Optical time domain reflectometer for selective testing of optical fibers with different core diameters
First Claim
1. An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) for selectively testing single mode or multi-mode optical fibers, including an optical source (10) and an optical detector (16), the OTDR comprising:
- a first, single mode, fiber (40) coupled to the optical source;
a second, multi-mode, fiber (46) coupled to the optical detector;
a first connector (36), for connection of a single mode optical fiber to be tested, having a third, single mode fiber (44) coupled thereto;
a second connector (38), for connection of a multi-mode optical fiber to be tested, having a fourth, multi-mode fiber (50) coupled thereto; and
means (30, 32,
34) for selectively coupling the third or the fourth fiber to both of the first and second fibers.
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Abstract
An OTDR includes an optical source, an optical detector, and two optical fiber connectors respectively for connection of a single mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber to be tested. Optical paths selectively couple either the source to the first connector and the first connector to the detector, or the source to the second connector and the second connector to the detector. The path from the source to the first connector consists of single-mode fiber, the path from the second connector to the detector consists of multi-mode fiber, and the paths from the first connector to the detector and from the source to the second connector each consist of single mode fiber followed by multi-mode fiber. The selective coupling is achieved using an optical switch and two optical couplers.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) for selectively testing single mode or multi-mode optical fibers, including an optical source (10) and an optical detector (16), the OTDR comprising:
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a first, single mode, fiber (40) coupled to the optical source; a second, multi-mode, fiber (46) coupled to the optical detector; a first connector (36), for connection of a single mode optical fiber to be tested, having a third, single mode fiber (44) coupled thereto; a second connector (38), for connection of a multi-mode optical fiber to be tested, having a fourth, multi-mode fiber (50) coupled thereto; and means (30, 32,
34) for selectively coupling the third or the fourth fiber to both of the first and second fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) for selectively testing optical fibers with different core diameters, comprising:
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an optical source, an optical detector, and two optical fiber connectors respectively for connection of a fiber having a first core diameter or a fiber having a second core diameter, the second core diameter being greater than the first core diameter; and optical paths selectively coupling either the optical source to the first connector and the first connector to the optical detector, or the optical source to the second connector and the second connector to the optical detector; wherein the optical path from the optical source to the first connector consists of optical fiber having the first core diameter, the optical path from the second connector to the optical detector consists of optical fiber having the second core diameter, and the optical paths from the first connector to the optical detector and from the optical source to the second connector each consist of optical fiber having the first core diameter followed by optical fiber having the second core diameter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) for selectively testing single mode or multi-mode optical fibers, comprising the steps of:
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connecting either a single mode fiber to be tested to a first connector or a multi-mode fiber to be tested to a second connector; and selectively coupling an optical source and an optical detector to the first connector or the second connector respectively; wherein the selective coupling of the optical source to the first connector is via single-mode optical fiber, the selective coupling of the second connector to the optical detector is via multi-mode optical fiber, and the selective coupling of the first connector to the optical detector or the optical source to the second connector is via single mode optical fiber followed by multi-mode optical fiber.
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Specification