A comprehensive sensing and orientation method and system for vibration / bending loss in fiber optic connection links

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of communication technology and discloses a method and system for comprehensive sensing and orientation of vibration / bending loss in optical fiber connection links. The method involves clamping one end of the optical fiber under test, determining whether the fiber has light or not through leakage detection under macro-bending drive, and classifying the fiber with detected leakage as a bright fiber. While maintaining the leakage detection under macro-bending drive and the macro-bending position where leakage is detected, micro-bending vibration is applied to the bright fiber. The direction of optical transmission in the bright fiber is determined based on whether a micro-bending modulation signal is detected during the leakage detection under micro-bending vibration. The system includes a fiber clamping fixture with an embedded detection jig, a photoelectric detection module, a macro-bending drive module, and a micro-bending drive module. This invention effectively solves the problems of high misjudgment rate, limited functionality, and low efficiency caused by the existing "bidirectional optical power comparison method".

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to fiber optic link detection and maintenance technology for optical communication networks, specifically disclosing a comprehensive sensing and orientation method and system for vibration / bending loss of fiber optic links, belonging to the technical field of communication. Background Technology

[0002] In the complex environment of big data center optical interconnects and optical fiber communication network optical link ports with tens of thousands of parallel optical fibers, fiber optic locators are core tools for managing fiber optic dumb resources, such as port matching and route clearing. Existing fiber optic locators generally use a "bidirectional optical power comparison method" to assist in determining the direction of optical signal transmission in the optical fiber. The basic principle of this method is: when the fiber optic locator's non-destructive clamp holds a single optical fiber, two photodetectors located at both ends of the clamp detect the optical power in two transmission directions in the fiber. By comparing the power values, the end with the higher power value is determined as the direction of optical signal transmission, and this is indicated to the operator using different colored indicator lights.

[0003] In-depth research by this invention has revealed that commercially available fiber optic locators using the "bidirectional optical power comparison method" suffer from the following inherent defects and significant technical bottlenecks when dealing with current big data centers, complex fiber optic communication networks, and large-scale dual-fiber line management:

[0004] 1. The "bidirectional optical power comparison method" is difficult to accurately determine the direction of optical signal transmission.

[0005] The core of the "bidirectional optical power comparison method" lies in determining the direction of optical signal transmission by assigning the higher power to the transmitting end and the lower power to the receiving end, based on the relative strength of the optical probes at both ends. However, in real-world networks, after long-distance transmission, multi-stage splitting, connector losses, or various reflections, the power of the optical signal may not differ significantly between the transmitting and receiving directions. In fact, due to link asymmetry, the receiving end power may even be higher than the transmitting end. Furthermore, sudden traffic surges and fluctuations in network traffic can cause instantaneous power fluctuations, leading to inconsistent judgment results. Therefore, this method struggles to accurately determine the direction of optical signal transmission in large-scale, non-ideal fiber optic connection environments, resulting in a high misjudgment rate.

[0006] 2. Traditional fiber finders have limited functionality and are difficult to automate in a fast manner.

[0007] Traditional fiber locators based on the "bidirectional optical power comparison method" only have leakage power detection capabilities, and during fiber locating, they only detect optical power on the receiving side, resulting in limited functionality. Furthermore, the results provided by these locators have a high risk of misjudgment and are only for reference; accurate judgment still requires relying on existing stable and measurable optical signal services in the fiber optic connection link. Therefore, traditional fiber locators are difficult to automate fiber locating.

[0008] 3. Single-point serial operation is difficult to scale up.

[0009] Because the "bidirectional optical power comparison method" is embedded in a traditional single-channel handheld fiber optic locator, its working mode is inherently "clamping each fiber individually, observing manually, and recording manually." This "one-to-one" serial operation mode is difficult to meet the needs of large data centers and core computer rooms of fiber optic communication networks for batch and rapid surveys of tens of thousands of fiber optic pairs. Even if it is used with difficulty, the efficiency is low, and the labor cost and error probability increase linearly with the scale of fiber optic searching, making it impossible to support large-scale, routine, dynamic, and precise management.

[0010] In summary, existing fiber optic identification instruments based on the "bidirectional optical power comparison method" for direction identification have become a key bottleneck restricting the intelligent and efficient operation and maintenance of large-scale parallel fiber optic lines due to their inherent theoretical flaws, limited functionality, and inefficient operation. A method and corresponding device for achieving accurate direction identification, comprehensive functionality, and proactive adaptive parallel fiber optic searching is urgently needed and has significant application value. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a comprehensive sensing and orientation system and method for vibration / bending loss of optical fiber connection links, so as to fundamentally solve the technical problems of high misjudgment rate, single function and low efficiency caused by the existing "bidirectional optical power comparison method".

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0013] The first aspect of the present invention provides a comprehensive sensing and orientation method for vibration / bending loss in optical fiber connection links. The method comprises: clamping one end of the optical fiber under test with a fiber clamping fixture; determining whether the optical fiber under test has light or not by detecting light leakage under macrobending drive; identifying the optical fiber under test that has detected light leakage under macrobending drive as a bright optical fiber; applying microbending vibration to the bright optical fiber while maintaining the macrobending position where light leakage is detected under macrobending drive and the state of light leakage is detected; and determining the optical transmission direction of the bright optical fiber based on whether microbending modulation signal is detected by light leakage detection under microbending vibration.

[0014] As a further optimization of the fiber optic connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method, one end of the fiber under test is held by a fiber clamp.

[0015] As a further optimization of the optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method, the test fiber that does not detect light leakage under macro bending drive is identified as a dark fiber, and the macro bending drive is stopped when the dark fiber reaches the extreme macro bending position.

[0016] As a further optimization of the optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method, the macrobending drive is stopped after the optical fiber under test that detects light leakage under macrobending drive is identified as a bright optical fiber.

[0017] As a further optimization of the optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method, a micro-bending vibration is applied to the bright optical fiber by a micro-bending drive module driven by a motor or operated manually. The micro-bending drive module vibrates the bright optical fiber at a micro-bending vibration frequency.

[0018] As a further optimization of the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method, a single photoelectric detection module is used to detect light leakage under macro-bending drive and micro-bending vibration. At the same time, the light leakage detection under macro-bending drive and the micro-bending vibration module are combined in a set of detection fixtures, so that it has both detection and fiber vibration functions.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides a fiber optic connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation system. The system includes a fiber clamping fixture embedded in a detection fixture body, a macrobending drive module, a microbending drive module, and a photoelectric detection module. The fiber clamping fixture is used to clamp one end of the fiber under test. The macrobending drive module is used to drive the fiber under test to generate a macrobending. The microbending drive module is used to apply microbending vibration to the bright fiber under macrobending. The photoelectric detection module is used to perform light leakage detection under macrobending drive on the fiber under test and light leakage detection under microbending vibration on the bright fiber.

[0020] As a further optimization of the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation system, the system is used for parallel fiber tracing of at least two optical fibers under test: two or more electrically driven tools that generate different micro-bending vibration frequencies are respectively clamped onto the detection fixture that is determined to be the transmitting end bright optical fiber, and micro-bending vibration signals of different frequencies are generated on the bright optical fiber currently clamped by the detection fixture.

[0021] This invention, employing the aforementioned technical solution, systematically addresses the key pain points of existing technologies, providing a solid technical foundation for intelligent operation and maintenance of next-generation optical networks. It is suitable for accurately and automatically determining the transmission direction of any optical fiber connection link in complex environments such as optical interconnect ports in big data centers and optical link ports in optical fiber communication networks. It is particularly effective for efficient and parallel fiber tracing and identification of large-scale port connection relationships, and specifically offers the following beneficial effects:

[0022] 1. Achieving a fundamental leap from "rough reference" to "precise judgment": This invention abandons the simple power comparison that is prone to misjudgment and adopts a micro-bend modulation signal intelligent judgment model. Its direction recognition results have extremely high accuracy and reliability and can be directly used as trusted input for automated processes, solving the fundamental technical defects that have long plagued operation and maintenance.

[0023] 2. It breaks through the limitations of fixed functions of fiber vibrators and detectors in fiber optic applications: By introducing a comprehensive sensing and orientation system for vibration / bending loss of optical fiber connection links, it actively discovers its own position at the transmitting and receiving ends and determines its own function; This invention does not require manual intervention to determine whether it is a signal generator or a signal detector, fundamentally avoiding errors and repetitions in the entire link caused by manual intervention, and significantly improving the reliability and efficiency of the survey results.

[0024] 3. It has created a paradigm revolution from "one-to-many" to "many-to-many": Through the matrix-based parallel processing architecture of the fiber optic identification fixture, the efficiency bottleneck of traditional serial operation of each port can be completely broken. A single operation can complete the synchronous fiber finding and direction identification of dozens or even hundreds of fiber pairs, improving efficiency by two orders of magnitude. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a system for implementing the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method proposed in this invention.

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the system for implementing the fiber optic connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing orientation method proposed in this invention, with the fiber to be tested just inserted.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the macro-bend drive module after startup in the system for implementing the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method proposed in this invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the micro-bend drive module after startup in the system for implementing the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method proposed in this invention.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of the fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method proposed in this invention.

[0030] The numbers in the diagram are explained as follows: 1. Fiber optic clamp, 2. Fiber under test, 3. Macrobend drive module, 4. Photoelectric detection module, 5. Microbend drive module, 6. Detection clamp, 7. Fiber macrobend area, 8. Fiber microbend area. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any similar structures and similar variations of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. The commas in the present invention all indicate the relationship between and. The English letters in the present invention are case-sensitive.

[0032] Example 1: A directional method for integrated sensing of vibration / bending loss in fiber optic connection links.

[0033] This example provides a comprehensive sensing and orientation method for vibration / bending loss in fiber optic connection links, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the method includes S1 to S3.

[0034] S1: Detection of whether the optical fiber has light or not. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the fiber to be tested 2 is clamped in the fiber clamp 1; the macrobending drive module 3 is started, and a single photoelectric detection module 4 detects light leakage until light leakage is detected and the macrobending drive stops, and the fiber to be tested 2 is determined to be a bright fiber; if no light leakage is detected, the fiber to be tested 2 reaches the extreme macrobending position and the macrobending drive stops, forming the fiber macrobending region 7, and the fiber to be tested is determined to be a dark fiber.

[0035] S2: Micro-bend modulation signal generation. After the fiber under test is determined to be a bright fiber, maintain the leakage detection and the macro-bend position in this state; start. Figure 4 The micro-bending drive module 5 on the left forms the fiber micro-bending region 8, which clamps the fiber by vibrating at a specific frequency of a few hertz to tens of hertz, so that the fiber is subjected to micro-bending modulation.

[0036] S3: Determination of optical transmission direction. Figure 4 If the optical fiber detection module detects a micro-bend modulation signal in the optical fiber, it determines that the side of the optical fiber held by the fiber optic clamp is the receiving side, and the direction of light transmission is... Figure 1 From left to right, that is, the light signal in Figure 4 The transmission direction in the optical fiber is from end A to end B; conversely, if no fiber micro-bending modulation signal is detected, the side of the optical fiber held by the fiber optic clamp is determined to be the transmitting side, and the light transmission direction is... Figure 4 From right to left, that is, the light signal in Figure 4 The transmission direction is from end B to end A.

[0037] Example 2: Integrated Vibration / Bending Loss Sensing and Orientation System for Fiber Optic Links.

[0038] Based on the method of Example 1, construct Figure 1 The illustrated fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation system includes: a fiber optic clamp 1 embedded in the probe clamp 6 body, a photoelectric detection module 4, a macro-bending drive module 3, a micro-bending drive module 5, a signal processing unit, a communication module, a power supply module, and an audible / optical prompting module. The signal processing unit, communication module, power supply module, and audible / optical prompting module are not shown in the example. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4In the middle, the fiber clamp 1 is used to clamp one end of the fiber under test 2, the macrobending drive module 3 is used to induce a macrobending in the fiber under test 2, the microbending drive module 5 is used to perform microbending modulation on the bright fiber under macrobending, and the photoelectric detection module 4 is used to detect light leakage in the fiber under test 2 under macrobending and the microbending modulation signal of the bright fiber.

[0039] The micro-bending drive module 5 combines the electric drive function and the fiber vibrator function. The micro-bending drive module 5 and the macro-bending drive module 3 share the single photoelectric detection module 4 in the system, and the bright optical fiber transceiver end is determined by the vibration caused by the micro-bending drive module 5.

[0040] The micro-bending drive module 5, used as the fiber vibrating mechanism, and the photoelectric detection module 4, used as the detection mechanism, are both mounted on the same detection fixture 6. The macro-bending drive module 3 and the micro-bending drive module 5 can be driven by two separate motors, or by a single motor plus a clutch mechanism; motor drive is achieved through a flexible block and a drive cam or linkage coupling, or through a lead screw meshing with a drive disc; manual operation is possible if necessary. The system also includes a signal processing module embedded in the main body of the detection fixture 6. This module extracts the micro-bending vibration signal from the micro-bending modulation signal output by the photoelectric detection module 4.

[0041] Leakage detection of the fiber under test in macro-bending state can also be performed entirely manually, which facilitates subsequent release of the bend clamp and subsequent fiber insertion, and simplifies the electrical drive section of the micro-bending drive module. The fiber vibrating mechanism micro-bending drive module on the detection fixture is also compatible with manual operation, used for initial single-pin tube determination of light transmission direction, reducing detector costs and simplifying on-site power tool operation.

[0042] To reduce the weight and size of the detection fixture, the electric drive component of the micro-bending drive module is designed to be separable from the detection fixture. The power supply and communication lines of the electric drive component are connected to the main body of the detection fixture. Ideally, the separated electric drive tool uses motor speed control to change the micro-bending vibration frequency, thereby improving flexibility and automatic identification and matching capabilities. If the micro-bending vibration frequency is hardware-fixed in the electric drive tool, electric drive tools with different micro-bending vibration frequencies need to be numbered to adapt to the fiber clamping fixtures with the corresponding input port wiring sequence of the hub, enabling identification and parallel fiber searching. The power supply and communication lines of the electric drive tool are connected to the main body of the fiber clamping fixture. When multiple optical fibers under test are searched in parallel, the presence or absence of light in each optical fiber and the direction of light transmission in the bright optical fiber are determined. When it is determined that one end of the bright optical fiber held by the fiber clamping fixture is the transmitting end, multiple electric drive tools with different numbers are clamped onto the detection fixture holding the transmitting end of the bright optical fiber. One electric drive tool is clamped onto one detection fixture holding the transmitting end of the bright optical fiber, and micro-bending vibration signals of different frequencies are generated in parallel on the bright optical fiber. At this time, the micro-bending drive module is used as a fiber vibrator.

[0043] As a further optimization of this embodiment, when the micro-bend drive module is used as a fiber vibrator, it can release part of the macro-bend to further reduce the additional attenuation of the fiber optic connection link under test caused by the test system. To reduce the weight of the probe fixture, the signal processing unit, communication module, power supply module, and part of the audible / optical prompt module can be separated from the probe fixture and integrated into the hub.

[0044] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely for further illustrating the principles and preparation effects of the present invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for integrated vibration / bending loss sensing and orientation of optical fiber connection links, characterized in that, include: S1. After clamping one end of the fiber under test, the fiber under test is determined to be bright or not by the leakage light detection under the macrobending drive. The fiber under test that has leakage light detected under the macrobending drive is identified as a bright fiber. S2, apply micro-bending vibration to the macro-bending position where leakage light is detected under macro-bending drive of the bright optical fiber and the macro-bending position where leakage light is detected; S3. Determine the optical transmission direction of the bright optical fiber based on whether the light leakage detection under micro-bending vibration detects a micro-bending modulation signal.

2. The optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, one end of the optical fiber to be tested is held by a fiber clamp.

3. The optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step S1, the fiber under test that does not detect light leakage under macro bending drive is identified as a dark fiber, and macro bending drive is stopped when the dark fiber reaches the extreme macro bending position.

4. The optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step S1, after determining that the fiber under test that is leaking light under macro bending drive is a bright fiber, macro bending drive is stopped.

5. The optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method according to claim 4, characterized in that, In step S2, a micro-bending drive module driven by a motor applies micro-bending vibration to the bright optical fiber, and the micro-bending drive module vibrates the bright optical fiber at a micro-bending vibration frequency.

6. The optical fiber connection link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Light leakage detection under macro-bending drive and micro-bending vibration is performed using a single photoelectric detection module.

7. A fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and orientation system, used to implement the method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system includes an embedded probe fixture body: Fiber clamping fixture, used to hold one end of the optical fiber to be tested; Macrobend drive module, used to drive the optical fiber under test to generate macrobend; The micro-bending drive module is used to apply micro-bending vibration to a bright optical fiber in a macro-bending state. and, The photoelectric detection module is used for light leakage detection under macro-bending drive of the optical fiber under test and light leakage detection under micro-bending vibration of the bright optical fiber.

8. The fiber optic link vibration / bending loss integrated sensing and directional system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The system is used for parallel fiber tracing of at least two optical fibers under test: when it is determined that one end of the bright optical fiber held by the fiber clamping fixture is the transmitting end, at least two electrically driven parts that generate different micro-bending vibration frequencies are respectively clamped on the detection fixture holding the transmitting end of the bright optical fiber, thereby generating micro-bending vibration signals of different frequencies on the bright optical fiber currently held by the detection fixture.

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