System and method of an integrated fiber optic inspection and cleaning apparatus
US9528908B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/9511
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This disclosure concerns a cleaning and inspection system for fiber optics that is rapid, reliable and useful for various types of fiber optics. In an embodiment, the system includes a wide field of view (FOV) camera to image the ferrule and rapidly locate the fiber ends and a narrow FOV camera to provide detailed inspection of individual fiber ends. A cleaning module with a cleaning tip and a cleaning medium that is drawn through the tip is used to clean the fiber ends. Images captured by the dual cameras are automatically enhanced and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the cleaning process and to identify the types and quantity of defects present. In another embodiment, a single higher resolution camera is provided with a lens that can image an entire fiber array and yet enable defects to be detected by analysis of sub-images of each fiber in the fiber array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.