OPTICAL SIGNAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE

• US 20080298802A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Displays Limited (Japan Display Incorporated), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Services Organization Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Xia, Tiejun J., Wellbrock, Glenn A., Myrland, Gary E., Lawter, Timothy E., Mills, Robert H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07955 Monitoring or measuring power

Abstract

A device connects to a male network connector of a network conduit, and connects to a female network connector of the network conduit. The female network connector is capable of communicating with the male network connector. The device also measures outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting a measurement device to a male network connector of a network conduit;

connecting the measurement device to a female network connector of the network conduit, the female network connector being capable of communicating with the male network connector; and

measuring outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector with the measurement device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

displaying the measured outputs with the measurement device;

storing the measured outputs with the measurement device;

or

transmitting the measured outputs with the measurement device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

comparing the measured outputs with the measurement device;

or

performing a statistical analysis on the measured outputs with the measurement device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising at least one of:

displaying results of the comparison or statistical analysis with the measurement device;

storing results of the comparison or statistical analysis with the measurement device;

or

transmitting results of the comparison or statistical analysis with the measurement device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement device comprises an optical power meter and the measuring outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector comprises:

simultaneously measuring optical powers of the male network connector and the female network connector with the optical power meter.

6. A device comprising:

a female receiver head capable of receiving a male network connector of a network conduit;

a first optical detector capable of optically communicating with the male network connector, via the female receiver head, for measuring an output of the male network connector;

a jumper conduit including a male connector capable of connecting to a female network connector of the network conduit;

a second optical detector capable of optically communicating with the female network connector, via the jumper conduit and the male connector of the jumper conduit, for measuring an output of the female network connector; and

a mechanism for storing the jumper conduit and the male connector of the jumper conduit.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the device comprises an optical power meter.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the female receiver head is capable of receiving at least one of:

a Local Connector (LC) male network connector;

a Ferrule Connector (FC) male network connector;

a Straight Tip (ST) male network connector;

a Standard Connector (SC) male network connector;

a biconic male network connector;

an Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON) male network connector;

a Fiber Connectivity (FICON) male network connector;

a Fiber-Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) male network connector;

a loopback male network connector;

an Opti-Jack male network connector;

a Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ) male network connector;

a D4 male network connector;

a MTP male network connector;

a MU male network connector;

or

a SMA male network connector.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the first and second optical detectors comprise at least one of:

photon detectors;

thermal detectors;

photoconductive detectors;

photovoltaic detectors;

or

photoemissive detectors.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the male connector of the jumper conduit is capable of connecting to at least one of:

a Local Connector (LC) female network connector;

a Ferrule Connector (FC) female network connector;

a Straight Tip (ST) female network connector;

a Standard Connector (SC) female network connector;

a biconic female network connector;

an Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON) female network connector;

a Fiber Connectivity (FICON) female network connector;

a Fiber-Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) female network connector;

a loopback female network connector;

an Opti-Jack female network connector;

a Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ) female network connector;

a D4 female network connector;

a MTP female network connector;

a MU female network connector;

or

a SMA female network connector.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the storage mechanism comprises:

a pulley for automatically rewinding and storing the jumper conduit within the device.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a latch gear for retaining the jumper conduit at a desired unwound position and preventing the pulley from automatically rewinding the jumper conduit.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the pulley comprises:

a fixed shaft;

a reel portion rotatably connected to the fixed shaft; and

a spring-loaded mechanism connected to the reel portion and applying a rewinding force to the jumper conduit.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second optical detector connects to the reel portion of the pulley.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

conductive contacts connected to conductive portions of the fixed shaft and providing electrical power to the second optical detector.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the second optical detector connects to the fixed shaft of the pulley, and the pulley further comprises:

a collimator connected to the reel portion of the pulley and to an end of jumper conduit for optically communicating the jumper conduit with the second optical detector.

17. The device of claim 6, wherein the storage mechanism comprises:

a storage compartment provided within a housing of the device for storing the jumper conduit and male connector of the jumper conduit.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the storage compartment includes a cover for protecting the jumper conduit and the male connector of the jumper conduit provided therein.

19. The device of claim 6, wherein the storage mechanism comprises:

a handle including arms that extend away from and connect to a housing of the device, wherein the jumper conduit is capable of being wound around and stored on the arms; and

a storage receiver head providing an opening in the housing of the device to store the male connector of the jumper conduit.

20. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

control buttons permitting interaction with the device to cause the device to perform one or more operations.

21. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a display capable of providing visual information regarding the output of the male network connector and the output of the female network connector.

22. A device comprising:

a first detector capable of communicating with a first network connector;

a second detector capable of communicating with a second network connector; and

processing logic to;

measure outputs of the first and second network connectors.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the processing logic is further configured to at least one of:

compare the measured outputs;

or

perform a statistical analysis on the measured outputs.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the processing logic is further configured to at least one of:

display the measured outputs or results of the comparison or statistical analysis;

store the measured outputs or results of the comparison or statistical analysis;

or

transmit the measured outputs or results of the comparison or statistical analysis.

25. A system comprising:

means for connecting a measurement device to a male network connector of a network conduit;

means for connecting the measurement device to a female network connector of the network conduit, the female network connector being capable of communicating with the male network connector; and

means for simultaneously measuring outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector with the measurement device.