Natural Fiber Span Reflectometer Proving a Spread Spectrum Virtual Sensing Array Capability

The present invention relates generally to the field of time-domain reflectometers. More specifically, it relates to such reflectometers which are a part of a photonic system application in which the object of the reflectometry is a span of fiber which has an interrogation signal launch end and a remote end. The invention enables the provision of a linear array of virtual sensors along the span. One particular type of application toward which the invention is directed are acoustic security alarm systems in which the span serves as a perimeter intrusion monitoring line.