Open AccessFibre‐tree network for water‐surface ranging using an optical time‐domain reflectometry technique
Author(s) -
Yamabayashi Yoshiaki,
Yoshii Tatsuya,
Takanashi Masahiro
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the journal of engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2051-3305
DOI - 10.1049/joe.2014.0258
Subject(s) - reflectometry , ranging , time domain , materials science , optics , collimator , power (physics) , remote sensing , optical time domain reflectometer , wavelength , optical fiber , environmental science , computer science , optoelectronics , telecommunications , geology , fiber optic sensor , physics , quantum mechanics , computer vision , graded index fiber
To monitor water level at long distance, a fibre‐based time‐domain reflectometry network is proposed. A collimator at each fibre end of a tree‐type network retrieves 1.55 μm wavelength pulses that are reflected back from remote surfaces. Since this enables a power‐supply‐free sensor network with non‐metal media, this system is expected to be less susceptible to lightning strikes and power cuts than conventional systems that use electrically powered sensors and metal cables. In the present Letter, a successful simultaneous monitoring experiment of two water levels in the laboratory, as well as a trial for detecting a disturbed surface by beam‐expanding is reported.