Data collection system for optical fiber slice data
First Claim
1. A data collection system for collecting splice data from a plurality of optical fiber splices uniquely identified by at least one of a plurality of splice indicia, the data collection system comprising:
- a splicer comprisinga splicing apparatus for splicing together a first optical fiber segment and a second optical fiber segment;
a splicer processor in communication with the splicing apparatus for processing the splice data and the splice indicia, the splice indicia uniquely identifying a splice by being at least one of printed and etched onto the splice; and
a splicer interface in communication with the splicer processor for transmitting and receiving the splice data and the splice indicia;
a data interface in communication with the splicer interface for transmitting and receiving the splice data and the splice indicia,a data processor in communication with the data interface for processing the splice data and the splice indicia; and
a data storage device for storing the splice data and the splice indicia.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data collection system that is attachable to an optical fiber splicer and is connectible to the splicer'"'"'s serial port and/or video output. The device captures text data from the serial port and stores this data along with digitized video images of the fibers before, during, and/or after the splice. This data may be stored on a high-capacity storage medium, which may be removable. The date, time, and/or other external data may be recorded as well. The record of each splice is uniquely identified by a serial number or other indicium that is labeled on the splice. This serial number may be read into the data collection device by a laser scanner or optical wand. This device may also interface with a computer and may have full handshaking and a faster, better configured serial port connection than the splicer itself. Advantages of the data collection system include providing remote access of splice data, accountability for defective or problematic splices, and more efficient troubleshooting.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A data collection system for collecting splice data from a plurality of optical fiber splices uniquely identified by at least one of a plurality of splice indicia, the data collection system comprising:
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a splicer comprising a splicing apparatus for splicing together a first optical fiber segment and a second optical fiber segment; a splicer processor in communication with the splicing apparatus for processing the splice data and the splice indicia, the splice indicia uniquely identifying a splice by being at least one of printed and etched onto the splice; and a splicer interface in communication with the splicer processor for transmitting and receiving the splice data and the splice indicia; a data interface in communication with the splicer interface for transmitting and receiving the splice data and the splice indicia, a data processor in communication with the data interface for processing the splice data and the splice indicia; and a data storage device for storing the splice data and the splice indicia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A data collection system for collecting splice data from a plurality of optical fiber splices uniquely identified by splice indicia applied to at least some of the plurality of optical fiber splices, the data collection system comprising:
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a splicing apparatus for splicing together a first optical fiber segment and a second optical fiber segment to produce the plurality of optical fiber splices; a reader for reading the splice indicia applied to at least some of the optical fiber splices, the splice indicia being at least one of alphanumeric text and a bar code; a data interface in communication with the reader for receiving the splice indicia; a data processor in communication with the data interface for processing the splice indicia; a data storage device for storing the splice data and the splice indicia; and an external storage device in removable communication with the data interface and the data storage device for storing the splice data and the splice indicia remote from the data collection system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification