A Signal Processing Algorithm Proposed for OFDR Distributed Sensing System to Enhance Its Performance

Abstract

A novel OFDR processing algorithm is proposed to improve the measurable range. The high local similarity found between the reference and measurement Rayleigh scattering spectrum (ReS and MeS). The spectrum shift of the Rayleigh backscatter which is the function of strain is measured using an improved optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR). This method is improved by matching local ReS on MeS rather than a direct cross-correlation between whole ReS and MeS in conventional OFDR methods. By this method, a larger measurable range (0∼3000μϵ) OFDR method with a high level spatial resolution (3mm gauge) is experimentally achieved comparing to conventional OFDR methods.