A punch head comprises a low profile hydraulic anvil piston with a punch across from a die on opposite sides of a gap between two legs. One of the legs comprises a position sensor disposed on the bottom of the leg. For example, a plurality of punch heads are disposed on a jig or frame and are positioned using one or more of the position sensors. For example, the position sensor is a mini fiber optic position sensor mounted in a recessed portion at the bottom of one or more of the punch heads.

A fibre optic sensing device is provided. The fibre optic sensing device includes a plurality of optical fibre portions, wherein each optical fibre portion is arranged to receive laser light from a common laser and reflect the laser light to a common detector. Each optical fibre portion includes a first reflector spaced from a distal end of the optical fibre portion and a second reflector at the distal end. Each optical fibre portion also includes a sensor provided at the distal end of the optical fibre portion. The sensor includes a third reflector the position of which varies depending on a value of a property being sensed. A distance between the first and second reflectors is different for each of the optical fibre portions.

HIC-resistant materials may include sensors embedded within or otherwise coupled thereto for use in a hydrogen service environment. In an example, a diagnostic system includes a first sensor embedded within a structural metal for exposure to hydrogen for generating a signal response to both the hydrogen and one or more parameter. A second sensor is embedded within the structural metal for generating another signal response to the one or more parameter. A hydrogen-suppressing layer is provided to suppress any response of the second sensor to the hydrogen. A controller in communication with the first and second sensors distinguishes the signal response of the first sensor from the signal response of the second sensor to characterize the hydrogen and the one or more other parameter.

There is described a method of determining a position of a pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) in a fluid conduit. While the PIG is moving through the fluid conduit, one or more sensors positioned along the fluid conduit are used to detect one or more signals. Parameter data is extracted from the detected one or more signals. The parameter data includes one or more parameters of the detected one or more signals as a function of time and position along the fluid conduit. PIG movement data indicative of a position of the PIG in the fluid conduit as a function of time is generated using the parameter data.

An optical position-measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit. The scale is connected to a first object, extends along a measurement direction and includes a first track having an incremental measuring graduation, and a second track having an absolute measuring graduation. The scanning unit is connected to a second object and includes a light source, a detector having an absolute detector arrangement configured to detect an aperiodic light pattern transmitted from the absolute measuring graduation onto a detection plane and an incremental detector arrangement configured to detect a periodic light pattern transmitted from the incremental measuring graduation onto a detection plane, and a fiber-optic plate arranged as a continuous component in front of the absolute detector arrangement and the incremental detector arrangement, wherein both absolute track information and incremental track information in the respective detection planes are transmitted via the fiber-optic plate in this manner.

An apparatus is disclosed for capturing image information. The apparatus includes a waveguide having opposed planar input and output faces. A diffractive optical element (DOE) is formed across the waveguide. The DOE is configured to couple a portion of the light passing through the waveguide into the waveguide. The light coupled into the waveguide is directed via total internal reflection to an exit location on the waveguide. The apparatus further includes a light sensor having an input positioned adjacent the exit location of the waveguide to capture light exiting therefrom and generate output signals corresponding thereto. A processor determines the angle and position of the coupled light with respect to the input face of the waveguide based on the output signals.

Fiber-optic equipment is often deployed in various locations, and performance of fiber-optic transmissions may be monitored as a gauge of equipment status to prevent costly and inconvenient communication outages. Events that damage equipment that eventually result in outage and may be desirable to address proactively, but the occurrence of such events may be difficult to detect only through equipment performance. Presented herein are techniques for monitoring and maintaining fiber-optic equipment performance via enclosure sensors that measure physical properties within a fiber-optic equipment enclosure, such as temperature, pressure, light, motion, vibration, and moisture, which are often diagnostic and predictive of causes of eventual communication outages, such as temperature-induced cable loss (TICL), incomplete flash-testing during installation, exposure to hazardous environmental conditions, and tampering. An enclosure sensor package transmits the physical measurements to a monitoring station, and automatic determination of enclosure-related events may enable triaging and transmission of repair alerts to maintenance personnel.

A miniaturized fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogation system may comprise a light source, a FBG sensor, and a photodetector. The FBG sensor may be configured to receive an optical signal from the light source, interact with a transmitted spectrum of the light source over a discriminating spectral domain, and generate a reflected optical signal representative of a change in a physical signal sensed by the FBG sensor. Additionally, the system may include a power management unit configured to reduce power consumption in order to prolong the lifespan of the system.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention enable multiplexed arrangement of optical fiber for sensing of operating conditions within a structural member and utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A multiplexing unit is used for allowing selective configuration of individual lengths of optical fiber for creating one or more contiguous optical fiber structures.