Photodiode assembly within a fiber optic tap and methods thereof

• US 7,822,340 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies Singapore (Holdings) Pte. Limited. (Keysight Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Netoptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bedell, William Nelson, Singh, Gurveer, Matityahu, Eldad, Shaw, Robert, Carpio, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US11/925,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20090110391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 398/9, 398/17, 398/20, 398/33, 398/82, 398/91, 398/135, 398/136
• US Class Current: 398/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/075 using an in-service signal H04B10/071 takes precedence

Abstract

An arrangement in a fiber optic network device for analyzing a set of optical signals traversing the fiber optic network device is provided. The arrangement includes a set of ports for receiving and outputting the set of optical signals. The arrangement also includes a set of photodiodes, which is configured at least for receiving and forwarding the set of optical signals. The arrangement further includes a splitter, which is configured at least for receiving the set of optical signals from a first photodiode, splitting the set of optical signals into at least a first part and a second part, and forwarding the first part to a second photodiode and the second part to a third photodiode. The set of optical signals is configured to traverse the fiber optic network device irrespective whether power is provided to circuitry of the fiber optic network device.

Claims

1. An arrangement in a fiber optic network device for analyzing a set of optical signals traversing said fiber optic network device, comprising:

a set of ports, said set of ports including at least a set of input ports for receiving said set of optical signals and a set of output ports for outputting said set of optical signals from said fiber optic network device;

a set of photodiodes, said set of photodiodes being configured at least for receiving and forwarding said set of optical signals; and

a splitter, said splitter being configured at least for

receiving said set of optical signals from a first photodiode of said set of photodiodes,

splitting said set of optical signals into at least a first part and a second part, and

forwarding said first part to a second photodiode of said set of photodiodes and said second part to a third photodiode of said set of photodiodes, whereas said set of optical signals is configured to traverse said fiber optic network device between said set of input ports and said set of output ports irrespective whether power is provided to circuitry of said fiber optic network device.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said set of photodiodes being configured for at least converting said set of optical signals into a set of electrical signals, said set of electrical signals including a current component.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 further includes a set of photodiode interface circuits (PDICs), at least one PDIC of said set of PDICs being associated with a photodiode of said set of photodiodes.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said set of PDICs is configured at least for converting said set of electrical signals with said current component into a set of analog voltages.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 further includes a logic arrangement, said logic arrangement being configured at least for converting said set of analog voltages to a set of digital values for said set of analog voltages.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said logic arrangement is a microcontroller.

7. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said logic arrangement is further configured at least to calculate statistical data from said set of digital values.

8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said statistical data includes at least insertion loss.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 further includes a visual display arrangement, said visual display arrangement is configured at least for displaying at least part of said statistical data.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein at least part of said statistical data is forwarded to an external device for analysis.

11. A method for determining signal strength of a set of optical signals being received by a fiber optic network device, comprising:

receiving said set of optical signals by a first photodiode of a set of photodiodes, said set of photodiodes residing within said fiber optic network device;

forwarding said set of optical signals to a splitter, said splitter being configured at least for

receiving said set of optical signals from said first photodiode,

splitting said set of optical signals into at least a first part optical signal and a second part optical signal, and

forwarding said first part optical signal to a second photodiode of said set of photodiodes and said second part optical signal to a third photodiode of said set of photodiodes; and

converting said set of optical signal into a first electrical signal with a current component by said first photodiode, wherein said first electrical signal with a current component is utilized for determining said signal strength of said set of optical signals received by said first photodiode, whereas said data traffic is configured to traverse said network device between said set of input network ports and said set of output network ports irrespective whether power is provided to circuitry of said network device.

12. The method of claim 11 further includes

converting said first part optical signal by said second photodiode into a second electrical signal with a current component;

and

converting said second part optical signal by said third photodiode into a third electrical signal with a current component.

13. The method of claim 12 further includes

converting said first electrical signal with a current component into a first analog voltage by a first photodiode interface circuit (PDIC);

converting said second electrical signal with a current component into a second analog voltage by a second photodiode interface circuit (PDIC); and

converting said third electrical signal with a current component into a third analog voltage by a third photodiode interface circuit (PDIC).

14. The method of claim 13 further includes receiving said at least one of said first analog voltage, said second analog voltage, and said third analog voltage by a logic arrangement.

15. The method of claim 14 further includes converting said at least one or said first analog voltage, said second analog voltage, and said third analog voltage into a set of digital values by said logic arrangement.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said logic arrangement is a microcontroller.

17. The method of claim 16 further includes calculating statistical data from said set of digital values by employing said logic arrangement.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said statistical data includes at least insertion loss.

19. The method of claim 18 further includes displaying at least part of said statistical data by utilizing a visual display arrangement.

20. The method of claim 19 further includes forwarding said at least part of said statistical data to an external device for analysis.