Ciena Corporation

Glen D Porter

Andrei Csipkes

Iqbal Mahmud Dar

Qiong Zhan

A vision system is provided which allows viewing and/or inspection of an end surface of an optical fiber through a bulkhead on a backplane of a rack. By placing such a vision system on a mount configured to be inserted in the rack, the use of such a vision system does not require the rack design be modified or that other modules be removed. Preferably an adapter for mating the vision system with the bulkhead may be moved to position the adapter relative to the bulkhead housing the fiber of interest.

Vision system for inspecting interconnections of optical cards mounted in a rack and associated methods

An apparatus for inspecting an end surface of a fiber optic is provided having a scope body with an adapter that mates the scope body with a bulkhead connected to an end surface of a fiber optic, and a system for generating light at a selected angle to the end surface of the fiber optic, located within the scope body, so that the light impinges on the end surface of the fiber optic through the bulkhead at the selected angle. An image of the end surface of the fiber optic is generated wherein an imperfection located on the end surface of the fiber optic casts a shadow on the image of the end surface of the fiber optic. The image is received by an image receiving system wherein the imperfection on the end surface of the fiber optic is detected and enhanced due to the shadow in the image. A method for inspection an end surface of a fiber optic is also disclosed.

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Norcross, GA, United States of America

Glen D Porter