Current Status and Future Trends of Photonic-Integrated FBG Interrogators

In this paper, we present an overview of the current efforts toward integration on chip of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogators. Different photonic-integration platforms are discussed, including monolithic planar lightwave circuit technology, silicon on insulator (SOI), indium phosphide, and gallium arsenide material platforms. Furthermore, various possible techniques for wavelength metering and methods for FBG multiplexing are discussed and compared in terms of resolution, dynamic performance, multiplexing capabilities, and reliability. The use of linear filters, array waveguide gratings (AWG) as multiple linear filters, and AWG-based centroid signal processing techniques are presented as well as interrogation techniques based on tunable microring resonators and Mach-Zehnder interferometers for phase sensitive detection. FBG sensor interrogation based on SOI platform using active and passive phase sensitive detection is also described, demonstrating specifically the potential of passive phase demodulation for high-speed dynamic strain measurements. This paper finally presents the challenges and perspectives of photonic integration to address the increasing requirements of several industrial applications.