1. Field
The invention is related to an apparatus for inspecting the ends of optical fibers, and more particularly, to an apparatus for inspecting the end of optical fibers that can display a pair of images of ends of optical fibers.
2. Related Art
Fiber and connector contamination is a key contributor to network downtime and there is a need to document that fibers and connectors have been properly cleaned during installation and subsequent network activation and maintenance tasks. Typically, technicians are given very basic tools, such as miniature optical microscopes or crude video microscopes to perform inspections but these can neither document results nor provide pass/fail analysis. Thus, some fibers may not be inspected at all and those that are inspected could be subject to the arbitrary decisions of field technicians.
Existing technology does not allow users to achieve linkage between connector images of interest for reporting or analysis needs. This limits the image usefulness to the user and places undue burden on users to manually associate images or manually review images for differences. Often images of interest are taken either weeks/months apart (in case of identical end-face and determination/documentation of reason service interruption) or taken from geographically different locations (in case of certifying a fiber installation where documentation of both ends of fiber is critical).
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to be able to capture and review pairs of images in order to simplify before/after, jumper/bulkhead, input/output, near/far, as built/as found and other common fiber cleanliness comparison.
Another object of the invention is to provide the capability to manipulate, analyze and annotate pairs of images.
Exemplary implementations of the present invention address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary implementation of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems listed above.
An embodiment of the invention is an optical inspection apparatus for including a memory configured to store a pair of images of ends of optical fibers, a display, and a processor coupled to the memory and the display, wherein the processor controls the display to display the pair of images simultaneously.
Other features of the embodiment may include the processor controlling the display to manipulate both images simultaneously and the processor controlling the display to annotate both images simultaneously. The manipulation may be at least one of a zoom or pan.
Other features of the embodiment may include the processor controlling the display to manipulate only one of the images and the processor controlling the display to annotate only one of the images.
Other features of the embodiment may include the processor performing an analysis on both images and controlling the display to display results of the analysis.
Other features of the embodiment may include storing a program on a non-transitory computer readable medium to perform the functions described above and in the detailed description section below.
The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses and/or systems described herein. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted to enhance clarity and conciseness.
In one embodiment, the software analyzes a typical fiber in under five seconds and is capable of centering a fiber image, identifying critical core, cladding, adhesive and contact zones and detecting and tallying the types of defects found. The display provides detailed images and a zoom/pan feature allows the user to identify the smallest particles, scratches and imperfections. Portrait orientation makes it easy to hold and operate with just one hand. Another feature is an image pairing feature, which simplifies before/after, jumper/bulkhead, input/output, near/far, as built/as found and other common fiber cleanliness comparisons. Additional features include image capture and store/recall. In one embodiment up to 1000 fiber images may be stored in on-board memory and images may be transferred via any off-the-shelf USB memory stick, SD flash card. or other memory device.
A video inspection probe is used to capture images of ends of optical fibers. An exemplary video inspection probe is the AFL DFS 1 Digital FiberScope, which is a high resolution video inspection probe. It is equipped with a focusing knob and an image capture button. An assortment of DFS 1 adapter tips allow it to be used with all types of fiber connector ferrules and bulkhead connectors. Bulkhead tips are available in multiple lengths as well as straight and 60° angle. Connector adapters are available in PC/UPC, APC polished ferrule in 1.25 mm, 2.5 mm, MPO connectors and many more.
Next, exemplary operation of the fiber inspection apparatus will be described. The operation assumes the video inspection probe is configured with the appropriate adapter tip installed, the touchscreen tablet is powered up, the video inspection probe is connected to the touchscreen tablet, and real-time images from the video inspection probe are currently being displayed on the display.
If testing an optical fiber connector, the ferrule of the optical fiber is slid into the installed adapter probe tip, using caution not to contaminate the end-face of the fiber connector. A dark circle will appear on the attached device display.
If testing an optical fiber connector mounted in a bulkhead adapter, the probe adapter tip is slid into the bulkhead adapter. The angle of the adapter tip is adjusted until a dark circle appears on the attached device display.
Next, the focus adjust knob on the video inspection probe is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise until the displayed circle is in sharp focus. Once a good image has been obtained, it may be analyzed in several ways: (1) live image mode—allows focusing the image and inspecting the condition of the connector end-face; (2) analysis mode—generates a static image of the connector and enables automatic analysis according to the analysis criteria selected by the user, allows viewing analysis criteria and the resulted image using zoom and pan tools and allows the user either to store or delete the captured image; and (3) image capture mode—features viewing the captured image using zoom and pan tools, allows the user either to store or delete the captured image. After either saving or deleting the captured image, the touchscreen tablet transitions to the live image mode.
Enabling the image pair mode allows the user to select a preset pairing mode prior to fiber inspection, then inspect fiber end-faces and save captured images with the selected pairing preset label for simplified identification, recall, and review. To use the image pair mode, a preset image pairing mode is set prior to fibers inspection. Examples of image pair presets include: (1) Before/after—This is a general preset for any before/after fiber inspection comparisons; (2) Input/output—This is a general preset for any input/output fiber inspection comparison; (3) Cleaning—This preset is used for inspection fiber end-faces before and after cleaning; (4) Mating—This preset is used for inspection of mating connector and bulkhead; and (5) Documentation—This preset is used for as-built/as-found fiber installation and maintenance.
After the image pair mode is enabled, captured images are stored with the selected pairing mode label (Before/After, Input/Output, Cleaning, Mating, Documentation) for image pair identification. To simplify images recall and review, stored images may be optionally filtered by the user-selected image pair mode.
The apparatus also is capable of producing documentation and reports, such as customer certification reports, that show the results of the analysis of a pair of images. For example, the processor can output a report that has a “before cleaning” image and analysis results (such as defects and abnormalities), and an “after cleaning” image and analysis results. Likewise, a report that has an image and analysis of a mating bulkhead end-face and an image and analysis of a corresponding jumper cable end-face can be produced. The paired analysis results can also be combined with other data associated with the optical fibers, such as OTDR, OPM and OSA test data.
As mentioned above, although the exemplary embodiments described above are various apparatuses for inspecting optical fibers, they are merely exemplary and the general inventive concept should not be limited thereto, and it could also apply to other types of apparatuses for inspecting optical fibers.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/609,544, filed Mar. 12, 2012, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US13/30507 | 3/12/2013 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61609544 | Mar 2012 | US |