Optical simulator with loop-back attenuator and filter

• US 4,982,083 A
• Filed: 01/03/1990
• Issued: 01/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Lathan, Susan J., Graham, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US07/460,434
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.11, 250/239, 250/551, 350/96.15, 350/96.2, 350/96.22, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 250/227.11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/266 the optical element being an attenuator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2861 using fibre optic delay lines and optical elements associated with them, e.g. for use in signal processing, e.g. filtering delay lines in general H03H, H01P9/00; optical computing devices G06E
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

An optical simulator 10, shaped to be interchangeable with a complementary connector 7 that intermates with an optical connector 6 having an optical emitter 4 and an optical detector 5, comprises an alignment fixture 12 with connectors 21 and 22 for intermating with the optical emitter 4 and the optical detector 5, and an optical fiber 11 formed in a loop and installed within the alignment fixture 12 with a first end face 39 of the loop 11 aligned through a corresponding alignment fixture connector 24, with the emitter 4 and a second end face 37 of the loop 11 aligned through a corresponding alignment fixture 25, with the detector 5 of the optical connector 6. The optical fiber 11 is formed in a loop further having an optical filter 43 attached to an end face 37 to provide controlled attenuation of optical power to the detector 5.

Claims

1. An optical simulator shaped to be interchangeable with a complementary connector that intermates with an optical connector having an optical emitter and an optical detector, the optical simulator comprising;

an alignment fixture with connectors for intermating with the optical emitter and the optical detector, and an optical fiber formed in a loop and installed within the alignment fixture with a first end face of the loop aligned, through a corresponding alignment fixture connector, with the emitter, and a second end face of the loop aligned, through a corresponding alignment fixture, with the detector of the optical connector;

the optical fiber being formed in a loop further having an optical filter attached to an end face of the fiber to provide controlled attenuation of optical power to the optical detector.

2. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical filter is characterized by an internal transmission, T_i, determined by the relationship:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">T.sub.i =(10-.sup.(LOSS/10))/R.sub.c

where LOSS is the target loss value in dBs and R_c is the relection coefficient of the filter.

3. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical filter results in attenuation of optical power to the optical detector in the range of between 3 dB and 7 dB.

4. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical filter results in attenuation of optical power to the optical detector in the range of between 12 dB and 1 dB.

5. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the filter is an infra-red radiation absorption filter.

6. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical filter comprises a neutral density filter.

7. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the filter is an aselective filter.

8. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the filter is in the shape of a square.

9. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the filter is in the shape of a disc.

10. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the filter is a glass filter.

11. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical connector is the adapter assembly of a transceiver.

12. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the simulator is a plug-compatible shape for disconnect coupling to the optical connector to a transceiver.

13. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the simulator comprises an alignment fixture encompassing the optical fiber in the form of a loop.

14. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the alignment fixture comprises an upper cover with an extension section with outwardly directed threads and a lower cover with extension section with outwardly directed threads.

15. The optical simulator of claim 14 wherein the upper cover and lower covers are attached by snap-in connection and secured by a threaded cup interthreaded with the threads of the unitary extension section formed by the complementary fitting of the extension section of the upper cover and the extension section of the lower section.