Method and apparatus for measuring the insertion loss of a splice in an optical fiber
US4360268A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1980 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M11/35
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for field measurement of the insertion loss of a splice between one ends of first and second optical fibers comprises an integrating sphere that is split along its axis and which has a fiber input port, a pair of spaced-apart padded holes on the axis for receiving associated fibers so as to center the splice inside the sphere, and an output port receiving one end of a fiber bundle which couples diffuse light in the sphere to a radiometer. A baffle plate in the sphere prevents light rays from the splice being incident on the output port. The splice loss is determined by inserting the one end of the first fiber into the input port, with the other end illuminated by light from a source, and reading a reference level of light coupled to the radiometer. The two fibers are then spliced together and the splice located inside the sphere. With light of the reference level now incident on the splice, light scattered thereby is diffused in the sphere and coupled by bundle fibers to the radiometer which indicates the radiant power of scattered light. The splice loss is a function of the ratio of the indications of scattered and reference light.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.