Ii-vi Delaware, Inc.

Michael J L Cahill

Aravanan Gurusami

Timothy K Zahnley

Yajun Wang

Jiang-Huai Zhou

Glenn D Bartolini

An optical channel monitor is formed to include the capability to sense real-time changes in optical power across signal bands (optical power changes including, for example, a complete drop out of the signal band) and quickly measure the resulting spectrum, thus enabling the host to initiate advanced power balancing solutions that mitigate the extent of the power change until a permanent fix is provided. A set of signal band sensors is included with a conventional OCM, where each sensor includes a photodetector that is able to detect changes in operation along its associated incoming signal band. Control electronics are used to monitor the states of the photodetectors, with the ability to invoke an OCM scan of the complete wavelength range when a power change condition is flagged.

Optical channel monitor with built-in sensors for dynamic measurements

Modules for optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) are connected via at least one fiber link of a fiber optic communication network. The modules can perform OTDR operations on the at least one fiber link. In addition, the modules can establish an inter-node communication channel between each other on the at least one fiber link. The channel allows the OTDR modules to synchronize their OTDR operations and to exchange information, such as OTDR traces, between each other.

Dual-direction OTDR system for inter-node communications

An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) module obtains Optical Return Loss (ORL) of a fiber plant. Calibration information is obtained of at least internal OTDR reflections associated with the OTDR module. The OTDR module is connected to the fiber plant. An ORL response is measured due to reflections of an ORL signal transmitted from the OTDR module along the fiber plant, and a peak OTDR response is measured in response to reflections of an OTDR signal transmitted from the OTDR module along the fiber plant. A corrected ORL response of the fiber plant is determined by: using the measured peak OTDR response (e.g., peak value or area under the peak) and the calibration information to calculate the calculated ORL due to internal reflections, and then adjusting the measured ORL response by the calculated ORL to represent the corrected ORL of the fiber plant.

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Melbourne, Australia

Michael J L Cahill