Fiber fault sniffer

• US 8,810,783 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Wonoh
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHMAN, MD M
• Application Number:
  US13/755,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20140211201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 356/73.1, 356/402, 324/25, 606/194
• US Class Current: 356/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/30 Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/335 using two or more input wavelengths

Abstract

A fault detector for fiber optic cabling is provided in a hand held device for detecting fiber faults, presence/absence of signal and wavelength of light present on an optical fiber. Audible and visual indicators of the fault/status and wavelength are provided.

Claims

1. A method for detecting faults on fiber optic cables, comprising:

providing a hand held probe having a photo detector, the hand held probe configured to receive an optical signal by scanning an outer surface of a fiber optic cable, the photo detector configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;

providing a coupler receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector;

providing a plurality of amplifiers receiving the electrical signal from the coupler wherein each amplifier is configured to detect a unique wavelength of light for the received optical signal, via the received electrical signal, relative to the other amplifiers of the plurality of amplifiers;

providing an analog to digital converter receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector plurality of amplifiers; and

providing a processor receiving digital signals from the analog to digital converter, said processor detecting live signals and faults based thereon;

providing an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said audible indicator presenting audio signals representative of;

the detected wavelength;

a detected live signal;

absence of a live signal, wherein each audio signal for each said detected wavelength, a said detected live and absence of live signal is distinct relative to one another; and

providing a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said visible indicator presenting visible signals representative of;

the detected wavelength;

a detected live signal; and

absence of a live signal, wherein each visible signal for each said detected wavelength, a said detected live and absence of live signal is distinct relative to one another.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said visible indicator comprises a tri-state indicator.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said tri-state indicator indicates green for a detecting mode, amber for a training mode and red for a fault/no live signal test result.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a wavelength detector for detecting presence of specific wavelength optical signals.