Fiber span characterization utilizing paired optical time domain reflectometers
US12281959B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2023 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/071
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for providing advanced characterization of an optical fiber span is based upon the use of a pair of optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs), located at opposing end terminations of the span being characterized. Each OTDR performs standard reflectometry measurements and transmits the resulting OTDR trace to monitoring equipment in a typical manner. The pair of OTDR traces is thereafter combined in a particular manner (“stitched together”) to create an OTDR trace of the entire fiber span (essentially doubling the operational range of prior art OTDR measurement capabilities). The transmit portion of one OTDR may be paired with the receive portion of the other OTDR, with time-of-light measurements (or signal loss measurements) used to determine optical path length and/or optical signal loss of the span. Using a multi-wavelength light source in the paired transmit/receive arrangement allows for a characterization of chromatic dispersion of the span.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.