Method and apparatus for detecting surface qualities on an optical fiber
US5943126A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/952
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an optical detection system for detecting surface qualities on an optical fiber. The system comprises a light source for projecting a beam of light onto the outer surface of an optical fiber. An optical detector positioned adjacent the optical fiber receives light reflected from the outer surface of the optical fiber and generates an electrical output signal which is delivered to a signal processing device. The signal processing device analyzes the electrical output signal to determine whether one or more surface qualities exist on the outer surface of the optical fiber. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical detection system is used to detect surface qualities that include ink skips, i.e., locations on the outer surface of the optical fiber that do not contain any ink. The signal processing device comprises a computer that records the intensity of the light received by the optical detector array, which corresponds to the magnitude of the electrical signal generated by the optical detector array, along with the location along the optical fiber that corresponds to the electrical output signal. This data can be…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.