Abstract: A camera system and automated translation system allows automatic image capture of a recoat of a fiber which has undergone a number of processes. These images may be used to automatically inspect the recoat of the fiber in accordance with objective criteria. A stability index may be determined based on the thickness of the recoat on the fiber, a uniformity of the recoat on the fiber, a depth of any surface cracks on the recoat, and a depth of any bubbles in the recoat. A desired stability index may be determined in accordance with a desired lifetime of the fiber and an intended use of the fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing parallel asynchronous testing of a plurality of optical modules utilizes state machines that may be implemented in a common controller. Desired optical tests are selected by an operator. The invention determines if a testing process or instrument required for the selected optical tests is available. A COM port may also be locked for each of the selected optical tests from among a plurality of COM ports to prevent interference between different tests. By reserving resources such as COM ports and testing instruments in this fashion the invention may asynchronously initiate execution of the selected optical tests. If a resource such as a COM port, testing process or instrument is not currently available, the test is place in COM port and testing queues to await availability of that resource. Once a test is completed, the resource is unlocked so that one of the state machines may asynchronously initiate another test.

Abstract: A system for conducting optical tests on a plurality of optical modules includes a plurality of optical signal sources and optical signal degradation elements optically communicating with input switches. The input switches sources supply optical test signals to optical modules (units under test) plugged into a common shelf. Output optical switches supply the output signals to a range of optical test equipment. A controller utilizes a database of test recipes to supervise and control the optical signal sources, optical signal degradation elements, units under test, input switches, output switches, and test equipment to conduct a variety of optical tests on the modules. With this architecture it is possible to subject a variety of different optical modules to a variety of different optical tests.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a plurality of optical modules includes a plurality of optical signal sources and optical signal degradation elements optically communicating with input switches. The input switches supply optical test signals to optical modules (units under test) plugged into a common shelf. Calibration switches including variable optical attenuators may be used to adjust the input signal levels and alternately supply adjusted signals to an optical power meter and the units under test. A controller is used to control the adjustment and thereby provide defined, measured signal levels to the units under test. By reading data from the units under test and using these defined signal levels, the optical modules may be calibrated or diagnosed. Output optical switches are used in a similar fashion to calibrate or diagnose the outputs of the units under test. In addition to input/output power calibration, the invention may also perform wavelength calibrations.

Abstract: A hybrid surface mount component inspection system which includes both vision and infrared inspection techniques to determine the presence of surface mount components on a printed wiring board, and the quality of solder joints of surface mount components on printed wiring boards by using data level sensor fusion to combine data from two infrared sensors to obtain emissivity independent thermal signatures of solder joints, and using feature level sensor fusion with active perception to assemble and process inspection information from any number of sensors to determine characteristic feature sets of different defect classes to classify solder defects.

Abstract: A vision system is provided which allows viewing and/or inspection of an end surface of an optical fiber through a bulkhead on a backplane of a rack. By placing such a vision system on a mount configured to be inserted in the rack, the use of such a vision system does not require the rack design be modified or that other modules be removed. Preferably an adapter for mating the vision system with the bulkhead may be moved to position the adapter relative to the bulkhead housing the fiber of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an optical fiber, particularly an epoxy region of an optical fiber in a supporting structure. The inspection may use an initialization routine including determination of whether the centering between the optical fiber and the illumination source is sufficient. The meters used to determine completion of initialization may be displayed. The inspection may analyze the uniformity of the thickness of an epoxy layer between the fiber and the supporting structure. The inspection may also analyze the core and clad zones of the optical fiber for scratches and other intensity variations, referred to generically as blobs. The core zone preferably encompasses a region larger than the core alone, e.g., an area which is a multiple of the core diameter. Different criteria are established for the core and clad zones, with no discontinuities being tolerated in the core zone. Scratches may be extracted using a windowing technique.

Abstract: A hybrid surface mount component inspection system which includes both vision and infrared inspection techniques to determine the presence of surface mount components on a printed wiring board, and the quality of solder joints of surface mount components on printed wiring boards by using data level sensor fusion to combine data from two infrared sensors to obtain emissivity independent thermal signatures of solder joints, and using feature level sensor fusion with active perception to assemble and process inspection information from any number of sensors to determine characteristic feature sets of different defect classes to classify solder defects.

Abstract: An automated system and associated method of counting pillings in textile fabrics. Images of consecutive sections of a fabric sample are captured by a CCD camera. A system processor then processes the images to enhance image quality. Pillings on the processed, captured fabric sample images are counted, and the resulting data is fuzzified to determine the membership of the data in one or more of a plurality of fabric classes. The present invention provides an objective rating system and method with repeatable accuracy for fabric samples that eliminates the inherent subjectivity associated with conventional manual visual fabric inspection methods.