Optical mandrel, optical-fiber assembly including an optical mandrel, and system for detecting an acoustic signal incident on an optical-fiber assembly

Abstract

An embodiment of a system includes a light source, an optical assembly, and an electronic circuit. The light source (e.g., a laser) is configured to generate a source optical signal. The optical assembly is configured to direct the source optical signal into an end of an optical-fiber assembly that includes an optical fiber having a section wrapped multiple turns around a mandrel and including mandrel zones, and to receive, from the end of the optical-fiber assembly, a return optical signal. The electronic circuit is configured to select at least one mandrel zone in response to a component of the return optical signal from the at least one mandrel zone, and to detect an acoustic signal incident on the mandrel in response to the component of the return optical signal.

1 . A mandrel, comprising:
 a connector having first and second aligned openings and a third opening between the first and second openings; and   a form coupled to the connector at the third opening, having an outer surface, a cavity, an end, and fourth and fifth openings between the cavity and the outer surface, and configured to receive an optical fiber that extends into the first opening of the connector, through the third opening of the connector, into the cavity at the end of the form, and through the fourth opening of the form, that forms one or more turns around the outer surface of the form, and that extends through the fifth opening of the form into the cavity, out from the cavity at the end, into the third opening of the connector, and out from the second opening of the connector.