A distributed sensor system including an optical source (100) having a short coherence length for optionally continuously monitoring each sensor in the system. In one preferred embodiment, an array of fiber-optic sensors (110) are organized in a ladder configuration, with the sensors positioned in spaced relation and defining the rungs of the ladder. Light transmitted through the sensors is multiplexed onto a return arm (114) of the ladder, with sensor spacing being such that interference between light from different sensors is prevented. The multiplexed signals are received by an optical fiber receiver (118, 120) which couples the multiplexed light with an interfering optical reference signal to produce a phase difference signal representing conditions influencing selected sensors. Embodiments are disclosed for use of either pulsed or continuous wave light sources In another preferred embodiment, the sensors comprise a plurality of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (404,406) connected in series configuration by a common optical fiber (402), which provides multiplexed output signals from the sensors to a plurality of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (418, 420) comprising receivers. The optical path length differences between the arms (409, 410, 411 and 412) of each of the sensors (404, 406) are selected to prevent interference between the multiplexed sensor output signals from various sensors. The optical path lengths through the sensors (404, 406) and receivers (418, 420) are structured so that each receiver (418, 420) produces a phase difference signal relating to conditions affecting light transmission through a specific sensor (404,406). A phase and amplitude modulation technique is disclosed for providing heterodyned output signals from the dristributed sensor system.
COHERENT DISTRIBUTED SENSOR AND METHOD USING SHORT COHERENCE LENGTH SOURCES