Patent · US Expired

OTDR having optically switched amplified output onto test fibre to suppress optical amplifier noise between OTDR pluses

US5343286A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
10References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 1992
Grant dateAug 30, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M11/319
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical test apparatus includes an optical time domain reflectometer for launching light pulses into a test fibre. An optical amplifier is provided in the light path between the optical time domain reflectometer and the test fibre or amplifying the light pulses. An optical switch is positioned in the light path between the amplifier and the test fibre for preventing light reaching the test fibre between the light pulses launched by the OTDR. Timing structure is provided for synchronising the operation of the optical switch so as to open the switch as a light pulse reaches the switch and close the switch as a light pulse leaves the switch.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.