Large-Scale Interferometric Fiber Sensor Arrays Incorporating Multiple Optical Switches

We have developed a novel fiber sensor array telemetry that uses multiple all-fiber, all-optical switches for time domain multiplexing. Incorporating optical switches improves the telemetry by connecting only one sensor at a time to the buses and thus delivering the largest possible signal power to each sensor and to the receiver. We report the first laboratory demonstration of such an array using optical Kerr effect switches and discuss the requirements of the switches needed for a practical array.