Rapid visual fiber optic cable tester

• US 8,208,134 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erkan Gunal
• Original Assignee: Erkan Gunal
• Inventors: Gunal, Erkan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gomez, Tara S Pajoohi
• Application Number:
  US12/561,636
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 356/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/088 of optical fibres; Mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/33 with a light emitter being disposed at one fibre or waveguide end-face, and a light receiver at the other end-face

Abstract

A rapid visual fiber optic cable tester for visually inspecting optical continuity and attenuation of multiple strand fiber optic cable connectors through an existing fiber optic adapter panel, comprising: an enclosure having a uniform visual light source in a visible spectrum wavelength range to provide a uniform visual light pattern on a transparent screen; an electrical power source for powering the uniform visual light source; a power button for controlling the electrical power source; whereby the rapid visual fiber optic cable tester is positioned toward the existing fiber optic adapter panel at one end of the multiple strand fiber optic cable without a direct contact with the connectors; while observing visually at the other end of the cable through existing fiber optic adapter panel for any difference in light intensity between each fiber optic strand; therefore visually detecting optical continuity and attenuation by light intensity levels instantly and rapidly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inspecting an optical continuity and attenuation of a fiber optic adapter panel, wherein said fiber optic adapter panel comprises a plurality of fiber optic cable connectors, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a bottom panel, a top panel and four side panels;

a plurality of light sources located on an inside surface of said bottom panel of said enclosure, wherein said plurality of light sources are uniformly distributed across said inside surface and wherein said plurality of light sources emit light in a visible spectrum wavelength range;

a power button located on an outside surface of one of said side panels to control an electrical power source to power said plurality of light sources;

said top panel of said enclosure comprises a transparent screen, wherein said transparent screen is a planar surface that extends across the entire top panel, wherein said transparent screen has an inside surface facing the plurality of light sources and an outside surface to be coupled to said fiber optic adapter panel; and

wherein said plurality of light sources emit light through said transparent screen to said fiber optic adapter panel to inspect the optical continuity and attenuation through said plurality of fiber optic cable connectors.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of fiber optic cable connectors are positioned to align with said plurality of light sources.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light source are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transparent screen comprises a semi-transparent material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transparent screen is coupled to said fiber optic adapter panel but not in contact with said fiber optic adapter Panel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said planar surface of said transparent screen is universally compatible with a plurality of different types of fiber optic adapter panels.