LARGE-SCALE INTERFEROMETRIC FIBER SENSOR ARRAYS INCORPORATING MULTIPLE OPTICAL SWITCHES

We have developed a novel fiber sensor array telemetry that uses multi ple all-fiber, all-optical switches for time domain multiplexing. Inco rporating optical switches improves the telemetry by connecting only o ne sensor at a time to the buses and thus delivering the largest possi ble signal power to each sensor and to the receiver. We report the fir st laboratory demonstration of such an array using optical Kerr effect switches and discuss the requirements of the switches needed for a pr actical array. (C) 1998 Academic Press.