Identification apparatus of optical cable and identification method

• US 8,233,144 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiberpro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fiberpro, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Bong Wan, Jeong, Ho Jin, Lee, Yun Sook
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TU T
• Application Number:
  US12/595,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/071 using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/85 Protection from unauthorised access, e.g. eavesdrop protection

Abstract

An optical cable identification apparatus for identifying an optical cable by disturbing an optical fiber, existing inside an optical cable desired to be identified, from outside the optical cable. An optical unit transmits two optical signals to a single strand of optical fiber inside the optical cable, and detects a phase difference, a time difference, and light intensity between two optical signals which are reflected due to the disturbance from the outside. A single-fiber ending unit generates the time difference. A signal processing unit removes noise from the two reflected optical signals and demodulates the optical signals. A sound output unit outputs the optical signals from the signal processing unit as sounds.

Claims

1. An optical cable identification apparatus for identifying an optical cable by disturbing an optical fiber, existing inside an optical cable desired to be identified, from outside the optical cable, the optical cable identification apparatus comprising:

an optical unit for transmitting two optical signals to a single strand of optical fiber inside the optical cable, and detecting a phase difference, a time difference, and light intensity between two optical signals which are reflected due to the disturbance from the outside;

a single-fiber ending unit for generating the time difference;

a signal processing unit for removing noise from the two reflected optical signals and demodulating the optical signals; and

a sound output unit for outputting the optical signals from the signal processing unit as sounds.

2. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein phase modulation and the time difference are generated in any one of the two optical signals.

3. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit comprises:

a light source generator configured to generate the optical signals;

an optical detection unit connected to a first optical coupler, and configured to detect the optical signals which are reflected back and then returned;

the first optical coupler configured to include a first arm connected to the light source generator and a second arm connected to a photodetector;

a phase modulator configured to perform the phase modulation on input/output the optical signals; and

a depolarizer configured to stabilize interference optical signals by removing polarization from the input/output optical signals.

4. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit comprises:

a toggle switch for selecting demodulation signals;

an amplification unit for amplifying the output signals from the optical unit, and determining amplification degrees by receiving a gain value from a control unit;

the control unit for performing control such that the demodulation signals corresponding to the selection of the toggle switch are output;

a function generator for outputting the demodulation signals corresponding to a control signal from the control unit, and supplying uniform modulation signals from the amplification unit to an amplitude extraction unit;

the amplitude extraction unit for extracting amplitude from signals output from the amplification unit, and extracting amplitude of components of the demodulation signals output from the function generator; and

a third mixer for outputting an alarm signal if the amplitude extracted by the amplitude extraction unit is in a saturated state, combining the alarm signal with a signal from the amplitude extraction unit, and outputting the resulting signal.

5. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls gain of the amplification unit, determines amplitude output from the amplitude extraction unit based on continuous pressure sounds, and outputs an alarm signal if the amplitude is in a saturated state.

6. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound output unit comprises:

a first jack connected to a mobile phone;

a second jack connected to a speaker;

a third jack connected to a microphone;

a second mixer configured to transmit output of a first mixer and output of the mobile phone, made through the first jack, to the speaker through the second jack; and

the first mixer configured to transmit output of the second mixer and input of the microphone, made through the third jack, to the mobile phone through the first jack.

7. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit delays output of the optical signals, detected by the optical unit, for a predetermined time, and reproduces the optical signals as sound signals in order to easily discriminate between pressure sounds, generated by the disturbance from the outside, and reproduction sounds, received through a communication device.

8. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the single-fiber ending unit comprises:

a second optical coupler configured to include a fifth arm and a sixth arm; and

a dummy fiber formed by extending the optical fiber to form a dummy on the sixth arm in order to generate the time difference in the optical signals.

9. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the dummy fiber is formed by an optical fiber having a length in a range from 300 to 5000 m.

10. The optical cable identification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the single-fiber ending unit can be detachably mounted.

11. A method of identifying an optical cable by disturbing an optical fiber, existing inside an optical cable desired to be identified, from outside the optical cable, the optical cable identification method comprising the steps of:

connecting a second optical coupler of a single-fiber ending unit to a single strand of optical fiber of the optical cable desired to be identified;

a light source generator of an optical unit transmitting two optical signals to the single strand of optical fiber;

a vibration application unit or an operator at a worksite generating pressure sounds by disturbing the optical cable, desired to be identified, from the outside;

the optical unit detecting a phase difference, a time difference, and light intensity of two optical signals reflected due to the disturbance from the outside;

a signal processing unit demodulating the detected optical signals;

converting the optical signals of the signal processing unit into respective sound signals, and transmitting the sound signals to a second communication device of the operator at a remote location through a first communication device in a telephone station; and

repeating a process of disturbing the optical cable from the outside if a sound of the first communication device is not identical to a sound of the second communication device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein phase modulation and the time difference are generated in any one of the two optical signals.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the time difference is generated in a dummy fiber of the single-fiber ending unit.