the fiber length.

Inventors: 
Calvo, David C.; Bingham, Jill P.; Nicholas, Michael
Patent Number: 
Technical domain: 
Sensors and Measurement
FIle Date: 
2011-11-07
Grant Date: 
2013-11-12
Grant time: 
736 days
Grant time percentile rank: 
13
Claim count percentile rank: 
5
Citations percentile rank: 
1
'Cited by' percentile rank: 
1
Assignee: 
US NAVY