Abstract: There is provided a chromatic dispersion measurement method and system for characterizing an optical fiber link under test. From a proximal end of the optical fiber link, at least one OTDR acquisition is performed, wherein each OTDR acquisition is performed by propagating in the optical fiber link under test, at least one test signal comprising a plurality of light pulses in accordance with a known sequence of pulses and detecting corresponding return light signal from the optical fiber link so as to obtain a trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link under test, and wherein said test signals have mutually different wavelengths. For each test signal and corresponding wavelength, a position of the reflective peak associated with a remote end of the optical fiber link is extracted from the return light signal by calculating a cross-correlation between the known sequence of pulses and the acquired trace.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for testing optical fibers are provided. According to one implementation, an optical fiber testing apparatus may include an optical test unit configured to obtain a characterization of an optical fiber to be tested. Additionally, the optical fiber testing apparatus may include a visible light source and an analysis and control device. For example, the analysis and control device may be configured to adapt the visible light source to a specific power level based on the characterization of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical test device, in combination with a removable connector adapter, is provided. A method of testing an optical fiber is also provided. The test device comprises a test port configured to interface with optical-fiber cables having a given number of optical fibers. The connector adapter comprises a device connector adapted to connect to test port; and a fiber-under-test (FUT) connector adapted connect to an optical-fiber cable, such as a test cord connectable to the FUT. The FUT connector is configured to interface with optical-fiber cables having a number of fibers that is different from the number of fibers of the test port. The optical test device comprises a processing unit configurable to adjust the tests to be conducted based on the connector adapter detected, and to adapt the user interfaces and test parameters accordingly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for testing for faults in a fiber optic cable are provided. A Visual Fault Locator (VFL), according to one implementation, includes an output port configured for connection with an optical fiber to be tested. The VFL also includes a variable light source configured to emit visible light at different power levels from the output port. For example, the different power levels may correspond with different light intensity levels. In some implementations, the VFL may further include a gain control device connected to the variable light source, whereby the gain control device may be configured to control the power of the variable light source to enable the variable light source to emit the visible light at multiple power levels.

Abstract: A plow extension assembly is disclosed. The plow extension assembly is connectable to a plow body. The plow extension assembly comprises an extension made of a resilient material. The extension comprises a connecting portion having a first rigidity is configured to provide a resilient connection between the extension and the plow body. The extension further includes a body portion, having a second rigidity, extending from the connecting portion. The second rigidity of the body portion is greater than the first rigidity of the connecting portion. The plow extension assembly further includes a connecting member configured to, at least partially, extend over the connecting portion and being connectable to the extension and to the plow body. The connecting member is configured to stiffen the resilient connection when the connecting member is connected to the extension and to the plow body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for surgically manipulating tissue. In general, the methods and devices can include an elongate retractor shaft having a distal retractor tip that is configured to manipulate tissue, for example the tip can be configured to separate muscle and nerve fibers surrounding a vertebra. The elongate retractor shaft can include an illumination source such that at least a portion of the surgical field is illuminated by the device when the device is used in the body. A sensor can also or alternatively be included on the elongate retractor shaft, for example on the blunt retraction tip, such that the sensor can monitor physiological parameters of the tissue in or adjacent to the surgical field.

Abstract: There is provided a technique to reduce the Rayleigh coherence noise in OTDR measurements using spectral averaging of OTDR traces while at least partly cancelling chromatic dispersion pulse broadening on the averaged OTDR trace by applying a chromatic dispersion correction prior to averaging the OTDR traces. By correcting for chromatic dispersion pulse broadening, it allows to reduce the Rayleigh coherence noise without impacting the OTDR spatial resolution.

Abstract: There are provided herein test instruments, devices and methods for measuring the optical power loss of optical-fiber devices under test, and particularly those terminated with multifiber connectors, which allows for a one-cord or one-cord equivalent reference method whichever the pinning of the actual optical-fiber device under test. There is proposed to add an optical-fiber expansion device to convert the pinning of the input interface of the power meter instrument from pinned to unpinned or vice-versa, while not adding extra measurement uncertainty. This is accomplished using a patch cord which core diameter is between that of the device under test and that of the input interface of the power meter instrument.

Abstract: A clamping assembly and a kit therefor are provided. The clamping assembly has a clamping component configured for selective attachment to a member of a vehicle, and a separate toolless fastener configured to selectively fasten an accessory to the clamping component.

Abstract: A clamping assembly and a kit therefor are provided. The clamping assembly has a clamping component configured for selective attachment to a member of a vehicle, and a separate toolless fastener configured to selectively fasten an accessory to the clamping component.

Abstract: A mounting system and a kit for installing an accessory on a vehicle are disclosed. The mounting system has a base including a foot portion and a first interface portion. The base defines an axis extending through the first interface portion. The mounting system has an interchangeable swivel member including a second interface portion and an accessory portion. The first interface portion and the second interface portion being configured to selectively engage each other in a first configuration and a second configuration. The mounting system has a resilient connection assembly configured to resiliently connect the interchangeable swivel member to the base. The resilient connection assembly includes a biasing element configured to exert a biasing force to axially bias the first interface portion towards the second interface portion.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: There is provided a method and an apparatus of fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) which can use low-cost coherent laser as well as low-cost acquisition and processing electronics and which can still provide reliable monitoring results for optical fiber monitoring and troubleshooting applications in optical fiber telecommunication networks. Such low-cost solution is made possible by employing grouped data signal processing. Data is processed over independent groups of data to provide an independent DAS signal for each group. This allows measurements to be less sensitive to laser fluctuations and thereby reduces coherent laser technical specification requirements and allows the use of a low-cost coherent laser (thereby reducing the cost of the laser) as well as low-cost acquisition and processing electronics.

Abstract: There is provided herein a solution for measuring the optical power loss of duplex optical-fiber devices under test, and particularly those terminated with a duplex connector interface, which allows for a one-cord or one-cord equivalent testing method whichever the format of the duplex connector interface of the optical-fiber device under test, and this without disconnecting the optical fibers of the device under test from their duplex native connector interface. There is provided an optical-fiber expansion device to be used to interconnect and adapt a power meter instrument to a variety of duplex connectors. The proposed optical-fiber expansion device comprises a pair of optical fibers having a core diameter and a numerical aperture that are greater than those of the optical fiber in the DUT connector interface, so as to make it compatible with the one-cord testing method.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems that enable the use of the backscattering pattern produced by an optical fiber in an OTDR trace as a signature (also referred to herein as the “RBS fingerprint”) to recognize an optical fiber. It was found that it may be difficult to obtain repeatable signatures as those are sensitive to the wavelength of the OTDR laser source and the temperature of the fiber. OTDR methods and systems that are adapted to compare the backscattering pattern in a more repeatable manner are therefore provided. Once the repeatability issue is overcome, such signature can be used for identification purposes and enable new applications.

Abstract: There is provided a technique to reduce the Rayleigh coherence noise in OTDR measurements using spectral averaging of OTDR traces while at least partly cancelling chromatic dispersion pulse broadening on the averaged OTDR trace by applying a chromatic dispersion correction prior to averaging the OTDR traces. By correcting for chromatic dispersion pulse broadening, it allows to reduce the Rayleigh coherence noise without impacting the OTDR spatial resolution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for surgically manipulating tissue. In general, the methods and devices can include an elongate retractor shaft having a distal retractor tip that is configured to manipulate tissue, for example the tip can be configured to separate muscle and nerve fibers surrounding a vertebra. The elongate retractor shaft can include an illumination source such that at least a portion of the surgical field is illuminated by the device when the device is used in the body. A sensor can also or alternatively be included on the elongate retractor shaft, for example on the blunt retraction tip, such that the sensor can monitor physiological parameters of the tissue in or adjacent to the surgical field.

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.