Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for measuring component attentuation such as the attenuation in a splice of two (2) optical fibers. Four (4) fixed positions are provided. The second position is closer to the splice than the first position on one side of the splice and the third position is closer to the splice than the fourth position on the other side of the splice. Light emitters such as edge light emitting diodes are disposed at the first and fourth positions and light detectors such as ingass detectors are disposed at the second and third positions. The fibers may be looped at the four (4) positions to facilitate the passage of light into and out of the fibers. Clamps may be provided at each of the four (4) positions to provide for selective activation of individual ones of the detectors. In this way, light from each of the light emitters may be selectively passed at individual times to each of the detectors to provide indications at the detectors.

Abstract: Two (2) optical fibers each having a core, a cladding enveloping the core and a buffer enveloping the cladding are spliced. First and second positions are adjacent the first fiber and third and fourth positions are adjacent the second fiber. The second and third positions are respectively closer to the splice than the first and fourth positions. Light emitters are at the first and fourth positions and light detectors are at the other positions. Light from each emitter is selectively passed to individual ones of the detectors. Members (e.g. solid gels) adjacent the emitters direct light into the associated fibers. Other members (e.g. solid gels) respectively between the first and second positions and between the third and fourth positions inhibit the light passage in the fiber claddings and buffers so that only the light in the fiber cores passes to the detectors. The gels and the fibers are clamped to provide matching dimples for trapping in the gels the light in the claddings and buffers.