A time- and wavelength-division multiplexing
sensor network with ultra-weak fiber Bragg
gratings
Zhihui Luo,
1, 2
Hongqiao Wen,
1,3,*
Huiyong Guo,
1,3
and Minghong Yang
1,3
1
National Engineering Laboratory for Fiber Optic Sensing Technology, Wuhan University of Technology(WHUT),
122 Luo Shi Road, Hong Shan District, Wuhan, 430070, China
2
China Three Gorges University, 8 University Avenue, Yichang, 443002, China
3
Key Laboratory of Fiber optic sensing technology and information processing, Institute of Information, Wuhan
University of Technology, 430070, China
*
whq@whut.edu.cn
Abstract: A time- and wavelength-division multiplexing sensor network
based on ultra-weak fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) was proposed. The low
insertion loss and the high multiplexing capability of the proposed sensor
network were investigated through both theoretical analysis and
experimental study. The demodulation system, which consists of two
semiconductor optical amplifiers and one high-speed charge-coupled device
module, was constructed to interrogate 2000 serial ultra-weak FBGs with
peak reflectivity ranging from 47 dB to 51 dB and a spatial resolution of
2 m along an optical fiber. The distinct advantages of the proposed sensor
network make it an excellent candidate for the large-scale sensing network.
©2013 Optical Society of America
OCIS codes: (050.2770) Gratings; (060.3738) Fiber Bragg gratings, photosensitivity;
(060.4230) Multiplexing; (060.4250) Networks.
References and links
1. W. Jin, “Multiplexed FBG sensors and their applications,” Proc. SPIE 3897, 468–479 (1999).
2. C. S. Kim, T. H. Lee, Y. S. Yu, Y. G. Han, S. B. Lee, and M. Y. Jeong, “Multi-point interrogation of FBG
sensors using cascaded flexible wavelength-division Sagnac loop filters,” Opt. Express 14(19), 8546–8551
(2006).
3. J. Ou and Z. Zhou, “Optic fiber Bragg-grating-based sensing technologies and their applications in structural
health monitoring,” Proc. SPIE 6595, 01–08 (2007).
4. G. Gagliardi, M. Salza, P. Ferraro, and P. De Natale, “Fiber Bragg-grating strain sensor interrogation using laser
radio-frequency modulation,” Opt. Express 13(7), 2377–2384 (2005).
5. W. H. Chung and H. Y. Tam, “Time- and wavelength-division multiplexing of FBG sensors using a semi-
conductor optical amplifier in ring cavity configuration,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 17(12), 2709–2711
(2005).
6. M. Y. Jeon, J. Zhang, Q. Wang, and Z. Chen, “High-speed and wide bandwidth Fourier domain mode-locked
wavelength swept laser with multiple SOAs,” Opt. Express 16(4), 2547–2554 (2008).
7. G. D. Lloyd, L. Bennion, L. A. Everall, and K. Sugden, “Novel resonant cavity TDM demodulation scheme for
FBG sensing,” in Proceedings of Lasers and Electro-Optics, San Francisco, CA, CWD4(2004).
8. Y. B. Dai, Y. J. Liu, J. S. Leng, G. Deng, and A. Asundi, “A novel time- division multiplexing fiber Bragg
grating sensor interrogator for structural health monitoring,” Opt. Lasers Eng. 47(10), 1028–1033 (2009).
9. C. C. Chan, W. Jin, D. J. Wang, and M. S. Demokan, “Intrinsic crosstalk analysis of a serial TDM FBG sensor
array by using a tunable laser,” Proc. LEOS 36, 2–4(2000).
10. Y. M. Wang, J. M. Gong, D. Y. Wang, B. Dong, W. Bi, and A. Wang, “A quasi-distributed sensing network with
time-division-multiplexed fiber Bragg gratings,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 23(2), 70–72 (2011).
11. Y. M. Wang, J. M. Gong, D. Y. Wang, T. J. Shilig, and A. Wang, “A large Serial time-division multiplexed fiber
Bragg grating sensor network,” J. Lightwave Technol. 30(17), 2751–2756 (2012).
12. H. Y. Guo, J. G. Tang, X. F. Li, Y. Zheng, and H. F. Yu, “On-line writing weak fiber Bragg gratings array,”
Chin. Opt. Lett. 11(3), 030602–030605 (2013).
13. A. V. Xabier, M. L. Sonia, C. Pedro, and G. H. Miguel, “100 km BOTDA temperature sensor with sub-meter
resolution,” Proc. SPIE 8421, 842117, 842117-4 (2012).
14. M. L. Zhang, Q. Z. Sun, Z. Wang, X. Li, H. Liu, and D. Liu, “A Large Capacity Sensing Network with Identical
Weak Fiber Bragg Gratings Multiplexing,” Opt. Commun. 285(13-14), 3082–3087 (2012).
15. Z. Wang, Q. Z. Sun, and M. L. Zhang, “A Distributed Sensing System Based on Low-Reflective-Index Bragg
Gratings,” in Proceedings of Photonics and Optoelectronics (SOPO), Wuhan, 1-3(2011).
Received 17 Jul 2013; revised 12 Sep 2013; accepted 16 Sep 2013; published 20 Sep 2013
23 September 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 19 | DOI:10.1364/OE.21.022799 | OPTICS EXPRESS 22799