Abstract: A temperature sensing arrangement includes a member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and an optical fiber having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The optical fiber is strain transmissively mounted to the member. And the second coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion such that strain measurable in the optical fiber is correlatable to temperature changes in the member.

Abstract: A system and method to obtain and process interferometer output scans is described. The interferometer-based sensor system includes a tunable laser to transmit a transmit signal and a polarization scrambler to produce a polarization state change on the transmit signal. The system also includes an interferometer to provide an output scan based on the transmit signal with the polarization state change and a processor to process the output scan.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating at least one parameter in a downhole environment includes: an optical fiber configured to be disposed in a borehole, the optical fiber including a core having a first index of refraction and a cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction, at least a portion of the core being made from a hydrogen resistant material; at least one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) formed within the hydrogen resistant material; a light source configured to send an optical signal into the optical fiber; and a detector configured to receive a return signal generated by the at least one FBG and generate data representative of the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A method and system to perform distributed downhole acoustic sensing in a borehole are described. The system includes an optical fiber comprising at least one reflector, and a tunable laser configured to perform a transmission of a range of wavelengths through the optical fiber. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive an interferometer signal resulting from the transmission, and a processor configured to determine a component of the interferometer signal.

Abstract: A method for estimating a distance includes: generating an optical signal having a wavelength that is within a wavelength range, the optical signal modulated via a modulation signal having a modulation frequency; transmitting the modulated optical signal from a light source into the optical fiber, the optical fiber in contact with a moveable strain inducing element located at the position along the optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of sensing locations configured to reflect light within the wavelength range when under strain from the strain inducing element and transmit light within the wavelength range when not under strain from the strain inducing element; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from at least one of the sensing locations; demodulating the reflected signal with a reference signal to generate reflected signal data; and determining the distance to the position along the optical fiber based on the reflected signal data.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest relating to a wellbore is disclosed. A fiber optic cable having a plurality of sensors is disposed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of sensors have reflectivity values configured to provide improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to signal-to-noise ratio of a plurality of sensors having substantially same reflectivity values. Light is propagated into the fiber optic cable from a light source and signals are received at a detector from the plurality of sensors in response to interaction of the propagated light with the plurality of sensors. A processor may be used to obtain the parameter of interest from the received signals. The fiber optic cable may be coupled to a member in the wellbore, wherein the parameter of interest is related to the member.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest from a plurality of sensors in a fiber optic cable deployed in a wellbore are disclosed. Light having variable frequency within a range of frequencies is propagated along the fiber optic cable. Signals are received that are responsive to interaction of the propagated light with the plurality of sensors. The received signals are filtered using a programmable filter. The parameter of interest is obtained from the filtered signals. In one aspect, the fiber optic cable is coupled to a member deployed in the wellbore and the parameter of interest is related to the member.

Abstract: A method for estimating a distance includes: generating an optical signal having a wavelength that is within a wavelength range, the optical signal modulated via a modulation signal having a modulation frequency; transmitting the modulated optical signal from a light source into the optical fiber, the optical fiber in contact with a moveable strain inducing element located at the position along the optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of sensing locations configured to reflect light within the wavelength range when under strain from the strain inducing element and transmit light within the wavelength range when not under strain from the strain inducing element; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from at least one of the sensing locations; demodulating the reflected signal with a reference signal to generate reflected signal data; and determining the distance to the position along the optical fiber based on the reflected signal data.

Abstract: A method for estimating a parameter includes: transmitting a control signal to a coherent optical source, the control signal configured to chaotically vary an output of the optical source and generate a chaotically excited optical signal; transmitting the optical signal from the optical source into an optical fiber, the optical fiber including at least one sensing location; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from the at least one sensing location; and estimating a value of the parameter using the reflected signal.

Abstract: A method for estimating a parameter includes: generating an optical signal, the optical signal modulated via a modulation signal; transmitting the modulated optical signal from a light source into an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of sensing locations disposed along the optical fiber and configured to reflect light; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from the plurality of sensing locations; and combining, in parallel, each of a plurality of reference signals with the reflected signal to estimate a value of the parameter.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and optical network for obtaining a signal from a sensor in a fiber optic cable at a downhole location is disclosed. A reference signal is propagated through the fiber optic cable. A beam of light is received from the fiber optic cable, wherein the beam of light includes the propagated reference signal and the signal from the sensor generated from an interaction of the sensor and the reference signal. The propagated reference signal is obtained from the received beam of light. The signal from the sensors is obtained by sampling the received beam of light using the obtained propagated reference signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest from an optical device placed along a fiber optic cable in a wellbore is disclosed. Light is propagated a light through the fiber optic cable from a light source. A first detector receives a first signal responsive to interaction of the propagated light and the optical device, wherein the first signal has a delay. A second detector receives a second signal and a digital delay device delays the received second signal. A sampling device obtains a selected signal from the first signal using the delayed second signal, and a processor determines the parameter of interest using the selected signal.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest from a plurality of sensors in a fiber optic cable deployed in a wellbore are disclosed. Light having variable frequency within a range of frequencies is propagated along the fiber optic cable. Signals are received that are responsive to interaction of the propagated light with the plurality of sensors. The received signals are filtered using a programmable filter. The parameter of interest is obtained from the filtered signals. In one aspect, the fiber optic cable is coupled to a member deployed in the wellbore and the parameter of interest is related to the member.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest relating to a wellbore is disclosed. A fiber optic cable having a plurality of sensors is disposed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of sensors have reflectivity values configured to provide improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to signal-to-noise ratio of a plurality of sensors having substantially same reflectivity values. Light is propagated into the fiber optic cable from a light source and signals are received at a detector from the plurality of sensors in response to interaction of the propagated light with the plurality of sensors. A processor may be used to obtain the parameter of interest from the received signals. The fiber optic cable may be coupled to a member in the wellbore, wherein the parameter of interest is related to the member.

Abstract: A method of converting off-shore installed pedestal crane from a mechanical to a hydraulic operation includes the steps of determining a load limit capable of being lifted by the hooks of the existing crane, ascertaining structural condition of the existing crane, determining operating performance parameters for and selecting various members of a hydraulic system, defining configuration and position of mounting members to mount each selected hydraulically operated member, removing existing mechanically operated components, rigidly securing the mounting members to the existing winch frame, affixing hydraulically operated members to respective mounting member and interconnecting them therebetween with hoses, and testing and certifying performance of the hydraulically operated system.

Abstract: A method of converting off-shore installed pedestal crane from a mechanical to a hydraulic operation includes the steps of determining a load limit capable of being lifted by the hooks of the existing crane, ascertaining structural condition of the existing crane, determining operating performance parameters for and selecting various members of a hydraulic system, defining configuration and position of mounting members to mount each selected hydraulically operated member, removing existing mechanically operated components, rigidly securing the mounting members to the existing winch frame, affixing hydraulically operated members to respective mounting member and interconnecting them therebetween with hoses, and testing and certifying performance of the hydraulically operated system.

Abstract: A telephone is controlled using an external contact closure. The telephone includes a contact closure connector. The contact closure connector includes a first wire contact and a second wire contact. Control logic is connected to the first wire contact and the second wire contact. The control logic detects a change in electrical connection between the first wire contact and the second wire contact. Alternatively, the control logic detects a change in electrical connection between multiple pairs of wire contacts. In response to the change in electrical connection, the control logic issues a command to a processor connected to the control logic. The processor, upon receipt of the command issued by the control logic, implements a predetermined telephone function or set of functions.

Abstract: An interface device, such as a mouse input device, is used to provide input to a computer system or alternatively to a telephone system. The motion of the mouse input device over a first surface is detected. Selections made by a user on a mouse selection key are also detected. Numeric entry is received from numeric entry keys on a top surface of the mouse input device. In the preferred embodiment, the numeric keys are arranged as a dialpad for a telephone.

Abstract: A host telephone is connected by an interface to an accessory item. The accessory item is, for example, a cordless headset, a headset amplifier, a remote telephone dialing device, a cordless handset or some other device which is connected to a telephone. Two connectors are used to connect the host telephone to the interface. A first connector provides a standard headset connection to the host. The first connector propagates four signals: a transmit audio signal, a transmit return signal, a receive audio signal and a receive return signal. A second connector provides a propagation media for additional signals. The additional signals provide additional communication links between the host telephone and the accessory item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for "piggy backing" a FAX transmission on a video call. A document, in the form of modulated facsimile data, is received from a machine located in proximity of a sending station. The document is demodulated, packetized and a header, indicating that the packet contains facsimile data, is added. The packets are then injected into a digital video stream carrying video conference data bound for the receiving station.