Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for testing fiber optic jumpers

US5530546A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 1995
Grant dateJun 25, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3801
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A station for testing fiber optic jumper cables includes four indexing plugboard stations. A single cable to be tested is typically attached to extend between two of the plugboard stations. Each plugboard station includes three columns of plug positions, corresponding to three styles of connecters which may be used at the ends of the cable to be tested. An upper row, and a central row, of plug positions correspond to the contact types (PC or APC) which may be used. An indexing mechanism is provided to align one of the plug positions in the central row with a reference cable extending from the plugboard station. Reference jumpers extend from the upper row, being docked in a lower row of plug positions if the cable to be tested is connected to the central row, or being plugged into the central row if the cable to be tested is connected to the upper row. The reference cable extending from each of the plugboard stations is brought into and out of contact with one of the central-row plugboard positions, facilitating a sequence of tests. The reference cables from two of these plugboard stations are connected through an optical switch to an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), while …

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