Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers includes aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and moving at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber. The method further includes discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating.

Abstract: An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is provided. The OTDR emits a first optical signal that is an impulse optical signal having a non-zero power during a first period of time, where the first period of time is shorter than a period of time necessary for the first optical signal to traverse a length of an optical fiber under test. The OTDR emits a second optical signal that is an impulse optical signal having a non-zero power during a second period of time longer than a period of time necessary for the second optical signal to traverse the length of the optical fiber. The OTDR receives data representative of a third and fourth optical signals that are reflections of the first and second optical signals, respectively, by the optical fiber and generates an optical time-domain reflectometry signal based at least in part on the third and fourth optical signals.

Abstract: A device for indicating a rack among a plurality of racks, the rack being configured to receive a plurality of pieces of computer equipment is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises a communication unit configured to receive at least one signal from at least one piece of equipment of the pieces of equipment. The signal comprises information enabling a state of the piece of equipment to be determined. The device further comprises a control unit configured to determine a state of the rack based at least in part on the signal. The device further comprises a display unit for displaying a representation of the state determined by the control unit.

Abstract: An optical line testing device for measuring at least a cutting position of an optical line according to the present invention includes: a first wavelength tunable laser source configured to generate a first optical signal in which a plurality of wavelengths appear alternately and periodically; a second wavelength tunable laser source configured to generate a second optical signal which is identical to the first optical signal but has an adjustable delay time; and an interferometer configured to cause interference between a reflected optical signal, corresponding to the first optical signal, which is returning after having been emitted to the optical line, and the second optical signal to output an interference signal.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of different types of fiber optic connectors each having at least one stub optical fiber configured to be spliced to at least one cable optical fiber. The system also includes a tool configured to: a) receive and detect the different types of fiber optic connectors; and b) set a threshold value for an acceptable indication of continuity for at least one splice between the at least one stub optical fiber and the at least one cable optical fiber based on which type of the fiber optic connector is received and detected.

Abstract: A connector inspector includes a microscope assembly, a supporting tray, a main frame, and a fitting tip. The microscope assembly is placed within the supporting tray with a bottom cylindrical protrusion inserted into a base plate of the supporting tray, and the supporting tray is coupled with the main frame with a pair of pivoting joints. The microscope assembly is horizontally biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. The microscope assembly is vertically biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. Thus, the microscope assembly may be swung to shift the imaging axis in two dimensions. The design of enables the inspector to be used with just one hand. See-through windows are formed on the sides of the fitting tip for monitoring the shifting of the imaging axis.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector endface inspection probe includes a microscope system, a camera module, and an image processing system. While the objective lens of the microscope system is being moved towards and past the focused position for the endface of a mated connector, either by manually turning a focusing knob in one direction or via an automatic transmission mechanism, the camera module continuously takes and sends endface images to the image processing system, wherein a microprocessor continuously monitors the sharpness of the endface images to acquire a focused image and analyze it to make an endface inspection pass/fail judgment, without using an external display to monitor the endface images. The microprocessor further comprises an embedded web server for converting endface images and inspection report into web pages to be transmitted by a wireless transmitter of the image processing system to external devices for optional monitoring or manual inspection.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an optical fiber link comprises generating a monitoring signal used for monitoring the optical fiber link, combining the generated monitoring signal with a data signal to be transmitted over the optical fiber link, detecting backscattering of the monitoring signal from the optical fiber link, detecting a change in characteristic of the detected backscattered monitoring signal, and determining, from the detected change in characteristic, at least one location along the optical fiber link where the monitoring signal is modified, and signal loss at this location.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of the inability to sufficiently reduce manufacturing cost for specifying a faulty section of an optical fiber. The device according to the present invention is a device connected to an optical fiber into which light reflection elements that reflect a fixed amount of light are inserted, said device being provided with a transmission means for transmitting light to the optical fiber and stopping the transmission, a measurement means for measuring the intensity of the reflection light reflected by the light reflection elements, a time measurement means for measuring the time from the stopping of the transmission of the light by the transmission means to the reduction of the intensity of the reflection light measured by the measurement means to a prescribed value or less, a distance measurement means for calculating a distance corresponding to the time measured by the time measurement means, and an output means for outputting a signal indicating the distance.

Abstract: A system or a network may include an optoelectronic module that includes an optical transmitter optically coupled with an optical fiber, and a controller communicatively coupled to the optical transmitter. The controller may be configured to operate the optical transmitter to transmit data signals through the optical fiber. The optoelectronic module may be configured to transmit time synchronization signals through the optical fiber along with the data signals.

Abstract: Techniques for forming a facet optical coupler to couple light at an edge of silicon substrate are described. The facet optical coupler includes a silicon substrate, a layer of second material disposed on the silicon substrate and in direct contact with the edge of the silicon substrate, and an undercut region disposed between a portion of the silicon substrate and the layer of second material. The undercut region is offset from the edge to provide mechanical integrity of the facet optical coupler to improve production of photonic integrated circuits having the facet optical coupler from a wafer.

Abstract: A multimode launch system to be connected to an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) for use in performing at least one OTDR measurement on a multi-fiber array Device Under Test (DUT), the multimode launch system comprising: an optical switch being connectable to the OTDR during use; a launch array device having an end being connectable to the optical switch and another end being connectable to the multi-fiber array DUT during use, the launch array device having a plurality of multimode launch optical fibers each having at least one first guidance parameter being smaller than a corresponding one of at least one second guidance parameter of at least one multimode optical fiber of the optical switch; and a multi-fiber mode conditioner along the launch array device for inducing a preferential attenuation of higher-order optical modes of test light propagated into the multi-fiber array DUT during use.

Abstract: The systems include a transmitter, a receiver, a signal sampler and a cable length calculation unit. The transmitter is configured to transmit a plurality of data symbols at a first data rate via a wired data communication link, and the receiver is configured to receive a reflection signal. The signal sampler is configured to sample the received reflection signal using a phase shift number of shifting sampling phases to generate reflection samples, and combine the reflection samples with different sampling phases to generate a series of reflection samples corresponding to a second data rate higher than the first data rate. The cable length calculation unit is configured to determine a delay parameter from the series of reflection samples, and generate an estimate of a length of the data communication link.

Abstract: A system (20) for fiber-optic reflectometry includes an optical source (28, 40), a beat detection module (52, 56) and a processor (36). The optical source is configured to generate an optical interrogation signal that is transmitted into an optical fiber (24). The beat detection module is configured to receive from the optical fiber an optical backscattering signal in response to the optical interrogation signal, and to mix the optical backscattering signal with a reference replica of the optical interrogation signal using In-phase/Quadrature (I/Q) mixing, so as to produce a complex beat signal having In-phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) components. The processor is configured to sense one or more events affecting the optical fiber by analyzing the I and Q components of the complex beat signal.

Abstract: A sensor network having a series arrangement of fiber-coupled, reflective sensors is disclosed. In operation, a first light signal having multiple wavelength bands is launched in an upstream direction on a fiber bus. Each sensor includes a wavelength filter and an FP sensor that is sensitive to a parameter. Each wavelength filter (1) selectively passes a different one of the wavelength bands to its FP sensor and (2) reflects the remaining wavelength bands back into the fiber bus to continue upstream. The FP sensor imprints a signal based on the parameter onto its received light and reflects it as a second light signal. The collimator, wavelength filter, and FP sensor of each sensor are arranged such that each second light signal is returned to the fiber bus, which conveys them in a downstream direction to a processor that measures them and estimates the parameter at each sensor.

Abstract: An optical testing circuit on a wafer includes an optical input configured to receive an optical test signal and photodetectors configured to generate corresponding electrical signals in response to optical processing of the optical test signal through the optical testing circuit. The electrical signals are simultaneously sensed by a probe circuit and then processed. In one process, test data from the electrical signals is simultaneously generated at each step of a sweep in wavelength of the optical test signal and output in response to a step change. In another process, the electrical signals are sequentially selected and the sweep in wavelength of the optical test signal is performed for each selected electrical signal to generate the test data.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a multiple-fiber connector is provided. The inspection system includes a microscope probe and a probe tip configured to provide an optical path between the microscope probe and the multiple-fiber connector. The probe tip and microscope probe are configured so that the field of view of the microscope probe is sufficiently large to cover a portion of the connector surface encompassing a plurality of the optical fiber endfaces. The system further includes a shifting mechanism operable to shift the field of view of the microscope probe between at least two discrete positions over the connector surface. Each discrete position encompasses a different subset of the multiple optical fiber endfaces and optionally at least one positioning reference. A probe tip and a method of inspection are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of selecting, from a set of like optical fibers, a subset of optical fibers that can meet both short-wavelength and target-wavelength bandwidth requirements are disclosed. The method includes obtaining short-wavelength bandwidth data from DMD measurements, and determining a peak wavelength for each optical fiber. A target-wavelength bandwidth is then calculated using the determined peak wavelengths. The calculated target bandwidth is then compared to the short-wavelength and target-wavelength bandwidth requirements to identify which of the optical fibers satisfy these requirements.

Abstract: An intermediate signal is separated into a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal according to a separation coefficient having a known real value. The first sub-signal is delivered to a first photonic circuit containing at least one photonic device to be characterized and a first photonic part. The second sub-signal is delivered to a second photonic circuit containing a second photonic part having a same transfer function as the first photonic part but lacking the at least one photonic device. Optical output signals from the first and second photonic circuits are converted into first and second electrical signals. Losses of the at least one photonic device are determined from processing the electrical signals and from the known real value of the separation coefficient.

Abstract: A system for certifying physical parameters of fiber optic cabling may include a test device coupled to an end of a fiber optic cable. The test device injects light into the fiber optic cable and conducts a certification test of physical parameters of the fiber optic cable. Based on observation of interaction of the injected light with the fiber optic cable, the test device tests one or more physical parameters of the cable and certifies whether the tested parameters satisfy corresponding parameters specified by a predetermined standard. A separate device may communicate a control signal (e.g., wirelessly) to the test device for controlling an operation of the certification test. The separate device is further operable to receive a result of the certification test from the test device. The separate device may further communicate with a remote computing device updates a database element with information regarding the certification test.

Abstract: This application describes method and apparatus for fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) that allow for quantitative estimation of relatively large and continuous stimuli acting on the sensing fiber. An optical fiber (101) is interrogated with optical pulse and the Rayleigh backscatter detected to provide a DAS sensor. The method involves identifying a first stimulus acting on at least one sensing portion of the optical fiber, which results in an effective optical path length change within said sensing portion of at least the wavelength of the optical radiation. Such a path length change will result in signal wrapping leading to an observed variation (401) in backscatter intensity. The frequency of variation is detected and can be used to estimate the rate of change of path length. The method can be used to estimate strain rate and/or rate of change of temperature.

Abstract: A fiber laser apparatus that generates invisible laser light using an amplification optical fiber having a single-mode core and outputs the invisible laser light via an output optical fiber is provided. The fiber laser apparatus includes a visible laser light source that generates visible laser light, an introducing section that introduces the visible laser light generated by the visible laser light source into a core of one of the amplification optical fiber and the output optical fiber, and a drive unit that drives, in a case of performing alignment of an irradiation position of the invisible laser light with respect to a workpiece, the visible laser light source and emits the visible laser light via the core of the output optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical time domain reflectometer using, as a optical source, a polymer wavelength tunable laser which tunes the wavelength of an optical signal by using polymer grating. The optical time domain reflectometer of the present invention tunes the wavelength of a polymer wavelength tunable laser that outputs a constant optical signal and inspects cutting, reflection, and damage of an optical line by separating an optical signal returning from the optical line by an optical filter having a specific central wavelength. Since a optical source having a constant light intensity is used, the present invention has an effect of reducing the nonlinear effect generated in an optical line.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes converting, using a spatial mode converter, an input signal into a plurality of spatial modes and performing polarization multiplexing and mode multiplexing, using a polarization multiplexer and a mode multiplexer, respectively, on the input signal. The method further includes injecting the input signal into a fiber optic medium. The method additionally includes applying, using at least one spatial filter in each of a forward and a backward direction within the fiber optic medium, the plurality of spatial modes within the fiber optic medium to transmit the input signal and perform distributed fault sensing on the input signal simultaneously.

Abstract: In some examples, an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) device may include a laser source to emit a plurality of laser beams. Each laser beam may include a different pulse width. A control unit may analyze, for each laser beam, a backscattered signal from a device under test (DUT). The control unit may generate, for each backscattered signal, a trace along the DUT. Further, the control unit may generate, based on an analysis of each trace along the DUT, a combined trace that identifies optical events detected along the DUT.

Abstract: A connector inspector includes a microscope assembly, a supporting tray, and a main frame. The microscope assembly is placed within the supporting tray with a bottom cylindrical protrusion inserted into a base plate of the supporting tray, and the supporting tray is coupled with the main frame with a pair of pivoting joints. The microscope assembly is horizontally biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, both set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. The microscope assembly is vertically biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, both set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. Thus, the microscope assembly is able to swing to shift the imaging axis of the microscope assembly in two dimensions using the two adjusting knobs respectively. Because the biasing means for the imaging axis are built inside the inspector, the inspector may be used with just one hand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic determination of a fiber type of at least one optical fiber span used in a link of an optical network, the method comprising the steps of measuring a length of said optical fiber span; measuring a chromatic dispersion of said optical fiber span; determining a fiber dispersion profile of said optical fiber span on the basis of the measured length and the measured fiber chromatic dispersion; and determining a fiber category and/or a specific fiber type of said optical fiber span depending on the determined fiber dispersion profile.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a distributed nondestructive inspection method for slickline cable structural defect detection transmits a light pulse along an optical waveguide in the slickline cable. A reflected light signal is 5 received from the optical waveguide in response to the light pulse. Defects can then be determined in the slickline cable based on variations in scattering intensity, phase shift, specific spectral signature, power spectral density, strain amplitude, and/or transmission loss of the reflected light signal as compared to the light pulse.

Abstract: A microscopy system that includes a first laser emitting a first laser pulse along a first beam line, the first laser pulse being a Gaussian pump beam; and a second laser emitting a second laser pulse along a second beam line, the second laser pulse being a probe beam, the Gaussian pump beam and the probe beam being delivered to a sample at right angles to each other allowing the Gaussian pump beam to shrink a focal axial diameter of the second beam line thereby enabling dipole-like backscatter stimulated emission along the second beam line.

Abstract: A system for measuring radio frequency power of an incoming radio frequency signal is described, with at least one radio frequency interface for receiving the radio frequency signal, a signal processing unit for processing the radio frequency signal, a frequency selection unit for separating at least two frequency bands of the incoming radio frequency signal, the frequency selection unit comprising several filters, at least one power detector for measuring the radio frequency power of at least one of the frequency bands processed by the at least one power detector. At least one of the several filters is connected with the at least one power detector. The frequency selection unit is configured to forward the incoming radio frequency signal to at least one of the filters wherein the frequency selection unit has at least a first operation state in which the incoming radio frequency signal is forwarded to more than one filter simultaneously or subsequently.

Abstract: An optical-fiber-characteristic-evaluating apparatus includes a measuring unit and an analyzing unit. The measuring unit measures, in one arbitrary direction, dependence F?(?) of an electric field F of a measurement-object mode, which is one of high-order spatial modes of a multimode optical fiber that is to be evaluated, upon an angle of divergence ? in a far field by performing FFS. The analyzing unit obtains dependence fr(r) of the electric field F of the measurement-object mode upon a fiber-radial-direction position r at the exit end of the multimode optical fiber by performing a calculation in accordance with a predetermined expression containing F?(?).

Abstract: A method and a system for ultimately fast frequency-scanning Brillouin optical time domain analysis are provided herein. The method may include: simultaneously launching two pairs each having a pulsed pump wave and a counter-propagating constant wave (CW) probe wave, into an optical fiber, wherein the pulsed pumps have orthogonal States of Polarization (SOPs), and wherein the two CW probe waves have a same SOP; scanning common pump-probe frequency difference, over a frequency range that encompasses a respective Brillouin Gain Spectrum (BGS) and current and expected spectral shifts of the BGS along the optical fiber; deriving, a local Brillouin Frequency Shift (BFS), in a distributed manner along the optical fiber, which is defined as the pump-probe frequency difference which maximizes the Brillouin gain on the BGS; and determining strain and/or temperature in a distributed manner along the optical fiber, based on the respective local BFS.

Abstract: By removing remaining components of Rayleigh scattered light, control is sufficiently performed of polarization states even when the wavelength of scattered light has changed. A light source unit configured to generate probe light, a wavelength control unit configured to receive backscattered light emitted from an optical fiber to be tested by the probe light and to output Brillouin backscattered light included in the backscattered light, and a self-delayed heterodyne interferometer to which the Brillouin backscattered light is input are included. The wavelength control unit includes a wavelength separation filter, a variable wavelength filter, an optical intensity measurement unit, and a control unit. The wavelength separation filter has two output ports, outputs and transmits, from one of the two output ports, the Brillouin backscattered light to the variable wavelength filter, and outputs and transmits, from the other output port, Rayleigh scattered light to the optical intensity measurement unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reference fixture. The reference fixture includes a joint, and a joint tracker to track motion of the joint. The apparatus also includes a surgical instrument. A tether is connected between the joint and the surgical instrument. A shape sensor extends from the reference fixture through the joint, through the tether, and into the surgical instrument. The shape sensor is substantially free of twist. The joint tracker measures the motion of the joint. Information from the shape sensor in combination with information from the joint tracker provides absolute three-dimensional information relative to the reference fixture, i.e., provides absolute three-dimensional information in a fixed world reference frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for testing bundles of fiber optic fibers, such as fiber optic trunk cables, for correct polarity of connections at each end of the bundle of fibers while preventing the fiber optic fibers from contacting any other components during testing. The systems include a processor, a plurality of signal generators interfaced with a plurality of signal generator ports, a sensor interfaced with a sensor input port, a first selector switch, and a display, the processor operable to stimulate the plurality of signal generators one at a time in a first sequence to produce a signal, the first sequence based on a position of the first selector switch, the processor further operable to cause the display to display an output of the sensor.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment including a pilot control signal unit structured to generate a pilot control signal having a state including one of a high state and a low state, a pilot control signal isolation unit structured to generate an isolated pilot control signal that is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment and is based on the state of the pilot control signal, and an amplification unit structured to generate a pilot signal based on the state of the pilot control signal. The amplification unit is structured to receive the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage and to use the isolated pilot control signal and the isolated voltage to generate the pilot signal, and the pilot signal is isolated from the power lines of the electric vehicle supply equipment.

Abstract: An optical signal-to-noise ratio monitor includes: a measuring unit that measures an optical signal-to-noise ratio of a polarization multiplexed optical signal, a polarization state of the polarization multiplexed optical signal changing with respect to time; a selector that selects, from a plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios measured by the measuring unit at a plurality of measurement points within a designated measurement period, an optical signal-to-noise ratio that is higher than an average of the plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios; and an output unit that outputs the optical signal-to-noise ratio selected by the selector.

Abstract: An OTDR device and method for characterizing one or more events in an optical fiber link are provided. A plurality of light acquisitions is performed. For each light acquisition, test light pulses are propagated in the optical fiber link and the corresponding return light signals from the optical fiber link are detected. The light acquisitions are performed under different acquisition conditions, for example using different pulsewidths or wavelengths. Parameters characterizing the event are derived using the detected return signal from at least two of the plurality of light acquisitions.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to optical test instruments, such as fiber optic inspection scopes and optical power meters, for testing optical communication links, such as fiber optic connectors. The optical test instruments include a single test port that is able to operate in two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the optical test instrument is configured to provide an image of the endface of a fiber optic connector under test. In a second mode of operation, the optical test instrument is configured to measure power or power loss in an optical fiber under test. In that regard, the fiber optic connector only has to be coupled to a single port of an optical test instrument for a visual inspection of an endface of a fiber optic connector and a power test of the optical fiber under test.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided, in which acoustic signals received by distributed acoustic sensors are processed in order to determine the position of a source or sources of the acoustic signals. The method and system are able to determine the position of several acoustic sources simultaneously, by measuring the corresponding several acoustic signals. Furthermore, the strength of the acoustic signal or signals can be determined. The location of the acoustic source may be overlaid on a map of an area being monitored, or be used to generate an alarm if perceived to correspond to a threat or an intrusion, for example in a pipeline monitoring application. Alternatively, the method and systems can be used to monitor a hydraulic fracturing process.

Abstract: We disclose embodiments of a WDM transmitter having an in-band OTDR capability for at least a subset of the WDM channels thereof. In an example embodiment, an OTDR-enabled WDM channel of the WDM transmitter is implemented using an optical transceiver that comprises an optical transmitter and a coherent optical receiver. The optical transmitter is configured to generate a modulated optical signal by modulating a respective carrier wavelength, transmit the modulated optical signal through an optical link as a component of the corresponding WDM signal, and provide the respective carrier wavelength to the coherent optical receiver for being used therein as an optical local oscillator. The optical receiver is configured to estimate an impulse response of the optical link by coherently detecting and processing a return optical signal produced within the optical link due to distributed reflection and/or backscattering of the modulated optical signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical fiber length measurement method and apparatus, where the method is used to measure an optical fiber length between a first device and a second device, and the method includes: acquiring, by a measurement device, timestamp parameters, where the timestamp parameters include a first transmit timestamp Ta1, a first receive timestamp Ta2, a second transmit timestamp Tb1, and a second receive timestamp Tb2; and determining, by the measurement device, the optical fiber length L according to the timestamp parameters, where when (Ta2?Tb1)+(Tb2?Ta1)?n*T, L=2.5*[(Ta2?Tb1)+(Tb2?Ta1)], or when (Ta2?Tb1)+(Tb2?Ta1)>n*T, L=2.5*[(Ta2?Tb1)+(Tb2?Ta1)?n*T]. The method does not depend on a dedicated measurement instrument such as an OTDR, an OFDR, or an OCDR, thereby simplifying a measurement process, and helping reduce a measurement cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting an OTDR curve tail end event to locate an optical fiber break point in an online mode, comprising following steps: 1, an OTDR emits detection light to an optical fiber operation link, and receives reflection light to form reflection sampling point data containing tail end event; 2, head end reflection point in sampling point is found out; 3, traversal is carried out to find search region end point; 4, segmented line fitting is carried out in region of [search region end point, head end reflection point] in reversed direction, start point of section of line meeting predetermined condition is used as a search region start point; 5, if absolute value of difference between largest sampling value in search region and sampling value of search region start point is larger than second preset threshold value, tail end event is judged as reflection tail end event.

Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a method of directly measuring a leakage loss from a peripheral core in a MCF with a coating to the coating. In the measurement method, in a high refractive-index state in which the coating is present on an outer periphery of a common cladding, first transmission power of measurement light, which propagates through the peripheral core of the MCF, is measured. On the other hand, in a low refractive-index state in which a low-refractive-index layer with a lower refractive index than the common cladding is provided on the outer periphery of the common cladding, second transmission power of the measurement light, which propagates through the peripheral core of the MCF, is measured. The leakage loss LL from the peripheral core to the coating is calculated as a difference between the first transmission power and the second transmission power.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to detect a predetermined physical amount and relay communication between a network and a terminal. The apparatus calculates a communication disabling risk based on the predetermined physical amount, and notifies another apparatus of takeover of a process of relaying the communication between the network and the terminal when the communication disabling risk is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system includes a suspended optical fiber having a neutral buoyancy and an optical time-domain reflectometer connected to the suspended optical fiber at an origin location. The suspended optical fiber is connected to a mooring at a first end of the suspended optical fiber and further includes at least one terminal end. The optical time-domain reflectometer includes a light source operable to emit an optical pulse of light into the suspended optical fiber from the origin location toward the terminal end, and a processor operable to receive an optical return signal from the terminal end of the suspended optical fiber or from a deformation created by a disturbance to the suspended optical fiber and to determine a location and a type of the disturbance based on an analysis of at least a time to receive the optical return signal and a magnitude of the optical return signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: An optical signal quality monitoring apparatus includes: a holding unit configured to hold a relational expression representing a relationship among an optical signal intensity, a noise intensity, and an optical signal-to-noise ratio and a plurality of calibration coefficients used in the relational expression; a measurement unit configured to measure an optical power of input light and a noise power in the input light; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios, based on the optical power and the noise power measured by the measurement unit, by using the relational expression and the plurality of calibration coefficients; and a determination unit configured to select one optical signal-to-noise ratio from the plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios, based on a magnitude relationship of the plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios calculated by the arithmetic unit.

Abstract: The device includes a first detector configured to detect, from received signal power, first fault parameters related to an occurrence of a first fault on this optical fiber. The device further includes a database configured to store the first fault parameters and a second detector configured to detect from the received signal power second fault parameters related to a restoration of a second fault on the optical fiber. The device further includes a comparator configured to compare the second fault parameters with the stored fault parameters and to decide that the fault is resolved if the first fault parameters most closely match the second fault parameters.

Abstract: A wireless power transmission system includes a power control device, a power transmitting device, a relay device, and a power receiving device. The power control device includes a direct-current power supply, and a main control circuit that generates a first load instruction value and a second load instruction value. The power transmitting device returns a first response signal and information on alternating-current power supplied to a load circuit in the relay device, such as a voltage value, when receiving the first load instruction value. The load circuit returns a second response signal when receiving the second load instruction value. The main control circuit determines that not the load circuit but the relay-side power receiving circuit is faulty when not receiving the second response signal within a first period and receiving the first response signal within a second period and not receiving is the information within a second period.