Patent · US Expired

Optical fibre backscatter polarimetry

US7130496B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
2References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2002
Grant dateOct 31, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 27, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M11/3181
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for determining the spatial distribution of polarisation properties of an optical fiber (1). Pulses (7) of light are transmitted along the optical fiber (1) and the polarisation state of light backscattered from portions e and elements R of the optical fiber (1) detected. A spatial distribution of linear retardance δ, orientation of linear retardance axes q and circular retardance axes can be accurately determined. This has application in the analysis of Polarisation Mode Dispension (PMD) in telecommunications as well as, inter alia, strain, stress, temperature and electric current and voltage measurement using optical fibers.

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