Lucent Technologies Inc.

Fitel USA Corporation

At&t Bell Laboratories

Micron Optics, Inc.

Joel Leslie Mock

Norman Roger Lampert

Richard Joseph Pimpinella

Thomas Andrew Strasser

Ashish Madhukar Vengsarkar

Frank Salvatore Leone

Arturo Hale

John Mark Palmquist

Randy Alan Reagan

George F DeVeau

William Joseph Parzygnat

Walter S Konik

Anatoli A Abramov

Todd C Haber

Jerry Volcy

The invention relates to optical sensor measurement methods that use a swept wavelength optical source to determine wavelength shift as well as to optical sensor systems that embody and employ these methods. A variable scan rate swept optical source is used to determine the optical path length from the optical interrogator to the optical sensors being measured. This data can then be used as desired or needed in implementing the sensor or making sensor measurements. In particular the data can be used in the optical sensor system to compensate for potential measurement errors due to the finite speed of light in the optical medium interconnecting optical sensors under test.

Method and apparatus for multiple scan rate swept wavelength laser-based optical sensor interrogation system with optical path length measurement capability

An optical fiber connector adapter has a sensing mechanism for determining when the adapter has a connector plug therein and when the adapter is vacant or empty. The sensing mechanism creates an indication of the state of the adapter which is transmitted to a control circuit. The control circuit responds to the indication by activating or deactivating a laser, for example, which applies optical energy to the adapter. The laser is deactivated when the adapter has no connector plug therein and is activated when there is a connector plug in place in the adapter. In two of the embodiments of the invention, the sensing mechanism signals the impending insertion or withdrawal of the connector plug relative to the adapter.

Optical connector receptacle having switching capability

An optical fiber connector adapter has a sensing mechanism for determining when the adapter has a connector plug therein and when the adapter is vacant or empty. The sensing mechanism creates an indication of the state of the adapter which is transmitted to a control circuit. The control circuit responds to the indication by activating or de-activating a laser, for example, which applies optical energy to the adapter. The laser is deactivated when the adapter has no connector plug therein and is activated when there is a connector plug in place in the adapter. In two of the embodiments of the invention, the sensing mechanism signals the impending insertion or withdrawal of the connector plug relative to the adapter.

An optical fiber connection monitor has a detector adjacent the connection which detects light scattered from the connection. The detector signal is converted to a voltage and applied to a comparator circuit which gives an indication that the connection is not dangerously emitting radiation or an indication that it is dangerously emitting radiation. In another embodiment of the invention, a finite amount of light is fed from the end or ends of the ferrule or ferrules of the connection components to the detector to insure that the monitor circuitry is functioning properly in the presence of optical signals. A further embodiment includes passing light past the ferrule end to the detector, further checking the operation of the monitor system.

Optical fiber connector monitor apparatus

Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber system and method for separating the different wavelengths of transmitted light transmitted therethrough and for monitoring the respective optical power in the separated spectral components. More specifically, embodiments of the invention scan or modify the physical parameters of in-fiber gratings that couple light between spatially different modes of light within a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical fiber system, separate the spatial modes using a mode-discriminating device (MDD) and monitor or detect the separated spectral components using a conventional or other suitable detector. By scanning the in-fiber gratings, the peak wavelength of coupling between two dissimilar modes is modified, thus allowing control of the coupling within the fiber optic system. Scanning the grating is performed, e.g., by changing the temperature or modifying the physical dimensions of the grating. In one embodiment, the system employs a long-period grating that couples light between two co-propagating, spatially different modes. In an alternative embodiment, the system uses a short-period grating that couples light between a forward propagating mode and a spatially dissimilar, backward propagating mode.

Method and apparatus for monitoring multi-wavelength optical systems

The present invention is an optical monitoring and test access interconnection module especially adapted for use with a fiber optic distribution frame for a fiber optic communications system. The interconnection module provides a combination of monitoring and test access for two fiber lines, typically a transmit/receive pair, where wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) test access is provided to both the transmit and receive fibers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection module monitors only the receive fiber line where a power monitoring circuit receives a monitor level optical signal via an optical tap and converts the optical signal to an electrical output. Processing electronics and firmware within the module are operable to generate alarms and other control signals when changes in the power level of the received signal are detected. A test access path is provided on the module for use, for example, with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). In one embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection module incorporates a unique physical design arrangement that separates the optical signal processing from the electronic processing into partitioned sub-modules. The optical and electronic sub-modules may advantageously be assembled (and dis-assembled) by means of guides that allow the module halves to slide together. A unique optical mating connector is provided in the sliding arrangement to join the optical module to an opto-electronic photodetector in the electronic module.

Optical monitoring and test access module

A lightwave communication monitoring system has a monitoring member to which are applied signals extracted from one or more fibers in a transmission system. The monitoring member detects the signal and applies a signal derived therefrom to a control or processing unit. When the strength of the derived signal is below a predetermined minimum, the control unit is adapted to activate a fault location member which applies a fault location signal to the fiber circuit in which the signal, or lack thereof, is transmitted. The system is capable of handling a plurality o fiber circuits simultaneously. In another embodiment of the invention, a test signal is launched on the first fiber, or, simultaneously launched on a plurality of first fibers of fiber pairs, and the test signal is simultaneously extracted from one or more of a plurality of corresponding second fibers of the fiber pairs. The system also includes means for measuring the strength of the transmission signals, which are at a different frequency from the test signal.

Lightwave communication monitoring system

A mapping system and method for mapping optical fiber communication networks which have several stages has switches at each stage which have an input, a home position stage, and a plurality of outputs. An optical signal is applied to the input of one of the switches and the energy appearing at its home port is measured and applied to a CPU. The switch is then stepped to apply the optical energy to the output ports, and the optical energy appearing at the home ports of the switches in the next stage affords an indication of which output port of the first stage switch is connected to the input of which switch in the second stage. The same procedure is performed for the switches in the third stage, until the network, or a portion thereof, is mapped.

Optical fiber transmission system mapping arrangement

An optical switch device has a plurality of fixed optical fiber terminations supported in a fixed array, and a terminated fiber movable by means of a stepping motor into registry with each of the terminations. Opposite the fixed array is a second array of optical devices oriented such that each termination defines a unique light path with each of the optical devices, with the light paths thus formed being parallel to each other.

Lightwave communication monitoring switch

The splice verification system of the present invention verifies the efficiency of an optical splice by measuring the scattered light escaping from the splice. Specifically, the preferred embodiment performs such scattered light measurement within a photodetection area which is substantially free of all ambient light. Furthermore, the verification system includes a reference power module which, prior to creating an optical splice, measures the level of the optical signal being transmitted out of the end of an active fiber. The present invention then provides means to correlate the level gauged as a reference signal level relative to the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice. The ratio of these two measured light levels may then be used to determine whether the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice is acceptable given the particular constraints of the optical system in which the splice is employed.

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Norcross, GA, United States of America

Joel Leslie Mock