摘要:
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.
摘要:
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. The clad zone has a two-dimensional discrimination factor for both scratches and blobs, one dimension being cumulative for a totality of the intensity variations and the other dimension being for each individual intensity variation. The effect of the illumination of the core on the discrimination may be accounted for.
摘要:
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. Various displays are generated so that an operator may view the progress of each of the tests. A database is utilized to store test results as well as test recipes and test instrument drivers that aid in the control of a testing architecture.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
An apparatus for inspecting an end surface of a fiber optic is provided having a scope body with an adapter that mates the scope body with a bulkhead connected to an end surface of a fiber optic, and a system for generating light at a selected angle to the end surface of the fiber optic, located within the scope body, so that the light impinges on the end surface of the fiber optic through the bulkhead at the selected angle. An image of the end surface of the fiber optic is generated wherein an imperfection located on the end surface of the fiber optic casts a shadow on the image of the end surface of the fiber optic. The image is received by an image receiving system wherein the imperfection on the end surface of the fiber optic is detected and enhanced due to the shadow in the image. A method for inspection an end surface of a fiber optic is also disclosed.
摘要:
A method of controlling an optical fiber splicing machine utilizes a power control mode to control the amount of power delivered to fuse the fibers. In the power control mode, the attenuation is measured while the fusing process is occurring. The power control mode shuts down the splicer when the measured insertion loss is less than or equal to the target insertion loss value plus a margin value. The margin value accounts for the transient attenuation difference value indicative of the changing attenuation as the splice cools. If the desired attenuation is not achieved, an energy control mode is utilized which controls the amount of energy delivered to fuse the fibers. After delivering this energy, the method measures the attenuation. If not within desired values, the energy mode is repeated. At each iteration the splicing control function utilized by the energy control mode may be reprogrammed. With these techniques, optical fibers may be spliced having a controlled attenuation to within +/−0.1 dB or better. A system for performing the attenuating splice uses, in addition to a optical fiber splicing machine, a laser and power meter to measure insertion loss as well as a controller to implement the splicing methods.
摘要:
An apparatus for integrating steps of a process for interconnecting optical fibers. The apparatus contains a planar surface having a plurality of openings. A plurality of optical fiber processing modules are suspended within the plurality of openings, with each of the modules configured to execute a different step of the optical fiber interconnection process. A material transfer mechanism, such as a robot arm, is arranged above the planar surface and is connected to a controller. The apparatus can incorporate an optical fiber precision handling tool, which holds, transports and aligns the fibers to be processed. The robot arm is operative to pick-up and move the optical fiber precision handling tool between the plurality of modules. This allows the optical fibers to be transferred through a series of process steps without having to re-secure or re-orient the fibers between the steps.
摘要:
A calibration apparatus and method for a polishing machine includes a ferrule surrounding a polishing pad and a plurality of sensors attached to the ferrule. Each of the sensors is directed at a location where optical fibers extending downwardly from a leveling device contact the polishing pad. The sensors are infrared sensors that detect a heat signature generated by friction at the contact point between the optical fibers and the polishing pad as the polishing pad spins and revolves relative to the leveling device. The heat signature that is generated corresponds to the pressure existing between the optical fibers and the polishing pad.
摘要:
A segment detection system automatically, contactlessly, rapidly, and precisely detects a segment along an edge, such as a boundary, of an object in a digitized image. The segment detection system includes an imager for capturing an image of an object and converting the image into an electrical signal. A computer is connected to the camera for receiving the electrical signal. A machine vision system is associated with the computer and is adapted to analyze the image. A segment detection program is disposed in the computer for driving the computer and the machine vision system in accordance with the present invention. The segment detection program includes an initialization subroutine and a matching subroutine. The initialization subroutine configures the program to search for a particular target polynomial equation. The matching subroutine derives a test polynomial equation that represents a test segment from a test edge of the object based upon an analysis of the image. Further, the matching subroutine determines whether the test segment matches the target segment by comparing corresponding coefficients of the test polynomial equation and the target polynomial equation.