Fiber optic sensor arrays: a new method to improve multiplexing capability with a low complexity approach

In this paper, we show some preliminary numerical results in order to increase the multiplexing capability of a multipoint fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor network without increase the system complexity. We base the new approach on the possibility of exploiting the chirped-pulsed frequency modulation technique (C-PFM). This technique, extensively used in radar applications, is based on the amplitude modulation of the emitted signal (pulsed) by a chirped frequency signal and on the demodulation of the reflected signal by means of adaptive filter. FBG sensors are instrumental to obtain cheap and easy handling multipoint sensing arrays. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.