For Optical Fiber Or Waveguide Inspection Patents (Class 356/73.1)
  • Patent number: 11973532
    Abstract: A co-cable probability detection method, including obtaining information about at least two first events and at least two second events, where the information about the at least two first events is obtained based on a first sounding signal in a first transmission medium, the information about the at least two second events is obtained based on a second sounding signal in a second transmission medium, the information about the first events indicates at least one cable segment on the first transmission medium, and the information about the second events indicates at least one cable segment on the second transmission medium, and obtaining, based on the information about the first events and the second events, a probability that the at least one cable segment on the first transmission medium and the at least one cable segment on the second transmission medium comprise a co-cable segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yixiao Chen, Minghui Fan, Chuan Li
  • Patent number: 11965801
    Abstract: A measurement system includes a measurement device including a light source, and a first power meter, and one or a plurality of connection members each configured to optically connect a pair of optical fiber lines of the plurality of optical fiber lines. A first optical fiber line of the pair of optical fiber lines includes a first end and a second end, a second optical fiber line of the pair of optical fiber lines includes a third end and a fourth end, the one or plurality of connection members optically connect the second end to the fourth end, the light source causes testing light to be incident on the first end, and the first power meter measures first intensity of first output light output from the third end by causing the testing light to propagate through the pair of optical fiber lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Masuda, Tomohiko Ueda, Kenichiro Otsuka, Tsuneari Ito, Tetsufumi Tsuzaki, Yoshifumi Hishikawa, Hitoshi Hatayama
  • Patent number: 11962353
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying entangled photons includes generating a plurality of sets of four entangled photons, wherein one pair of photons of each set are time correlated, thereby indicating that another pair of four entangled photons are entangled. A coincidence of one pair of photons of the plurality of the sets of four entangled photons is determined and an ordered list of coincidences is generated. A state value of at least one other photon of the other pair of the portion of the plurality of the sets of four entangled photons is determined and an ordered list of state values based on the determined state values is generated. The ordered list of coincidences is compared to the ordered list of state values to determine entangled state information including determined state values that correspond to entangled sets of four entangled photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Qubit Moving and Storage, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Vacon, Kristin A. Rauschenbach
  • Patent number: 11953385
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure having one or more apertures for receiving therethrough optical fiber, and one or more actuators sealed within the enclosure for generating one or more interference signals for interfering with optical fiber within the enclosure such that an optical path length of the optical fiber is altered. A method for verifying an event detection system includes interrogating optical fiber positioned alongside a conduit by sending one or more light pulses along the optical fiber and receiving reflections of the one or more light pulses. The method further includes using an event verification device housed within an enclosure through which passes the optical fiber to generate one or more interference signals for interfering with the optical fiber such that an optical path length of the optical fiber is altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11947166
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes: an optical fiber; a cable jacket that includes inner and outer tubes; first and second open detection lines; and an optical connector disposed at a first end of the optical fiber cable. A first end of the first open detection line and a first end of the second open detection line are disposed inside the optical connector and are not electrically connected to each other inside the optical connector. The optical fiber is disposed in one of a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is inside the inner tube and the second region is between the inner tube and the outer tube, and at least one of the first and second open detection lines is disposed in the other of the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Sayama
  • Patent number: 11950006
    Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments and correction of white balance and/or fixed pattern noise at startup or at any other time during a procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurent Blanquart
  • Patent number: 11927811
    Abstract: In some implementations, an optical component of a microscope may capture an image of a profile of a ferrule and a connector of an optical fiber based on the ferrule being received by a first opening of a first connector adapter of the microscope. A mechanical axis of the ferrule may be orthogonal to an optical path from a camera of the microscope to the ferrule when the ferrule is received by the first opening. One or more processors associated with the microscope may process the image to determine a measurement of a chamfer of the ferrule. The optical component may capture an image of an endface of the ferrule based on the ferrule being received by a second opening of a second connector adapter. The mechanical axis of the ferrule may be axially aligned with the optical path when the ferrule is received by the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Cassady, Alexis Bartels-Popelar
  • Patent number: 11927473
    Abstract: A fiber optic sensing (FOS) system may include a Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analyzer (BOTDA) unit, a first fiber optical cable optically connected to the BOTDA interrogator unit at a first end, and an optical feedthrough system (OFS) optically connected the first fiber optical cable at a second end of the first fiber optical cable. The FOS system may further comprise a fiber optic cable forming a loop within a wellbore that is optically connected to the first fiber optical cable at the OFS and a second fiber optical cable optically connected to the loop at the OFS and wherein the second fiber optical cable is optically connected to the BOTDA interrogator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Wilson, Mikko K. Jaaskelainen, Kwang Il Suh, John Laureto Maida, Michel LeBlanc, Andreas Ellmauthaler
  • Patent number: 11927496
    Abstract: An optical sensing system comprising an optical fiber, a light source, a first interrogator and a second interrogator. The optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors. The light source is placed at a first end of the optical fiber and is configured to direct light towards the one or more optical sensors. The first interrogator is placed at the first end of the optical fiber. The second interrogator placed at a second, opposite end of the optical fiber. The first interrogator is configured to receive reflected light from the one or more optical sensors, and the second interrogator is configured to receive transmitted light from the one or more optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Gadd
  • Patent number: 11921335
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical light guiding system, comprising an interface for coupling in and/or an interface for decoupling data and at least one data channel for transmitting data, and a method for transmitting data in optical systems, comprising the steps of coupling data into an interface of a beam guidance element; the transmission of the data by means of a first and/or a second data channel, which are arranged within the beam guiding element (or the casing), wherein the data channels can also be used for the fractional monitoring of the beam guiding element; and decoupling the data from an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: II-VI DELAWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Eduard Armbruster, Frank Schulze
  • Patent number: 11920963
    Abstract: A method of optical sensing comprises coupling an excitation optical signal into a first optical fiber to induce Rayleigh backscattering, thereby providing a backscattered signal. The backscattered signal is optically amplified in the first optical fiber, thereby providing an amplified backscattered signal. The amplified backscattered signal is coupled into a second optical fiber and is optically re-amplifying in the second optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ariel Scientific Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Shmuel Sternklar, Egor Liokumovitch
  • Patent number: 11920962
    Abstract: A slight movement of the ground is detected. A cable, which includes an optical fiber, is provided to have friction with the ground in such a way that the optical fiber is expanded and contracted in accordance with the movement of the ground. An optical output unit outputs a monitoring light to the optical fiber. A partial reflection unit is provided on a path of the optical fiber in the cable and partially reflects the monitoring light. An optical reception unit receives a reflection light reflected by the partial reflection unit. A calculation unit measures the length of the optical fiber to the partial reflection unit based on a round-trip propagation time of the reflection light that has been received and monitors its changes over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Yano, Eitaro Misumi
  • Patent number: 11921000
    Abstract: There is provided optical power loss measurement method and system for that aims to provide a more productive way to perform optical power loss measurements involving test units typically at different locations. Visual fiber finder light can be used to assist the user at the other end of the optical fiber link under test in identifying where to connect the power meter unit. A visual fiber finder light and test light are combined on a same output port of a light source unit at one end of the optical fiber link under test wherein visual fiber finder light is interleaved with test light in a cyclic sequence so that both are not active at the same time. The optical power meter unit determines a time slot when to measure test light in accordance with the given cyclic sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: EXFO Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Leclerc
  • Patent number: 11923893
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device having an input port and multiple output ports adapted for connection to multiple passive optical network (PON) segments. The device includes an optical power splitting device in communication between the input port and the multiple output ports and adapted to provide divided portions of an optical signal received at the input port to the PON segments via the output ports. The device includes optical delay devices in optical communication between the optical power splitting device and at least a portion of the multiple output ports. The optical delay devices provide distinguishable delay values, that delay the divided portions of the optical signal, the distinguishable delay values facilitating associations of the PON segments to the output ports based on optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) measurements obtained via the input port. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Ricky Perry
  • Patent number: 11923894
    Abstract: In some examples, automatic OTDR-based testing may include determining, based on analysis of a signal that is received from a DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected. Based on a determination that the DUT is optically connected, a measurement associated with the DUT may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Julien Barrier
  • Patent number: 11914206
    Abstract: A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process is provided. The process includes acquiring a backward Rayleigh scattered light from an optical fiber composite overhead ground wire of an electrical power transmission facility; generating vibration information of a frequency band including a natural frequency of the optical fiber composite overhead ground wire, on a basis of the backward Rayleigh scattered light; and detecting abnormality of the electrical power transmission facility, on a basis of the vibration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Takasu, Takahiro Arioka, Takeo Kasajima, Kazushi Uno
  • Patent number: 11906389
    Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for assisting a technician in fiber optic cable splices and comprising a pair of test units including an OTDR, an optical switch, a tone generator and a tone detector to automate the splicing process and testing. The test units may be in communication with a wireless portable device used by the splicing technician and controlled therefrom. In one embodiment, the test units are driven by a test orchestrator application (e.g., server-based) to switch fibers, perform continuity tests and/or splice quality tests, triggered by the technician's portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: EXFO Inc.
    Inventors: Stephane Perron, Michel Leclerc
  • Patent number: 11906387
    Abstract: The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a mode field diameter test method and test device that enable acquisition of a mode field diameter for an arbitrary higher-order mode. The present disclosure is a mode field diameter test method including: a test light incidence procedure for selectively causing test light to be incident in a mode subject to measurement, on one end of an optical fiber 10 under test; a far-field pattern measurement procedure for measuring a far-field pattern of the mode subject to measurement, with respect to a divergence angle ? at the other end of the optical fiber under test, by a far-field scanning technique; and a mode field diameter calculation procedure for calculating, using an equation, a mode field diameter from information about incident mode orders in the test light incidence procedure and the far-field pattern measured in the far-field pattern measurement procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Daisuke Iida, Hiroyuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 11901937
    Abstract: Disclosed are a long-distance optical fiber detecting method, apparatus, device and system, and a storage medium. The method comprises: in response to a detection request of a target node on a to-be-detected optical fiber, determining a first and second sampling sequence that are formed by respectively propagating, on said optical fiber, a first and second optical signal respectively sent from each end of the optical fiber through an OTDR; determining a total length of the optical fiber; generating a detection result according to the first and second sampling sequence and the total length, and sending the detection result to the target node. By determining the first and second sampling sequence and combining the total length of the optical fiber, a detection result of the to-be-detected optical fiber is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ACCELINK TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qi Zhou, Tao Xiong, Chunping Yu, Qinlian Bu
  • Patent number: 11898928
    Abstract: An optical power meter unit includes a transmitting/receiving port configured to connect to a fiber under test. The optical power meter unit also includes a light source and an optical power meter. The optical power meter unit further includes an optical fiber extending between the transmitting/receiving port and the optical power meter. The optical fiber has a core size greater than a core size of the fiber under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: Bin Liu, Scott Prescott, Dale Eddy, Shawn P. Collins
  • Patent number: 11885707
    Abstract: A system for providing advanced characterization of an optical fiber span is based upon the use of a pair of optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs), located at opposing end terminations of the span being characterized. Each OTDR performs standard reflectometry measurements and transmits the resulting OTDR trace to monitoring equipment in a typical manner. The pair of OTDR traces is thereafter combined in a particular manner (“stitched together”) to create an OTDR trace of the entire fiber span (essentially doubling the operational range of prior art OTDR measurement capabilities). The transmit portion of one OTDR may be paired with the receive portion of the other OTDR, with time-of-light measurements (or signal loss measurements) used to determine optical path length and/or optical signal loss of the span. Using a multi-wavelength light source in the paired transmit/receive arrangement allows for a characterization of chromatic dispersion of the span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cahill, Ian Peter McClean
  • Patent number: 11879802
    Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for testing the continuity of optical fiber links under test and/or a fiber arrangement, polarity or mapping of optical fiber connections within optical devices under test using the backscattering pattern as a signature. The device under test may comprises a single fiber, a duplex link, a multifiber cable or another multi-port device such as a backplane device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: EXFO Inc.
    Inventors: Stephane Perron, Michel Leclerc, Pascal Gosselin-Badaroudine
  • Patent number: 11879803
    Abstract: An optical fiber testing method is presented for measuring the change amount for the wave number k of a Brillouin Frequency Shift ? in stimulated Brillouin scattering generated in the same acoustic mode with respect to each target propagation mode. In this way, the ratio of the change amount measured at each propagation mode is acquired as the group delay ratio between the modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Oda, Hiroyuki Oshida, Daisuke Iida, Atsushi Nakamura, Yuto Sagae
  • Patent number: 11874164
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method of improved measurement of the SPF factor of sunscreen compositions. In one embodiment, a method of measuring the protection of a sunscreen composition includes exposing skin to a known intensity of light, measuring the amount of remitted light from the skin, applying sunscreen to the skin, exposing the skin to which the sunscreen has been applied the known intensity of emitted light of the spectrum of light from which the sunscreen is intended to protect the skin, measuring the amount of light remitted from the skin, and calculating a UltraViolet-A Protection Factor (UVA-PF) of the sunscreen by comparing the amount of light remitted from the skin with the sunscreen to the amount of light remitted from the skin without the sunscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SOLAR LIGHT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Bonitatibus, Curtis Cole
  • Patent number: 11857268
    Abstract: An optical shape sensing device includes an elongated outer body with flexible tubing configured to maneuver through a passage; a multicore optical fiber extending through the elongated outer body, and enabling shape sensing by tracking deformation of the multicore optical fiber along a length of the multicore optical fiber; a termination piece attached to a distal tip of the multicore optical fiber, the termination piece having a distal tip; and a force sensing region integrated with the elongated outer body and configured to enable determining of an axial force exerted on a distal end of the elongated outer body. The shape sensing occurs along the multicore optical fiber to the distal tip of the termination piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Torre Michelle Bydlon, Alexandru Patriciu, Marcin Arkadiusz Balicki
  • Patent number: 11860058
    Abstract: According to examples, a fiber-optic testing source for testing a multi-fiber cable may include a laser source communicatively coupled to a plurality of optical fibers connected to a connector. The fiber-optic testing source may include at least one photodiode communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of optical fibers by at least one corresponding splitter to implement a communication channel between the fiber-optic testing source and a fiber-optic testing receiver. The communication channel may be operable independently from a polarity associated with the multi-fiber cable. The fiber-optic testing receiver may include a plurality of photodiodes communicatively coupled to a plurality of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Joachim Lönne
  • Patent number: 11860041
    Abstract: In some examples, a temperature distribution sensor may include a laser source to emit a laser beam that is tunable to a first wavelength and a second wavelength for injection into a device under test (DUT). A first wavelength optical receiver may convert a return signal corresponding to the first wavelength with respect to Rayleigh backscatter or Raman backscatter Anti-Stokes. A second wavelength optical receiver may convert the return signal corresponding to the second wavelength with respect to Rayleigh backscatter or Raman backscatter Stokes. Bending loss associated with the DUT may be determined by utilizing the Rayleigh backscatter signal corresponding to the first wavelength and the Rayleigh backscatter signal corresponding to the second wavelength. Further, temperature distribution associated with the DUT may be determined by utilizing the Raman backscatter Anti-Stokes signal corresponding to the first wavelength and the Raman backscatter Stokes signal corresponding to the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Andre Champavere
  • Patent number: 11846558
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for wavefront reconstruction based on rotationally symmetric extended structured light illumination. The apparatus includes a laser device, a neutral density filter, a microscope objective, a pinhole, a collimating lens, a beam splitter prism, a spatial light modulator, a lens to be measured, and an image acquisition device that are sequentially arranged. The method permits modulation of incident parallel light into phase grating-like structured light by using a spatial light modulator. Based on the characteristic of non-infinitely small pixel unit of the spatial light modulator, changing the modulation pattern of the spatial light modulator may result in different forms of structured light. Not only the object to be measured but also the real structured light wavefront can be recovered by acquiring diffraction spots at the focal plane and simultaneously updating the object plane and the structured light plane using an algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Zhejiang University
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Lei Zhao, Binjie Lu, Xiangdong Zhou, Jing Hou
  • Patent number: 11841289
    Abstract: The present invention is a passive receive module for use with an OTDR for determining polarity of a cable under test. Only one position of the module connector of the receive module includes a filling and all other positions are occupied with a reflective component with a reflective characteristic distinct from that of the filling. Only one position at the OTDR end of the cable will receive a distinct reflection from all of the other positions. Polarity may be determined from these positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Piotr Anatolij Levin, Sergej Karpichin
  • Patent number: 11828631
    Abstract: A method for measuring a response from an optical fiber providing distributed back reflections using a system comprising an optical source comprising a laser, an optical receiver and a processing unit is disclosed. The method comprises generating an interrogation signal and an optical local oscillator using the optical source, the interrogation signal being represented by an interrogation phasor and the optical local oscillator being represented by a local oscillator phasor; transmitting the interrogation signal into the optical fiber; and mixing the optical local oscillator with reflected light from the optical fiber and detecting a mixing product with the optical receiver to achieve a receiver output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Alcatel Submarine Networks
    Inventors: Erlend Ronnekleiv, Ole Henrik Waagaard
  • Patent number: 11820337
    Abstract: An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: EchoVista GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Najorka, Steffen Walter, Ole Gustav Johannessen, Oliver Simon Matthews, Mincheol Shin
  • Patent number: 11821793
    Abstract: A dispersion measurement apparatus includes a pulse forming unit, a correlation optical system, a photodetection unit, and an operation unit. The pulse forming unit forms a light pulse train including a plurality of light pulses having time differences and center wavelengths different from each other from a measurement target light pulse output from a pulsed laser light source. The correlation optical system receives the light pulse train output from the pulse forming unit and outputs correlation light including a cross-correlation or an autocorrelation of the light pulse train. The photodetection unit detects a temporal waveform of the correlation light output from the correlation optical system. The operation unit estimates a wavelength dispersion amount of the pulsed laser light source based on a feature value of the temporal waveform of the correlation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Koyo Watanabe, Kyohei Shigematsu, Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 11808663
    Abstract: An in situ leakage detection system for protecting and monitoring buried non-metallic pipelines is provided. The system includes flexible composite mats arranged below and above the pipeline. Sensors, including, distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS) are affixed to the pipe-facing mat surfaces and extend lengthwise along the pipeline. An optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) reading unit is configured to provide optical signals to the DOFS and analyze the returned optical signal. The OTDR unit can measure frequency and amplitude of anti-Stoke components of Raman scattering signals and a time-distance of the signals to detect localized changes in temperature along the pipeline. The system is further configured to detect leaks and determine a location of the leaks from the foregoing temperature changes and time-distance information. A method of installing and operating an in situ leakage detection system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hassan Ali Al-Hashmy, Christian Canto Maya
  • Patent number: 11808659
    Abstract: In some examples, parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition may include a laser array operatively collimated to an optical fiber array to transmit, in parallel, a plurality of laser beams to optical fibers of the optical fiber array. A photodiode array may receive, in parallel, backscattered and reflected light from the optical fiber array. The photodiode array may determine, based on the backscattered and reflected light, properties of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Vincent Lecoeuche
  • Patent number: 11808712
    Abstract: A method performed in a coating testing system for automatically determining the polymerisation of coating material includes positioning a spectrometer probe adjacent to an object (wire 10), the object comprising a polymer coating; acquiring spectra of the polymer coating using the probe; and performing chemometric analysis on the acquired spectra in order to measure the polymerisation of the polymer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAU ACT GMBH
    Inventors: Veglia Filippo, Taiariol Francesco, Degasperi Piero, Ciornii Vitalie
  • Patent number: 11802809
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a backscattered light amplification device, an optical pulse test apparatus, a backscattered light amplification method, and an optical pulse test method for amplifying a desired propagation mode of Rayleigh backscattered light with a desired gain by stimulated Brillouin scattering in a fiber under test having the plurality of propagation modes. The backscattered light amplification device according to the present invention is configured to control individually power, incident timing, and pulse width of a pump pulse for each propagation mode when the pump pulse is incident in a plurality of propagation modes after the probe pulse is input to the fiber under test in any propagation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Okamoto, Atsushi Nakamura, Hiroyuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 11804316
    Abstract: The invention discloses an underwater umbilical cable which is capable of temperature and vibration measuring and three-dimensional shape reconstruction, wherein underwater umbilical cable is used to connect underwater equipment and aquatic equipment; the underwater umbilical cable comprises an outer sheath, armored steel wires, an inner sheath, a power cable, a communication optical cable, a steel pipe, three strain measuring optical fibers, three temperature measuring optical fibers, a distributed optical fiber strain interrogator, a distributed optical fiber temperature interrogator and a processor. The invention can collect the operation status data of the umbilical cable for a long time. The collected data is highly objective, can truly reflect the real-time operation status of the umbilical cables, and plays an important role in guaranteeing the long-term submarine oil and gas exploitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Yixin Zhang, Fei Xiong, Xuping Zhang, Chi Zhang, Long Chen, Shun Wang, Xiaohong Chen, Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 11802810
    Abstract: A device may receive, from a sensor device, cable distance data identifying cable distances along the fiber cable to vibrations experienced by the fiber cable from a vibration device. The device may receive location data identifying geographic coordinates associated with the vibrations, and may correlate the cable distance data and the location data to generate correlated data. The device may receive, from the sensor device, data identifying a cable distance along the fiber cable to an alarm condition associated with the fiber cable, and may determine geographic coordinates associated with the alarm condition based on the correlated data and the data identifying the cable distance along the fiber cable to the alarm condition. The device may perform actions based on the geographic coordinates associated with the alarm condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Tiejun J. Xia, Glenn A Wellbrock
  • Patent number: 11800251
    Abstract: There is provided a light receiving device including: a pixel including a first tap configured to detect a charge photoelectrically converted by a photoelectric conversion unit, and a second tap configured to detect a charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit; a first comparison circuit configured to compare a first detection signal detected by the first tap and a reference signal; a second comparison circuit configured to compare a second detection signal detected by the second tap and the reference signal; a first zero reset signal generation circuit configured to generate a first zero reset signal that is supplied to the first comparison circuit when the first comparison circuit performs an auto zero operation; and a second zero reset signal generation circuit configured to generate a second zero reset signal that is supplied to the second comparison circuit when the second comparison circuit performs an auto zero operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Moriyama
  • Patent number: 11789079
    Abstract: A measurement system is described. The measurement system includes a test-and-measurement (T&A) circuit and an error analysis circuit. The T&A circuit is configured to generate measurement data. The measurement data includes at least one of analysis data and configuration data. The analysis data is associated with an analysis of at least one input signal. The configuration data is associated with at least one of a physical measurement setup of the measurement system and measurement settings of the measurement system. The T&A circuit further is configured to generate a graphic representation of the measurement data. The error analysis circuit is configured to identify errors or anomalies associated with the measurement data based on the graphic representation. Further, a measurement method is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Feilen
  • Patent number: 11789132
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to LiDAR systems that use avalanche photo diodes for detecting returns of laser pulses. The bias voltage applied to the avalanche photo diode is adjusted to ensure that it operates at desired operating capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Innovusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Yufeng Li, Yimin Li, Rui Zhang, Junwei Bao, Jim Li
  • Patent number: 11788927
    Abstract: A method for determining the refractive index profile of a preform when the RIP is not substantially step-index like. (a) The preform deflection function is measured and transformed into a measured RIP. (b) A RI level and radius are assumed for the preform layer being evaluated and a compensation level RIP is calculated. (c) A theoretical deflection function is generated corresponding to the assumed RI level and radius and the generated data are transformed into a fitting RIP. (d) The fitting RIP is compared to the measured RIP and the comparison is evaluated against a predetermined accuracy level for the preform layer being evaluated. (e) Steps (b) and (c) are repeated iteratively until the predetermined accuracy level has been achieved. Steps (b) through (e) are repeated for each preform layer that needs to be compensated. Finally, a measurement artifact compensated refractive index profile is calculated for the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: HERAEUS QUARTZ NORTH AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Maximilian Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11788928
    Abstract: A light intensity distribution measurement apparatus is presented that is capable of accurately measuring the intensity of light in each mode at each position of an optical fiber through which light is propagated in a plurality of modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Oda, Yoshifumi Wakisaka, Daisuke Iida, Hiroyuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 11783452
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously provide traffic monitoring, and traffic management which improves the safety and efficiency of a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Philip Ji, Eric Cosatto, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11782078
    Abstract: A measurement method and apparatus for determining power levels of pulsed power signals, wherein the pulsed power signals are needed for some applications with a high dynamic range and a high speed simultaneously. The apparatus and the measurement method particularly used to evaluate a performance of fiber optic sensors, optical pulse generators, switching devices and debugging other pulsed power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ASELSAN ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventor: Ismail Ugur
  • Patent number: 11751944
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to systems, devices and methods for performing a surgical step or surgical procedure with visual guidance using an optical head mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Philipp K. Lang
  • Patent number: 11750283
    Abstract: An object is to provide an optical fiber route search method, an optical fiber route search device, and a program that can efficiently confirm a path of an optical fiber that is installed over a long distance or across a large range. The optical fiber route search method according to the present invention carries out optical measurement that performs distributed measurement of the state of an optical fiber while applying a disturbance to the optical fiber in a portion in which wires of the optical fiber are parallel to each other, branch out, or intersect with each other (a proximity portion), and determines that the position in which the number of singularities (peaks or intensity fluctuations) fluctuates (becomes plural) is the position of the proximity portion from a distribution diagram obtained through the optical measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Iida, Nazuki Honda, Tatsuya Okamoto, Yoshifumi Wakisaka, Hiroyuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 11747282
    Abstract: A system includes an optical module for supplying a Stokes light, a pump light and a probe light for generating a CARS light is provided. The optical module includes a fiber laser module and an optical plate. The fiber laser module includes an oscillator, a generator, a first amplifier, a second amplifier and a LD power distributor that is configured to distribute a laser power from a first laser diode to the oscillator as an oscillation source, to the generator as a pump power, to the first preamplifier as a pump power and to the second preamplifier as a pump power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventors: Mateusz Plewicki, Neil Ou
  • Patent number: 11742942
    Abstract: An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) module obtains Optical Return Loss (ORL) of a fiber plant. Calibration information is obtained of at least internal OTDR reflections associated with the OTDR module. The OTDR module is connected to the fiber plant. An ORL response is measured due to reflections of an ORL signal transmitted from the OTDR module along the fiber plant, and a peak OTDR response is measured in response to reflections of an OTDR signal transmitted from the OTDR module along the fiber plant. A corrected ORL response of the fiber plant is determined by: using the measured peak OTDR response (e.g., peak value or area under the peak) and the calibration information to calculate the calculated ORL due to internal reflections, and then adjusting the measured ORL response by the calculated ORL to represent the corrected ORL of the fiber plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: II-VI DELAWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. L. Cahill
  • Patent number: 11733468
    Abstract: A photonic system includes a light source and a photonic structure. The photonic structure includes an optical transmission structure and an optical absorption structure. The optical transmission structure is configured to transmit light associated with a first wavelength range. The optical absorption structure is configured to absorb light associated with a second wavelength range. The light source is configured to provide a light beam with a wavelength that is within the second wavelength range to the optical absorption structure. The optical absorption structure is configured to generate and provide heat to the optical transmission structure when the light beam falls incident on the optical absorption structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Houck