Optical test device and connector adapter

Abstract

An optical testing device in conjunction with a removable connector adapter is provided. A method of testing an optical fiber is also provided. The test device includes a test port configured to engage with a fiber optic cable having a given number of optical fibers. The connector adapter includes a device connector adapted to be connected to a test port and a fiber-under-test (FUT) connector adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable, such as to a test core connectable with the FUT. The FUT connector is configured to engage with a fiber optic cable, the number of optical fibers of the fiber optic cable being different from the number of optical fibers of the test port. The optical testing apparatus includes a processing unit that may be configured to: adjust a test to be performed based on a detected connector adapter; and correspondingly adjusting the user interface and the test parameters.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 507,117 filed on June 9, 2023 and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 518,173 filed on August 8, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein. Technical Field

[0003] The technical field relates generally to optical test equipment and, more particularly, to connector adapters for use with optical test equipment. The connector adapters enable the optical test equipment to test fiber optic cables having a different number of fibers, a different connector type, or a different fiber end face than a test connector on the test equipment. Background Art

[0004] Different types of optical test equipment can be used to verify and measure characteristics of optical signals, which can indicate the condition and performance of the optical fiber. Optical test equipment, also known as optical test instruments, optical testers, or test units, include optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs) and optical loss test sets (OLTSs) as examples only.

[0005] The test set is provided with connectors that are designed to connect to specific fiber optic cables. For example, an MPO / MTP-12 port or connector on the test set connects to a corresponding MPO / MTP-12 connector of a 12-fiber cable. The test set's parameters and test sequences are also programmed for a specific type of fiber optic cable.

[0006] The challenge is that in order to test different types of cables, as is often the case in telecommunications facilities or data centers, it would be necessary to use as many test fixtures as there are types of cables to be tested. While this problem can be mitigated by using extension cables with different cable ends and connectors, such as adapter cores, branch cores, or Y-branch fan-out cores, these extension cables do not allow the use of the single-core reference method, which is the industry's preferred reference method because it produces the lowest measurement uncertainty.

[0007] Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a test apparatus and method for testing fiber optic cables that can limit the number of apparatuses that need to be maintained, operations that need to be performed during testing, or configuration changes that need to be made on the test apparatus. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to an aspect, an optical test device for testing an optical fiber cable is provided. The optical test device includes: a housing, wherein a measuring component is included in the housing; and a test port, wherein the test port is provided with an optical fiber interface configured to engage with a given number of optical fibers. The optical test device also includes a connector adapter or can work in combination with a connector adapter, wherein the connector adapter can be removably connected to the test port. The connector adapter includes: a device connector, wherein the device connector is suitable for being connected to the test port; and a fiber under test (FUT) connector, wherein the FUT connector is suitable for being connected to an optical fiber cable to be tested. The fiber under test (FUT) connector is usually connected to the optical fiber cable to be tested via a test core wire. The FUT connector is configured to engage with an optical fiber cable, wherein the number of optical fibers of the optical fiber cable is different from the given number of optical fibers of the test port, or the type of the optical fiber interface of the optical fiber cable is different from the type of the optical fiber interface of the test port. The optical test device includes a processing unit, wherein the processing unit can be configured to adjust the test parameters according to the number of optical fibers or according to the type of the optical fiber interface of the optical fiber cable to be tested.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may be shaped and configured as a cartridge.

[0010] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may include a click-out mechanism.

[0011] In a possible embodiment, the click-out mechanism may allow tool-free insertion and removal of the connector adapter from the test device.

[0012] In possible embodiments, the device connector and / or the FUT connector may be an angled physical contact (APC) connector or an ultra physical contact (UPC) connector.

[0013] In a possible embodiment, the device connector and / or the FUT connector may be a single-core fiber connector, a dual-core fiber connector, or a multi-core fiber connector. The device connector and / or the FUT connector may be an SC TM , FC TM , LC TM 、MDC TM , SN TM , CS TM 、MTP / MPO TM 、MMC TM SN-MT TM One of the connectors includes an 8-core, 12-core, or 24-core connector, as examples only.

[0014] In possible embodiments, the optical device may be one of an MPO-12 local test instrument, an MPO-24 local test instrument, an optical loss test set (OLTS), a light source, a power meter, or an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR).

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the housing may include an adapter receiving cavity, and the test port is disposed inside the adapter receiving cavity.

[0016] In a possible embodiment, the adapter receiving cavity may be shaped and configured to at least partially receive the connector adapter therein.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter can be an n-to-m fiber adapter, where n is the number of fiber interfaces of the test port, and m is the number of fiber interfaces of the test core wire or the FUT connector. According to the implementation, n can be greater than or less than m.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may be a fiber category adapter, wherein one of the device connector and the FUT connector of the connector adapter has an interface with pins, and the other connector has an interface without pins.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the test device may be a native MPO-12 test device and the connector adapter is an MPO-12 to duplex connector adapter.

[0020] In a possible embodiment, the test device may be a native MPO-12 test device and the connector adapter is an MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter.

[0021] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit may be configured to automatically detect the type of connector adapter connected to the test port.

[0022] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit may be configured to detect the type of connector adapter connected to the test port based on a reference cable used during a reference setting procedure.

[0023] In a possible embodiment, the optical test device may comprise an identification system allowing the processing unit to identify the type of connector adapter connected to the test port.

[0024] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may be provided with an RFID tag, and the optical testing device may comprise an RFID reader, the RFID tag providing an indication of the type of the connector adapter to the processing unit via the RFID reader.

[0025] In a possible embodiment, the optical test device and / or the connector adapter may include a protection mechanism that prevents unauthorized connector adapters from being used with the optical test device.

[0026] In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may be provided with an RFID tag, and the optical testing device may comprise an RFID reader, the RFID tag providing an indication of the type of the connector adapter to the processing unit via the RFID reading.

[0027] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit may include a reference setting auxiliary module adjusted based on the connector adapter connected to the test port.

[0028] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit may include a software application adapted to exclude testing or reporting of a plurality of fiber optic interfaces of the test port based on the type of connector adapter used.

[0029] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit may comprise a software application adapted to adjust the optical fiber testing sequence based on the type of connector adapter used.

[0030] In a possible embodiment, the software application may be configured to name the test results file based on the type of connector adapter used.

[0031] In a possible embodiment, the reference setting auxiliary module is configured to enable the use of a single-core reference optical fiber cable to set reference parameters for an optical fiber cable whose number of optical fibers is different from the number n of optical fiber interfaces of the test port, and the software application enables subsequent testing of the optical fiber cable using the adjusted reference parameters.

[0032] In a possible embodiment, the software application is configured to adjust test parameters of the optical test device by selecting only a subset of the fiber optic interfaces of the test port to test or measure the fiber optic cable under test.

[0033] In a possible embodiment, the software application is configured to adapt a graphical user interface to report results of the tests performed depending on the connector adapter used.

[0034] According to another aspect, a connector adapter is provided. The connector adapter is configured and adapted to be removably connected to a test port of the optical test device. The connector adapter comprises a fiber under test (FUT) connector, and the FUT connector is adapted to be connected to an optical fiber cable to be tested by the optical test device. The number m of the fiber interfaces of the FUT connector is different from the number n of the fiber interfaces of the test port. The connector adapter comprises an interconnection between the fiber interface of the device connector and the fiber interface of the FUT connector. The connector adapter may include an identification device, which allows identification of the type of the connector adapter connected to the test port.

[0035] According to possible embodiments, the optical test device may be one of an MPO-12 local test instrument, an MPO-24 local test instrument, an optical loss test set (OLTS), a light source, a power meter, or an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). For example, the test device may be a local MPO-12 test device, and the connector adapter may be an MPO-12 to duplex connector adapter. For another example, the test device may be a local MPO-12 test device, and the connector adapter may be an MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter.

[0036] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit and associated software interfaces and instructions may be configured to detect the type of connector adapter connected to the test port. The detection may be based on a reference cable used during the reference setting process. In a possible embodiment, the connector adapter may be provided with an RFID tag, and the optical test device may include an RFID reader, the RFID tag providing an indication of the type of the connector adapter to the processing unit via the RFID reading.

[0037] According to another aspect, a method for converting an optical test device and using the optical test device to test an optical fiber cable is also provided. The method comprises: connecting a connector adapter as described above to the optical test device. The method further comprises: connecting the optical fiber cable to be tested, such as via a test core wire, to the FUT connector of the connector adapter. The method further comprises: adjusting the test parameters of the optical test device based on the type of the connected connector adapter.

[0038] In a possible implementation, connecting the connector adapter to the optical testing device may include: at least partially inserting the connector adapter into a receiving cavity of the testing device.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the method may include: automatically detecting the type of connector adapter connected to the test device.

[0040] In a possible embodiment, the method may include detecting the type of connected connector adapter based on the reference cable used during the referencing process, for example by detecting whether a subset of optical fibers of the reference cable were tested as defective or erroneous.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the method may include: detecting the type of connector adapter connected to the test device based on information contained in an RFID tag or a contact tag provided on the connector adapter.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the method may include: a step of setting reference parameters using a single-core reference optical fiber cable; and a step of testing the optical fiber using the adjusted test parameters.

[0043] In a possible implementation, adjusting the test parameters of the optical test device may include: selecting only a subset of the fiber optic interfaces of the test port to test or measure the fiber optic cable under test; and adjusting the interface of the software application accordingly.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the method may include: excluding optical fiber interfaces of the test port that are not used by the connector adapter when measuring characteristics of the optical fiber cable during an acquisition process; and adjusting a graphical user interface of the optical test device accordingly.

[0045] In a possible implementation, adjusting the test parameters of the optical test device may include: adjusting a test sequence applied at the optical fiber interface of the optical test device.

[0046] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Figure 1 A duplex fiber optic cable is shown (prior art).

[0048] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D Different types of connectors for duplex fiber optic cables are shown (prior art).

[0049] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An MPO / MTP connector for a multiple fiber optic cable is shown (prior art).

[0050] Figure 4A and Figure 4BAn MMC connector for a multiple fiber optic cable is shown (prior art).

[0051] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an optical test fixture and a connector adapter according to a possible embodiment.

[0052] Figure 6 is a side view of a connector adapter according to a possible embodiment.

[0053] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of an optical test device with a connector adapter connected to the optical test device according to a possible embodiment.

[0054] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of connections in an MPO-12 pair duplex connector adapter according to a possible embodiment.

[0055] 9A to 9F A graphical user interface adapted based on a connector adapter connected to an optical test device is shown according to a possible embodiment.

[0056] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B is a schematic diagram for testing a connection of a duplex fiber optic cable according to a possible embodiment, wherein the duplex fiber optic cable is tested using a native MPO-12 optical test set provided with an MPO-12 pair of duplex connector adapters.

[0057] Fig.11A , Fig. 11B and Fig. 11C is a schematic diagram for testing connections of an MPO-24 fiber optic cable according to a possible embodiment, wherein the MPO-24 fiber optic cable is tested using a native MPO-12 optical test device provided with an MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter.

[0058] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram for testing the connection of an MPO-24 optical fiber cable according to a conventional method (prior art), wherein a Y-type test core cord is used to test the MPO-24 optical fiber cable. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] In the following description, similar features in the drawings are given similar reference numerals, and in order not to unduly obstruct the drawings, some elements may no longer be marked in some drawings if they have been marked in previous drawings. It should be understood herein that the elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should also be noted that positional descriptors such as up and down, inside and outside, and other similar terms indicating the position or orientation of one element relative to another are used herein for ease of description and clarity, and unless otherwise stated, the positional descriptors should be understood in the context of the drawings and should not be considered restrictive. It will be understood that such spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations in the use or operation of the present embodiment in addition to the orientations illustrated in the drawings.

[0060] In this specification, and unless otherwise specified, the terms "connected", "linked" or "coupled" and their variations and derivatives refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements. The connection or coupling between elements can be mechanical, physical, operational, electrical, or a combination thereof.

[0061] refer to Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of a fiber optic cable 10 is shown. A fiber optic cable includes one or more optical fibers (optical fibers or fiber optics) 12, a cladding, coating, and other components that cover and / or protect the one or more optical fibers, and a cable connector 16 at each cable end. An optical-fiber cable may also be referred to as an optical-fiber link, a fiber-optic cable, or a fiber-optic link. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the optical fiber cable is a duplex optical fiber (i.e., a 2-core optical fiber cable), and the connector is a duplex connector. An example of a duplex connector is shown in Figure 2B There are different types of duplex connectors 18, such as Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C The LC shown in TM , CS TM and SN TM Duplex connectors. Some connectors also allow several duplex fibers to be paired side by side, such as Figure 2D MDC shown TM Connector.

[0062] refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C as well as FIG. 4A to FIG. 4BThere are several other types of multi-fiber cables and connectors 16, such as 4-fiber, 8-fiber, 10-fiber, 12-fiber, 16-fiber, or 24-fiber cables and connectors. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An example of an MPO / MTP connector 20 is shown. Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C In the specification, 8-core, 12-core and 24-core MPO / MTP (Multi Fiber PushOn / Multi Fiber Termination Push-On) connectors are included respectively. The MPO / MTP connector may or may not include alignment pins / fixing pins, and is called a connector with or without pins. Figure 4A Shown is the MMC-16USconec TM connector, and Figure 4B Shown is the MMC-24USconec TM Connector. Depending on the configuration of the end face of the optical fiber, there may also be an Angled Physical Contact (APC) connector or an Ultra-Physical Contact (UPC) connector. With the gradual development of connector shapes and the number of optical fibers per cable, optical test equipment is needed to adapt to different connector types, and optical test equipment is needed to be able to test and measure the optical properties of optical fiber cables with different numbers of optical fibers, or to be able to test and measure optical properties via optical fiber cables with different numbers of optical fibers. The type of connector can be defined based on the number of optical fibers in the optical fiber cable, the optical fiber layout, the end face of the optical fiber, whether the connector includes pins, the connector category (convex / concave), etc. Ideally, an optical test device for measuring optical loss is able to universally apply the single-core or single-core equivalent reference method to any such optical fiber device under test.

[0063] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , a connector adapter 100 is proposed herein, which converts an optical test device 200 provided with a given type of test port 240 and configured to test a specific type of optical fiber cable into an optical test device 200 that can test other types of optical fiber cables. An optical test device 200 is also proposed, which can also be called an optical test instrument or an optical test unit, and which can be configured or adjusted based on the connector adapter connected thereto and the associated test method.

[0064] The optical test device 200 has a housing 210 or a casing that includes a measurement component 220 for measuring different characteristics of the optical fiber or device under test. The optical test device 200 also includes a processing unit 270, which can be configured to adjust the test or test parameters according to the type of optical fiber cable and based on the connector adapter connected to the optical test device. The processing unit 270 may include one or more controllers, such as one or more microcontrollers, and may include a memory (the memory includes, for example, a random access memory (RAM) such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), etc., a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) or a variant thereof) to control the light source and / or the measurement component 220 or communicate with the light source and / or the measurement component 220, for example, including: controlling the order of tests to be performed; selecting which optical fiber interfaces (or optical fiber end faces) are to be emitted or detected light; and adjusting different graphical user interfaces associated with the testing of a specific type of optical fiber cable or device.

[0065] The processing unit 270 also executes a software application, which includes different graphical user interfaces displayed by the display screen 230 of the test device, through which the user can set different parameters and select to determine the test to be performed. The software application can be implemented as a processor-readable instruction, which is stored in the memory of the processing unit and can be executed by the processor. The processing unit 270 generates a measured value characterizing the characteristics of the tested optical fiber cable or terminal device according to the light reflection captured by the measuring component on the selected optical fiber end face in the optical fiber end face of the connector adapter via the software application. The test result includes the measured value of the signal attenuation, and the test result can include a pass / fail judgment for each optical fiber of the cable based on at least one acceptance standard, and at least one acceptance standard is, for example, a pass / fail threshold. Other characteristics can include power attenuation, cable length, breakpoints on the optical fiber, etc. The acceptance standard can be based on industry standards and depends on the tested optical fiber cable. In a possible embodiment, the optical fiber under test (optical fiber under test, FUT), also referred to as an optical fiber cable, can be selected by the user and the corresponding acceptance standard is applied. The acceptance criteria may also be hard-coded in the memory of the processing unit 270, or may be made programmable, user customizable, or selectable by the user from a set of acceptance criteria stored in the memory. Depending on the connector adapter 100 connected to the optical test apparatus 200, the processing unit 270 may adjust the test parameters, including, for example, the fibers to be illuminated or considered during the test, pass / fail thresholds, the order of the tests, the reporting of the results, a graphical user interface for presenting the test results, etc.

[0066] The optical testing device 200 includes a user interface implemented by a display screen 230 , which may optionally be a touch screen. 9A to 9F An example of a graphical user interface 276 that may be displayed on a display screen is shown. In other embodiments, the optical test device 200 may not include a display screen, but instead use a separate terminal as a user interface, such as a mobile device that is wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth) connected to the optical test device 200. The user interface may be provided via, for example, a physically different mobile device that is communicatively coupled to the optical test device, such as a handheld computer, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable computer, etc. In this case, at least some modules of the software application may be located in the memory of such a mobile device and executed by a processor of the physically different device. A module is a set of logical functions and routines that are designed to accomplish a given set of tasks and can be easily reused or updated.

[0067] Still refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the connector adapter 100 can be connected to the optical test device 200 at the test port 240 (or test connector) to which the optical fiber test cable should be connected. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B As shown, the fiber optic cable under test (FUT) is typically connected to a test cord (TC), which in turn is connected to the optical device 200. Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the connector adapter 100 includes a device end 130 (or device side) provided with a device connector 132 (at Figure 6), the device connector 132 is suitable for being removably connected to the test port 240 of optical test device 200.The test port 240 on the device is a connection point or an interface between the optical test device and the optical fiber cable, and the optical fiber cable is such as a test core wire for testing FUT via it.The other end or the other side of the connector adapter 100, which is called as the FUT end 140, is provided with a FUT connector 142.This FUT connector 142 is suitable for being connected to the optical fiber cable, is usually connected to the test core wire.Herein, the end device 140 is called the FUT end, to indicate the side of the adapter that will test FUT, because it is known that the test core wire that is usually connected to this side is used for testing FUT.FUT connector 142 is suitable for being connected to a cable or a link, and this cable or a link has more or less optical fiber than the optical fiber of the test port 240 of optical device 200.Therefore, the quantity m of one or more optical fiber interfaces of the FUT connector 142 of the adapter is different from the quantity n of one or more optical fiber interfaces of the test port, and therefore is also different from the quantity of the optical fiber interface of the device connector. "Fiber optic interface" refers to the end face or the end portion of the optical fiber that is aligned and / or contacted when connected.Connector adapter 100 also includes the interconnection 150 that the fiber optic interface of device connector 132 is linked with the fiber optic interface of FUT connector 142. These interconnections 150 can include the adapter optical fiber or the cable extending between FUT connector 142 and device connector 132.It is understandable that the FUT connector 142 of connector adapter 100 need not be directly connected to the optical fiber to be tested, but is connected to the test core wire that will be connected to FUT.For simplicity, still this connector is called FUT connector, because this connector is positioned at the side of optical fiber cable to be tested.

[0068] Still refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , and also refer to Figure 7 , the connector adapter 100 can be shaped and configured as a cartridge 110 or a cassette. In this embodiment, the cartridge has a shape reminiscent of a cuboid and includes an elongated housing, wherein the device connector 132 and the FUT connector 142 are respectively arranged at the opposite ends of the housing. By configuring the connector adapter 100 as a cartridge 110, it can be easily inserted into the adapter receiving cavity 250 created for this purpose in the optical test device 200, wherein the test port 240 is located at the inner end of the cavity 250. In this way, the adapter 100 is not bulky because it is at least partially installed inside the optical test device 200. Nevertheless, the connector adapter 100 is still likely to have different configurations and shapes. For example, the connector adapter 100 can be shaped and configured as an external attachment or sleeve that partially matches the outer surface of the device housing 210. Other configurations are also possible.

[0069] According to a possible embodiment, the connector adapter 100 includes a point-out or swap-out mechanism 120 disposed on the device end 130. The point-out mechanism 120 may allow tool-free insertion and removal of the connector adapter 100 from the optical test device 200. The point-out mechanism 120 may include a resilient element 122, which may be pressed when inserted into the optical test device 200, and the resilient element 122 may be pulled out by manually pressing or pulling the connector adapter 200. In other possible embodiments, in order to reduce the risk of accidental insertion and removal, a manually tightenable "thumbscrew" may be provided to secure the adapter while still allowing tool-free insertion of the adapter.

[0070] Figure 8 1 is a schematic diagram of the interconnection of the connector adapter 100, wherein the FUT side connector 142 is a duplex connector, and the device side connector 132 is a 12-core fiber optic connector. In this exemplary embodiment, the test device can be a native MPO-12 optical test device, and the connector adapter 100 can be an MPO-12 pair of duplex connector adapters. The processing unit can be configured via a software application to adjust the optical test to be performed based on the type of the connector adapter. Connector adapters with various numbers of optical fibers can be provided. According to an embodiment, an MPO-12 test device intended to test a 12-core fiber optic cable (or link) can be converted to a duplex test device within a few seconds. For example, the processing unit 270 can be configured via a software application that controls the operation of the optical test device to enable the measurement component 220 of the MPO-12 test device to perform length measurement only on a specific one or more optical fibers 134 of the 12 optical fibers of the test port 240, for example, to perform length measurement on the #4 optical fiber. In this case, the MPO-12 pair duplex connector adapter 100 connected to the MPO-12 test set is configured to use the same optical fiber (#4 fiber) 144 in combination with another optical fiber (#5 fiber) that is not coupled to the same source laser. In some embodiments, the MPO-12 optical test set can include an inline visual fault locator (VFL) on a particular optical fiber. In this case, the VFL fiber is included in the optical fibers selected for duplex testing via the duplex connector adapter. During acquisition, any optical fiber not used by the duplex connector adapter may be excluded from the measurement, and the software application will adjust the testing and reporting accordingly.

[0071] As can be understood, the proposed connector adapter 100 and software application can be used to convert a local optical test device provided with a specific type of test port into a test device 200 that can test optical fiber cables and devices with different numbers of optical fibers and / or different types of connectors. The connector adapter 100 can be any type of n-to-m optical fiber adapter, where n is the number of optical fiber interfaces of the test port, and m is the number of optical fiber interfaces of the FUT connector, and where n can be greater than or less than m. The device connector 132 and / or the FUT connector 142 of the connector adapter can be an angled physical contact (APC) connector or an ultra-physical contact (UPC) connector. The device connector and / or the FUT connector of the connector adapter can also be an LC, CS, SN or MDC duplex connector; or any type of MTP / MPO connector. The connector adapter can also be a fiber category adapter, where the device connector and the FUT connector of the connector adapter have the same category type, such as a pin-with or pin-free interface (convex / convex or concave / concave), thereby allowing the optical fiber cable with a connector of the same category type as the optical test device at the end to be connected to each other via the connector adapter. Connector adapters enable field conversion of the connector interface of optical test fixtures to accommodate different connector types, including MPO-12, MPO-24, and duplex connectors, based on category, pinout, and fiber configuration.

[0072] Therefore, the optical fiber cable that can be tested by the proposed connector adapter 100 can be a single-core optical fiber cable, a dual-core optical fiber cable, or a multi-core optical fiber cable. The device connector and / or the FUT connector of the connector adapter can be: a single-core optical fiber connector, such as a subscriber connector (SC) or a ferrule connector (FC); a dual-core optical fiber connector, such as a Lucent connector (LC), an MDC connector, or a 100-pin connector. TM , SN TM and CS TM Connector; or multi-fiber connector, such as a multi-fiber 8-core, 12-core or 24-core fiber connector, for example including MTP / MPO TM 、MMC TM SN-MT TMThe optical test device 200 may be an MPO-12 local test instrument, an MPO-24 local test instrument, an optical loss test set (OLTS), a light source, a power meter, or an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), provided as examples only. These optical test devices 200 may be adjusted by downloading software patches or upgrades that support testing of different fiber optic cables. The adjustment may include illuminating specific fibers of the test port during testing / measurement by the device, or not reporting or considering specific fibers of the test port for measurement.

[0073] In a possible embodiment, the processing unit 270 of the optical test device is configured via a software application alone or in combination with another identification device to automatically detect the type of connector adapter 100 connected to or near the test port 240 of the test device 200 using an adapter detection module or system. The connector adapter detection can be performed based on an optical, electrical, or mechanical interaction between the connector adapter and the optical test device. Such interaction may occur when the connector adapter is connected to the test device or using a separate identification system. The detection of the connector adapter can be performed via a separate device, such as communicating with the optical test device (e.g., via Bluetooth). TM In some embodiments, a camera and image recognition algorithm can be used to capture a photo of the connector adapter to detect the type of connector adapter. A visual label, such as a linear barcode, a two-dimensional (2D) barcode (e.g., a QR code), or any type of custom visual label can be affixed, engraved, or printed on the outer surface of the connector adapter for detection via a camera on a smartphone or optical testing device. Other types of labels can also be used to automatically detect the type of adapter inserted, such as contact labels or contact sensors.

[0074] Still refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7In a possible embodiment, the adapter detection module or system may be based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology or any other detection technology, including, for example, proximity sensors or contact sensors. The connector adapter 100 may be provided with a tag 160, and the optical test device 200 may include a reader 280. In a possible embodiment, the tag 160 may be an RFID tag, and the reader 280 may be an RFID reader provided with an RFID controller chip located on the processing unit 270 or on an electronic board in communication with the processing unit 270, and an RFID antenna. Components of the reader 280, such as an antenna, may be positioned so as to align with the tag 160 located on the connector adapter 100 when the adapter is in a proper position inside the adapter receiving cavity 250. The tag 160 on the connector adapter provides an indication of the type of connector adapter to the processing unit 270 via the reader 280. The information stored on or provided by the tag 160 may indicate the type of connector adapter, including the fiber type (single mode vs. multimode and UPC vs. APC), the fiber layout type (single core fiber, multi-core fiber, or dual core fiber), the serial number of the connector adapter, and / or any other relevant information. Based on the type of connector adapter detected, different user interfaces of the test device 200, such as the reference setting auxiliary module interface or the test interface and the measurement interface, may be adjusted.

[0075] Advantageously, when the connector adapter is first connected or when swapped between connector adapters, identification devices, such as RFID tags 160 and readers 280, or alternatively contact sensors, reduce configuration changes in human-machine interaction and software applications, thereby reducing the risk of configuration errors. Using identification devices enables the optical test device 200 to automatically identify the connector adapter 100 used, thereby triggering the setting of corresponding test parameters in the software application, such as when measuring, only selecting a subset of optical fibers on the device port 240, which corresponds to the optical fiber of the FUT connector 142 of the connector adapter 100, and therefore corresponds to the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable under test. Acceptance criteria (e.g., pass / fail thresholds) and acquisition parameters can be based at least in part on the type of the identified connector adapter. When the processing unit 270 cannot directly set test parameters based on the detected connector adapter, the processing unit 270 can determine a limited number of acceptance criteria options based on the type of the detected connector adapter. A limited number of options can be presented to the user on the user interface 276 for the user to select. Options that are incompatible with the type of the detected connector adapter can be covered or grayed out on the screen. In some other embodiments, the information of the fiber optic configuration can be stored directly on the label or via other means, so that by downloading or upgrading a software patch or update, an optical test device that is not designed to test a given type of fiber optic cable can be easily converted into a test device that can support testing of the given type of fiber optic cable.

[0076] In a possible embodiment, the information stored in the tag 160 may be read-only to prevent the connector adapter 100 from being tampered with and counterfeited. The information stored in the tag 160 may be programmed and encrypted at the factory to prevent the information stored therein from being extracted. In view of the fact that the tag may need to be powered wirelessly, such as in the case of an RFID reader, the processing unit 270 may include an adapter detection module via a software application or via firmware provided on a detection sensor microchip, which is not only suitable for reading and storing the type of connector adapter, but also may be configured to minimize the power consumption of the tag reader / tag sensor. For example, the RFID module may be programmed with an RFID reading scheme according to which the RFID tag is read only at specific times to reduce or limit the power consumption of the RFID component. For example, the adapter detection module allows the tag reader or tag sensor to be powered only when the optical test device is turned on. Alternatively, the adapter detection module may control the label reader so that the label reader scans the label only at predetermined time intervals; or scans the label when a specific test operation is initiated, such as when acquisition is initiated, when a user presses a start or save icon or button; or scans the label when connection continuity is detected on the optical fiber of the test port, such as when contact is detected between the optical fiber interface of the test port and the optical fiber interface of the device connector of the adapter, and / or scans the label when contact is detected with the optical fiber interface of the FUT and the FUT connector of the adapter. In possible embodiments, detection of the connector adapter by a software application of the optical test device may not require user intervention other than connecting the connector adapter 100 to the test port 240.

[0077] In a possible embodiment, the adapter receiving cavity 250 of the connector adapter 100 and / or the optical test device 200 may include a protection mechanism to prohibit unauthorized copies of the connector adapter. For example, for a connector adapter provided with an RFID tag, the processing unit 270 of the optical test device may be configured to distinguish between a genuine connector adapter and an unauthorized low-cost copy based on the adapter identification information stored in the RFID tag. The same technology may be used for other types of sensors, such as contact sensors or proximity sensors. The protection mechanism may help prevent counterfeiting of certified or genuine connector adapters. The adapter identification information may be included in the measurement data or measurement result file to achieve traceability. For example, the serial number of the connector adapter may be saved in the test results to achieve traceability. The software application may also be configured to display a warning on the display screen 230 of the optical test device 200 when an unauthorized connector adapter is detected.

[0078] According to a possible embodiment, processing unit 270 can be configured to detect the type of connector adapter based on the reference cable used during the reference setting process via software application, rather than using the identification device arranged on the connector adapter and / or in the optical test device. Automatic detection can also be performed using the optical fiber under test instead of the reference cable, but it may be more convenient to use the reference cable, because for most tests to be performed, the user must necessarily use a single-core cable / reference cable to set the reference parameters. The single-core reference method is a preferred light source power meter (Light Source Power Meter, LSPM) test method in the industry, because the test method minimizes the loss measurement uncertainty, while including the insertion loss associated with the connectors at both ends of the optical fiber under test (FUT) (or the link under test). The software application can include an automatic adapter detection module, which detects the type of connector adapter based on the continuity detected on the optical fiber interface of the test port when executing the single-core reference method, thereby detecting the type of FUT to be tested. The reference setting assistance module of the software application can be configured to detect an inactive or non-illuminated optical fiber at the interface of the adapter to the test port when the reference core is connected at the FUT connector of the adapter, rather than using the identification device to automatically detect the connector adapter. The user interface of the reference assistance software can also be configured to request user confirmation of the specific reference core type and / or specific connector adapter being used, and the reference parameter settings can be adjusted accordingly, and the rest of the test process can also be adjusted accordingly.

[0079] For example, if a duplex reference cable (or duplex reference core) is used to set reference parameters on an MPO-12 test set (such as optical loss in dB or optical power in dBm, length of the reference cable, cable polarity, including types A, B, and C for MPO cables and types A / B or A / A for duplex cables), the MPO-12 test set may detect that only two of the twelve fibers on the test port are lit and have continuity, and adjust the test parameters accordingly. Alternatively, the user interface 276 of the reference auxiliary module can be configured to request user confirmation of using the MPO-12 pair of duplex connectors by considering only two of the twelve fibers on the test port 240, and adjust the reference setting process and subsequent test processes accordingly. Thus, for other types of adapters, if only x of the y fibers on the test port are lit and show continuity, the device can adjust the test parameters accordingly and request user confirmation of the type of connector adapter. Auxiliary reference steps, such as required test cords, test cord images, connection diagrams, and connector category warnings can be adjusted accordingly. Adjusting test parameters or test settings can also translate into illuminating only selected ones of the optical fibers of the test port 240, or considering only selected ones of the optical fibers when reporting results.

[0080] Reference now 9A to 9F Regardless of the detection method used to identify the connector adapter, whether through manual configuration, fiber continuity detection, or the use of tags (RFID or contact sensors), different user interfaces 276 and modules of the software application can be adjusted based on the detected connector adapter. For example, the processing unit 270 of the test device can automatically exclude from pass / fail testing optical fibers that are not available for the detected connector adapter via the software application. Parameter settings on the optical test device, such as cable polarity detection and polarity thresholds for MPO or duplex FUT, can be automatically adjusted based on the connector adapter used. User interfaces 275 to 279 related to setting reference parameters or presenting results can be adjusted, such as by graphically displaying the connection of a reference core to the detected connector adapter, and can be adjusted accordingly. Fig.9F Warning 274 is shown. The optical fiber layout of the connector adapter can also be displayed at 277 based on the detected connector adapter, such as Fig. 9C For example, a device designed to test an m-fiber cable may be configured with a default GUI that displays an m-fiber interface 276 and a bar graph 275 of all m-fibers. If the optical test device detects a connector adapter, the software on the device may adjust the test and GUI for an n-fiber cable. Fig.9A , Fig. 9B and Fig.9D and Fig.9E As shown, the MPO-12 test device ( Fig.9A and Fig. 9B ) Converts to a duplex test set after detecting the MPO-12 pair duplex connector adapter ( Fig.9D and Fig.9E ), so that graphical user interface 275 and graphical user interface 276 (for 12-core fibers) are replaced by graphical user interface 278 and graphical user interface 279 (for 2-core fibers). User interfaces associated with measurement results, including visual representations of the results, such as bar graphs, margin tables, result tables, and polarity plots, can be automatically adjusted to exclude unusable fibers. The adapter detection module can also be configured to trigger a specific test sequence based on a standard test that is generally applicable to fiber optic cables that are compatible with the type of connector adapter connected to the test device. For example, for an MPO-16 or MPO-24 connector adapter, the user can be guided to perform the acquisition process in two steps using a single-core reference method.

[0081] When a new type of connector adapter is detected, the software application can be configured to notify the user via the user interface that new reference parameters need to be set before a new test is performed on the FUT. In some embodiments, when the processing unit 270 of the optical test device 200 detects a new connector adapter 100, the previous reference parameters set for the types of different connector adapters may become invalid or inaccessible. Therefore, the automatic adapter detection module helps to reduce the risk of test result errors caused by using incorrect reference parameters.

[0082] In a possible embodiment, the automatic detection module can be configured to notify the user of the compatibility of the FUT to be tested based on the type of the detected connector adapter, that is, whether the pin, category and / or optical fiber number of the connector adapter is compatible with the FUT and / or whether it is compatible with the parameters set in the software application. If incompatibility is detected between the FUT, the connector adapter and / or the device test port, the processing unit 270 of the test device 200 can be configured to display a warning message via the software application to prevent the user from continuing with an incompatible connection, thereby preventing possible damage to the FUT, the connector adapter or the optical test device.

[0083] In a possible embodiment, the detection module can be configured to name one or more test result files based on the type of connector adapter used. More specifically, the detection module can be configured to adjust the naming of the test result files based on the fiber layout of the connector adapter 100. For example, when a duplex connector adapter is detected, the name of the test result file can be adjusted to include a fiber pair indicator. For example, when a duplex connector adapter is used, the name of the result test file includes reference names such as FiberTx and FiberRx, while the name of the test result file for the native MPO-12 test may include a reference name such as Cable1_12. Similarly, when an MPO-24 connector is used, the name of the test result file may include reference names such as Cable1_1-12 and Cable1_13-24.

[0084] According to possible implementations, Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B The single-wire reference method connections are shown when using an MPO-12 to duplex connector adapter 100 to test a duplex fiber optic cable using a native MPO-12 test set, in this case an OLTS. Fig. 10A As shown, a single test core TC1 is referenced according to the single core reference standard and as described in Annex A of the IEC 61280-4-5 standard. The internal optical fiber of the connector adapter 100 for interconnecting the device connector and the FUT connector is continuous with the optical fiber of the device test port. For clarity, Fig. 10A The reference cable TC1 is shown disconnected from the adapter 100, but it is understood that during the single-core reference process, the two ends of the TC1 cable are connected to the adapter of the light source 202 and the adapter of the power meter 204, respectively. In this possible embodiment, according to the fiber testing standard, the connector adapter 240 on the power meter 204 side can have a large core fiber to capture all the light emitted by the light source 202 on the fiber under test (FUT). The large core fiber can have a core diameter higher than 50μm, such as between 100μm and up to 400μm. The core can exceed 50% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the entire optical fiber with the fiber cladding. Fig. 10B The connection for continuing the measurement of the fiber under test (FUT) is shown, one end of the duplex FUT is connected to the TC1 cable (duplex to duplex), the other end of the duplex FUT is connected to the TC2 cable (duplex to duplex), the light source 202 is connected to the TC1 cable, and the power meter 204 is connected to the TC2 cable. In view of the fact that the connector adapter 100 acts as a single test device together with the optical test device 200 when connected to the corresponding test port 240, it is conducive to market acceptance and can meet certification requirements. The combination of the connector adapter and the optical test device as proposed herein, especially the embodiment in which the connector adapter is received in the optical test device 200 as shown in the figure, is more likely to be adopted by the end user as a "native" optical test device, regardless of the type of the connector adapter used.

[0085] According to another possible implementation, Fig.11A , Fig. 11B and Fig. 11C The connections required to perform the single-cord reference method when using the MPO-24 to MPO-12 connector adapters are shown in order to test an MPO-24 fiber optic cable using a native MPO-12 test set, in this case using an MPO-12 light source and an MPO-12 power meter. In order to be able to test an MPO-24 link using the MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapters, the test process can be performed in a two-step test sequence where two different connector adapters are used for each optical test set, one connector adapter configured for the first row of fibers (fibers 1-12) of the MPO-24 cable and the other adapter configured for the second row of fibers (fibers 13-24) of the MPO-24 cable. As shown in FIG. Fig.11A As shown in the upper left figure of , to test the first row of fibers in an MPO-24 cable, a connector adapter can be used to link the 12 fibers of the test port of the optical test set to fibers 1-12 of the MPO-24 link. Fig.11AAs shown in the upper right figure of the MPO-24 cable, the second row of fibers can be tested using another connector adapter that links the 12 fibers of the optical test set's test port to fibers 13-24 of the MPO-24 link. These steps can be performed: Fig. 11B As shown, use an MPO-24 reference core TC1 - MPO-24 to MPO-24 - to set the reference parameters, and then Fig. 11C As shown in the lower right figure of , the FUT - MPO-24 - is tested. In order to minimize the swapping out of connectors, in a possible embodiment, the MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter connected to the test port of the light source 202 can be configured so that the light entering the 12 optical fibers on the device connector is transmitted to all 24 optical fibers on the FUT connector. In other words, the fiber interconnections disposed inside the connector adapter can be configured so that the light projected on the optical fibers of the device connector is transmitted to all optical fiber interfaces of the FUT connector. This configuration of the MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter allows the same connector adapter to be maintained on the light source instrument 202. As can be appreciated, although the MPO-24 link is tested together with the connector adapter in a two-step testing process, the two-step process is still more convenient than the currently adopted method such as Fig.12 The method shown with the Y-adapter core wire is more advantageous. Fig.12 As can be seen on the left, two reference Y-wires must be used, which means that the measurements made to set the reference parameters have a greater uncertainty. FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C The example given explains the use of a native MPO-12 optical test set to test an MPO-24 fiber optic cable, but it will be appreciated that the principles can be generalized to a native m-core fiber set, enabling testing of n-core fiber optic cables, where n can be greater than m.

[0086] according to FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B as well as FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C In the example shown in , for a test application requiring a light source device 202 and a power meter device 204, both the light source device 202 and the power meter device 204 may require a connector adapter. However, the light source device 202 and the power meter device 204 may require different types of m-to-n connector adapters. For example, the connector adapter of the power meter 204 may include an internal interconnecting optical fiber with a large core diameter, which is incompatible with the use of the light source device 202. Similarly, the connector adapter for connecting to the light source device 202 may include a standard core diameter optical fiber, which may be incompatible with the power meter device 204. More details on the single-core reference method can be found in patent publication US20220038177A1 of He et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0087] In order to prevent the connection or insertion of an incompatible connector adapter and reduce the risk of operating errors, a mechanical component can be provided on the connector adapter or the optical test device to prevent the incompatible connector adapter from being inserted or connected to a given optical test device. The mechanical component may include a protrusion, a pin, a key, a guide rail, or a slider provided on the connector adapter so that the connector adapter can only cooperate with a corresponding component on the optical test device. For example, the connector adapter may include such a mechanical component that the connector adapter of the light source is not interchangeable with the connector adapter of the power meter. The mechanism to prevent incompatible connector adapters from being used with certain types of optical test devices may include a visual identifier. For example, a connector adapter intended for use with a specific test device, such as a light source, may have a unique color housing that matches the color of a panel or test port of the specific test device. The connector adapter housing may also include a specific icon or mark that matches a corresponding icon or mark on the corresponding test device.

[0088] As can be appreciated, utilizing the above-described connector adapters and configurable optical test devices, a native test instrument, such as an MPO-12 optical loss tester (OLTS), a light source, a power meter, or an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), can be converted into any type of tester. The proposed connector adapter allows the interface / test port of the optical test device to be converted on-site to accommodate different fiber optic cables, including MPO-12, MPO-24, and duplex connectors, regardless of the cable category, pinout, end face, or fiber configuration. The described connector adapters and optical test devices allow the end user to limit the number of optical test instruments that need to be maintained, such as retaining only one optical test device and a set of connector adapters required for its application. Adjustment of the user interface, test parameters, and test sequence via a software application based on the connector adapter used with the device is also a major advantage, as it can reduce errors caused by incorrect user operation and software configuration.

[0089] Of course, many modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An optical testing device (200) for testing an optical fiber cable (12), the optical testing device include: A housing (210), wherein the housing includes a measuring component; a test port (240) comprising a fiber optic interface configured to engage with a given number of optical fibers; A connector adapter (100) capable of being removably connected to the test port (240), the connector adapter comprising: a device connector (132) adapted to connect to the test port; and a fiber under test (FUT) connector (142), the FUT connector being adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable; the FUT connector being configured to engage with a fiber optic cable having a number of optical fibers that is different from a given number of optical fibers of the test port; and A processing unit (270) is configurable to adjust test parameters according to the number of optical fibers of the optical fiber cable to be tested.

2. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The connector adapter (100) is an n-to-m fiber adapter, where n is the number of fiber interfaces of the test port (240), and m is the number of fiber interfaces of the FUT connector (142).

3. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The connector adapter (100) is a fiber category adapter, wherein one of the device connector (132) and the FUT connector (142) of the connector adapter has an interface with pins, and the other connector has an interface without pins.

4. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The processing unit (270) is configured to automatically detect the type of connector adapter (100) connected to the test port (240).

5. The optical testing device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The connector adapter (100) is shaped and configured as a cartridge (110), and wherein the housing (210) includes an adapter receiving cavity (250), the test port (240) being disposed within the adapter receiving cavity (250).

6. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The connector adapter (100) includes a click-out mechanism (120) that allows tool-free insertion and removal of the connector adapter from the test device.

7. The optical test device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical test device is one of an MPO-12 local test instrument, an MPO-24 local test instrument, an optical loss test set (OLTS), a light source, a power meter, and an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR).

8. The optical test apparatus (200) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the test apparatus is a native MPO-12 test apparatus and the connector adapter is an MPO-12 pair duplex connector adapter.

9. The optical test apparatus (200) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the test apparatus is a native MPO-12 test apparatus and the connector adapter is an MPO-12 to MPO-24 connector adapter.

10. The optical testing device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that The processing unit (270) is configured to detect a type of connector adapter connected to the test port based on a reference cable used during a reference setting process.

11. The optical test device (200) of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an identification system that allows the processing unit (270) to detect the type of connector adapter connected to the test port.

12. An optical testing device (200) as described in claim 11, wherein the identification system includes a label arranged on the connector adapter and a label sensor arranged in the optical testing device, the label provides an indication of the type of the connector adapter to the processing unit via the label sensor, and the test parameters are adjusted based on the detected type of the connector adapter.

13. The optical test device (200) of claim 11, further comprising a protection mechanism that prevents unauthorized connector adapters from being used with the optical test device.

14. The optical testing device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that The processing unit (270) includes a software application having a reference setting auxiliary module, the reference setting auxiliary module being configured to enable setting of reference parameters for a fiber optic cable having a number of optical fibers different from the number n of fiber optic interfaces of the test port using a single-core reference fiber optic cable, the software application enabling subsequent testing of the fiber optic cable using the adjusted reference parameters.

15. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 14, It is characterized in that The software application is configured to adjust test parameters of the optical test device by selecting only a subset of the fiber optic interfaces of the test port (240) to test or measure the fiber optic cable under test.

16. The optical testing device (200) according to claim 15, It is characterized in that The software application is configured to adapt a graphical user interface (275) to a graphical user interface (279) to report results of the tests performed based on the connector adapter used.

17. A connector adapter, the connector adapter being connectable to an optical test device (200) for testing an optical fiber cable, the connector adapter include: a device connector (132) adapted to be removably connected to a test port of the optical test device; a fiber under test (FUT) connector (142), the FUT connector being adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable, the number m of fiber optic interfaces of the FUT connector being different from the number n of fiber optic interfaces of the test port; and an interconnection portion (150) located between the optical fiber interface of the device connector (132) and the optical fiber interface of the FUT connector (142) to connect the m optical fibers of the optical fiber cable to the n optical fiber interfaces of the test port; as well as Identification means (160) allow identification of the type of connector adapter connected to the test port.

18. A method for testing an optical fiber cable (12) using an optical test device (200), the optical test device having a test port (240), the test port having n optical fiber interfaces, and the optical fiber cable having m optical fiber interfaces, the method include: connecting a connector adapter (100) to the optical test device, the connector adapter having a device connector (132) adapted to be removably connected to the test port (240) of the test device; Connecting a fiber optic cable to a FUT connector (142) of the connector adapter; as well as Based on the type of connector adapter connected, test parameters of the optical test device are adjusted.

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