FIBER FAULT SNIFFER
A fault detector for fiber optic cabling is provided in a hand held device for detecting fiber faults, presence/absence of signal and wavelength of light present on an optical fiber. Audible and visual indicators of the fault/status and wavelength are provided.
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This disclosure relates to fiber optic cable testing, and more particularly to a hand held fault locating device for use with fiber optic cable testing.
Defects in fiber optic cables degrade the performance of the signal. Considering fiber as a pipe of communication signals, low output and defects in the fiber means there is a leaking point. Current devices for detecting fiber leakage are large and expensive, making them impractical for use in certain situations. For example, detecting fault in closed tight spaces such as communication closets and behind walls, or along fiber risers in data centers, requires a small tool that can easily fit in hand.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the disclosure, a hand held fiber fault detection tool is provided in the form of an inexpensive, easy to carry, pen-shaped device that detects and alerts user of defects in the fiber. The device can also detect whether the line carries live signals or no signal.
Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improved fault locater device for use with fiber optic cables
It is a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improved method and apparatus to detect and report fiber optic cable properties.
It is yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improved fiber optic cable testing tool that detects faults and provides a visual and/or audible report of the results.
The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a hand held device that contains a photodiode and microprocessor to detect and analyze the signal on the surface of a fiber optic cable. By scanning on the skin of fiber optic cable with the tip of the device, the microprocessor analyzes the pattern of the signal and alerts the user when it detects an abnormal signal (defect).
Referring now to
In operation a mode switch 42 in
If set to live signal detection mode by operation of the mode switch to the detection mode, the device operates as a signal detection device, wherein input from photo diode 24 is supplied via amplifier 26 to ADC 28. If a sufficient level of optical signal is detected, then the microprocessor 30 sends a signal to DIO 44 to illuminate the ‘live’ mode of LED 16′, and also to generate a sound via speaker 36, supplied an output signal from DAC 32. LED 16′ is implemented in a particular embodiment as a tri-color LED, wherein, for example, the color green is displayed to indicate that the device is detecting a live signal, or the color red is displayed to indicate that no signal is being detected. In the case where the LED 16′ is provided as separately illuminated segments, the ‘live’ portion segment would be illuminated. Audible signals may also be provided via the speaker to report test results, for example, a ‘whimpering’ sound may be generated to indicate that no live signal is detected on the fiber optic cable.
When the device is set to fault detection mode, by operation of the mode switch, the device detects faults in the signal detected on the surface of the fiber optic cable. This fault may be determined based on drop off or increase of signal level of the detected signal, for example. In the fault detection mode, the LED 22 is driven to a color, for example, green, when no faults are being detected, and changes to a different color, for example, red, when a fault is detected. In the case where the LED 16′ is provided as separately illuminated segments, the ‘fault’ portion segment would be illuminated. Further, an audible signal such as a ‘woof! woof!’ sound may be generated via speaker 36 when a fault is detected. The fault/live detection may also be provided as separate portions of an LED section, or as separate LEDs.
To train or calibrate the device, the training button 20 is depressed, while the sensor tip is held to or moved along a cable with a known acceptable non-fault signal, and the LED 16′ is illuminated in a color to represent training mode, such as amber. The acceptable signal level is then stored by the microprocessor and used in later testing to compare against, and any significant variation therefrom being determined to be an indication of a fault.
Thus, a hand held device is provided to search for faults on fiber optic cables.
Additional embodiments or options may be provided. A version or versions with separate (or unified) sources and sensors for generating and detecting different wavelengths of light may be provided. Referring to
A more simplified detector 54 is illustrated in
An embodiment of the tester designed to detect different wavelength of light is shown in
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- 1625 nm detected, red LED, 4 beeps via speaker
- 1550 nm detected, orange LED, 3 beeps via speaker
- 1310 nm detected, green LED, 2 beeps via speaker
- 850 nm detected, blue LED, 1 beep via speaker
In operation the amplifiers 25, 27, 29, etc. provide detection at the specific individual wavelengths, the number of such amplifiers 25, 27, 29, 29′, etc. depending on the number of different wavelengths that are to be detected, 4 such amplifiers being provided in the illustrated embodiment to detect 1625 nm, 1550 nm, 1310 nm and 850 nm.
Accordingly, multiple embodiments are provided of an optical fiber cable fault detector that provides detection of whether a cable is carrying live signal, detection of faults in the fiber, and detection of signal wavelengths. A multiple wavelength test signal source is also provided with interchangeable wavelength source probes.
While plural embodiments of the technology have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology.
Claims
1. A hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables, comprising:
- a hand held probe having a photo detector, the hand held probe configured to receive an optical signal by scanning an outer surface of a fiber optic cable, the photo detector configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;
- an analog to digital converter receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector; and
- a processor receiving digital signals from the analog to digital converter for detecting faults based thereon.
2. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results.
3. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 2, wherein said visible indicator comprises a tri-state indicator.
4. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 3, wherein said tri-state indicator indicates green for a detecting mode, amber for a training mode and red for a fault/no live signal test result.
5. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results.
6. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 5, wherein said audible indicator presents a first audible signal to indicate presence of a fault or absence of a live signal.
7. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 6, wherein said audible indicator presents a second audible signal to indicate the other of presence of a fault or absence of a live signal from the first signal.
8. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 1, further comprising a wavelength detector for detecting presence of specific wavelength optical signals.
9. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 8, further comprising an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said audible indicator presenting unique different audio signals representative of the detected wavelength.
10. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 8, further comprising a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said visible indicator presenting unique different visible signals representative of the detected wavelength.
11. The hand held device for detecting faults on fiber optic cables according to claim 10, wherein said unique different visible signals comprise light of different colors representative of different wavelengths.
12. A method for detecting faults on fiber optic cables, comprising:
- providing a hand held probe having a photo detector, the hand held probe configured to receive an optical signal by scanning an outer surface of a fiber optic cable, the photo detector configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;
- providing an analog to digital converter receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector; and
- providing a processor receiving digital signals from the analog to digital converter, said processor detecting faults based thereon.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
- providing a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said visible indicator comprises a tri-state indicator.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said tri-state indicator indicates green for a detecting mode, amber for a training mode and red for a fault/no live signal test result.
16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
- providing an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results,
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said audible indicator presents a first audible signal to indicate presence of a fault or absence of a live signal.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said audible indicator presents a second audible signal to indicate the other of presence of a fault or absence of a live signal from the first signal.
19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing a wavelength detector for detecting presence of specific wavelength optical signals.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising providing an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said audible indicator presenting unique different audio signals representative of the detected wavelength and providing a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said visible indicator presenting unique different visible signals representative of the detected wavelength.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 31, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2014
Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATION (Everett, WA)
Inventor: Wonoh KIM (Johns Creek, GA)
Application Number: 13/755,402
International Classification: G01M 11/00 (20060101);