Systems and methods for detecting fault conditions and detecting and preventing potentially dangerous conditions in an optical system
US6547453B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/071
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system detects potentially dangerous conditions, prevents damage to optical components, and prevents humans from being physically harmed by stray pumping light. Optical systems employing distributed amplification such as Raman amplification utilize pumps having high output powers. These high output powers create dangerously high power densities in the optical fiber. If a connection is imperfect a hot spot may develop and the connection damaged by the pumping light. Fiber damage, disconnections and component degradations or failures may also permit the pumping light to escape the intended path and cause physical harm to humans as well as equipment. Pumping light backreflections caused by such imperfect connections, degraded/failed components, and fiber damage are detected. A controller compares the backreflection amount against a threshold to determine whether a precautionary measure should be taken such as shutting down the pump, decreasing pump power to a safe level or setting a maintenance flag. Multiple thresholds may be utilized to distinguish between different conditions such as degraded and failed conditions and to exercise appropriate levels of precautionary measure(s). Th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.