Optical fibre reflectometer
US4659216A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1985 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3881
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical fibre reflectometer in which the end of the optical fibre 4-port coupler for optical coupling to test fibres is not protected from damage by the use of a sapphire window because of the problems of unwanted reflections that this engenders. Instead the end is coupled to the test fibres by means of a replaceable slug (33) containing a stub length of fibre (20). This fibre stub (20) is intrinsically just as susceptible to cumulative damage when test fibres are repeatedly butted against its end, but it protects the coupler because it is itself butted against the coupler only once in its life. When the cumulative damage becomes excessive the slug can be replaced more simply and cheaply than replacing the whole coupler.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.