A testing device for circulators

Abstract

This invention provides a testing device for a circulator, comprising an AES light source, a polarizer, a beam splitter module, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator. The AES light source, polarizer, and beam splitter module are connected sequentially. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter module, the second port is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port is connected to a port of the circulator. The AES light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The beam splitter module then evenly divides the linearly polarized light into m paths. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching the m optical switches, and the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the optical power meters. This invention, through the switching of multiple optical switches, enables optical paths with different transmission directions, allowing simultaneous monitoring of transmission losses on multiple optical paths, thereby improving yield and production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of optical technology, and more specifically, to a testing device for circulators. Background Technology

[0002] An optical fiber circulator is a non-reciprocal optical device based on the Faraday magneto-optical effect, its core feature being unidirectional conduction between ports. Taking a three-port circulator as an example, when an optical signal is input from port 1, it can be transmitted to port 2 with low loss; however, when the signal is input from port 2, it can only be transmitted unidirectionally to port 3. The isolation of the reverse transmission path (such as port 2→1 or port 3→2) generally exceeds 30dB.

[0003] The commonly used testing method for fiber optic circulators is: single-channel light supply, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in a single measurement, the optical path between each pair of ports of the fiber optic circulator can only transmit in one direction. When it is necessary to test the directional transmission optical path, the positions of the light source and the optical power meter need to be swapped. Therefore, during the production and testing of the circulator, it is necessary to repeatedly splice optical fibers and test to confirm the existence of problems such as low production yield and low efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems in the background art, the present invention provides a testing device for circulators, which can overcome the problems of low production yield and low efficiency of existing testing methods.

[0005] This utility model provides a test device for a user circulator, comprising an AES light source, a polarizer, a beam splitter module, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator. The AES light source, the polarizer, and the beam splitter module are connected sequentially according to the optical path. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter module, the second port of each optical switch is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port of each optical switch is connected to one port of the circulator. Here, m is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0006] The ASE light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into m paths by the beam splitter. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching m optical switches. For each transmission direction, the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

[0007] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0008] Optionally, the optical switch includes 3 units, the optical power meter includes 3 units, the circulator includes 3 ports, the beam splitter is a 1×3 beam splitter, the first optical switch, the second optical switch and the third optical switch each include port P1, port P2 and a common port COM, and the circulator includes port1, port2 and port3.

[0009] Port P1 of the first optical switch, port P1 of the second optical switch, and port P1 of the third optical switch are all connected to the 1×3 beam splitter module. Port P2 of the first optical switch is connected to the first optical power meter, port P2 of the second optical switch is connected to the second optical power meter, and port P2 of the third optical switch is connected to the third optical power meter. The common terminal COM of the first optical switch is connected to port1 of the circulator, the common terminal COM of the second optical switch is connected to port2 of the circulator, and the common terminal COM of the third optical switch is connected to port3 of the circulator.

[0010] The ASE light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into three paths by the 1*3 beam splitter module and transmitted to the first optical switch, the second optical switch, and the third optical switch, respectively. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching the first optical switch, the second optical switch, and the third optical switch, and the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

[0011] This invention provides a testing device for a circulator, comprising an AES light source, a polarizer, a beam splitter module, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator. The AES light source, polarizer, and beam splitter module are connected sequentially. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter module, the second port is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port is connected to a port of the circulator. The AES light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The beam splitter module then evenly divides the linearly polarized light into m paths. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching the m optical switches, and the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the optical power meters. This invention, through the switching of multiple optical switches, enables optical paths with different transmission directions, allowing simultaneous monitoring of transmission losses on multiple optical paths, thereby improving yield and production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the existing conventional testing of ports 1 to 2 and 3 of a fiber optic circulator;

[0013] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of a conventional test performed on ports 2 through 1 and 3 of a fiber optic circulator.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional test performed on port 3 to port 1 and port 2 of a fiber optic circulator.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a testing device for a circulator provided in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] In the attached image:

[0017] 1. ASE light source, 2. Polarizer, 3. 1*3 beam splitter module, 4. First optical switch, 5. Second optical switch, 6. Third optical switch, 7. First optical power meter, 8. Second optical power meter, 9. Third optical power meter, 10. Circulator. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model. In addition, the technical features of the various embodiments or individual embodiments provided by this utility model can be arbitrarily combined to form feasible technical solutions. Such combinations are not bound by the order of steps and / or structural composition patterns, but must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0019] This invention provides a testing device for a circulator, comprising an AES light source 1, a polarizer 2, a beam splitter 3, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator 10. The AES light source 1, the polarizer 2, and the beam splitter 3 are connected sequentially according to the optical path. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator 10 has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter 3, the second port of each optical switch is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port of each optical switch is connected to one port of the circulator 10, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0020] The ASE light source 1 outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer 2. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into m paths by the beam splitter 3. The transmission direction of the light path passing through the circulator 10 is controlled by switching m optical switches. For each transmission direction, the transmission parameters in the light path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

[0021] This invention designs multiple optical switches and multiple optical power meters. By switching the multiple optical switches, different optical paths can be realized. By using the corresponding optical power meters to measure the transmission loss of different optical paths, multiple optical paths can be tested.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 The test device for the circulator includes three optical switches, three optical power meters, three ports for the circulator 10, a 1×3 beam splitter module 3, and three ports for the first optical switch 4, the second optical switch 5, and the third optical switch 6. The first optical switch 4, the second optical switch 5, and the third optical switch 6 each include port P1, port P2, and a common port COM. The circulator 10 includes port 1, port 2, and port 3.

[0023] Port P1 of the first optical switch 4, port P1 of the second optical switch 5, and port P1 of the third optical switch 6 are all connected to the 1×3 beam splitter module 3. Port P2 of the first optical switch 4 is connected to the first optical power meter 7. Port P2 of the second optical switch 5 is connected to the second optical power meter 8. Port P2 of the third optical switch 6 is connected to the third optical power meter 9. The common terminal COM of the first optical switch 4 is connected to port 1 of the circulator 10. The common terminal COM of the second optical switch 5 is connected to port 2 of the circulator 10. The common terminal COM of the third optical switch 6 is connected to port 3 of the circulator 10.

[0024] The ASE light source 1 outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer 2. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into three paths by the 1*3 beam splitter 3 and transmitted to the first optical switch 4, the second optical switch 5, and the third optical switch 6, respectively. The transmission direction of the light path passing through the circulator 10 is controlled by switching the first optical switch 4, the second optical switch 5, and the third optical switch 6, and the transmission parameters in the light path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

[0025] based on Figure 2 The testing process of the testing device includes:

[0026] (1) The testing process for circulator 10 ports Port1→Port2 and Port1→Port3 includes:

[0027] a. Insertion loss test from Port 1 to Port 2: Switch the first optical switch 4 to port P1 and the second optical switch 5 to port P2. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - first optical switch 4 - circulator 10 - second optical switch 5 - second optical power meter 8. The second optical power meter 8 reads the insertion loss value from Port 1 to Port 2.

[0028] b. Extinction ratio test from Port 1 to Port 2: Switch the first optical switch 4 to port P1 and the second optical switch 5 to port P2. Insert the extinction ratio tester into port P2 of the second optical switch 5. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - first optical switch 4 - circulator 10 - second optical switch 5 - extinction ratio tester - second optical power meter 8. The extinction ratio tester reads the extinction ratio value from Port 1 to Port 2.

[0029] c. Crosstalk test from 1 to 3: Switch the first optical switch 4 to port P1 and the third optical switch 6 to port P2. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - first optical switch 4 - circulator 10 - third optical switch 6 - third optical power meter 9. The third optical power meter 9 reads the crosstalk value from Port1 to Port3.

[0030] (2) The testing process for circulator 10 ports Port2→Port3 and Port2→Port1 includes:

[0031] a. Insertion loss test from Port 2 to Port 3: Switch the second optical switch 5 to P1 and the third optical switch 6 to P2. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - second optical switch 5 - circulator 10 - third optical switch 6 - third optical power meter 9. The third optical power meter 9 reads the insertion loss value from Port 2 to Port 3.

[0032] b. Extinction ratio test from Port 2 to Port 3: Switch the second optical switch 5 to P1 and the third optical switch 6 to P2. Insert the extinction ratio tester into the port P2 of the third optical switch 6. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - second optical switch 5 - circulator 10 - third optical switch 6 - extinction ratio tester - third optical power meter 9. The extinction ratio tester reads the extinction ratio value from Port 2 to Port 3.

[0033] c. 2→1 Isolation Test: Switch the second optical switch 5 to P1 and the first optical switch 4 to P2. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1-polarizer 2-splitter module 3-second optical switch 5-circulator 10-first optical switch 4-first optical power meter 7. The first optical power meter 7 reads the isolation of Port2→Port1.

[0034] (3) The isolation test process for port 3 to port 2 of circulator 10 is as follows:

[0035] Switch the "third optical switch 6" to P1 and the second optical switch 5 to P2. At this time, the optical path transmission is ASE light source 1 - polarizer 2 - beam splitter 3 - third optical switch 6 - circulator 10 - second optical switch 5 - second optical power meter 8. The second optical power meter 8 reads the isolation of Port3 to Port2.

[0036] This invention provides a testing device for a circulator, comprising an AES light source, a polarizer, a beam splitter module, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator. The AES light source, polarizer, and beam splitter module are connected sequentially. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter module, the second port is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port is connected to a port of the circulator. The AES light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The beam splitter module then evenly divides the linearly polarized light into m paths. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching the m optical switches, and the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the optical power meters. This invention, through the switching of multiple optical switches, enables optical paths with different transmission directions, allowing simultaneous monitoring of transmission losses on multiple optical paths, thereby improving yield and production efficiency.

[0037] It should be noted that the descriptions of each embodiment in the above embodiments have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0038] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this utility model and their equivalents, this utility model also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A test device for a circulator, characterized by, The system includes an ASE light source, a polarizer, a beam splitter module, m optical switches, m optical power meters, and a circulator. The ASE light source, the polarizer, and the beam splitter module are connected sequentially according to the optical path. Each optical switch has three ports, and the circulator has m ports. The first port of each optical switch is connected to the beam splitter module, the second port of each optical switch is connected to a corresponding optical power meter, and the third port of each optical switch is connected to a port of the circulator. Here, m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The ASE light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into m paths by the beam splitter. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching m optical switches. For each transmission direction, the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

2. The test device of claim 1, wherein, The optical switch includes 3 units, the optical power meter includes 3 units, the circulator includes 3 ports, the beam splitter is a 1×3 beam splitter, the first optical switch, the second optical switch and the third optical switch each include port P1, port P2 and a common port COM, and the circulator includes port1, port2 and port3. Port P1 of the first optical switch, port P1 of the second optical switch, and port P1 of the third optical switch are all connected to the 1×3 beam splitter module. Port P2 of the first optical switch is connected to the first optical power meter, port P2 of the second optical switch is connected to the second optical power meter, and port P2 of the third optical switch is connected to the third optical power meter. The common terminal COM of the first optical switch is connected to port1 of the circulator, the common terminal COM of the second optical switch is connected to port2 of the circulator, and the common terminal COM of the third optical switch is connected to port3 of the circulator. The ASE light source outputs circularly polarized light, which is converted into linearly polarized light by the polarizer. The linearly polarized light is then evenly divided into three paths by the 1*3 beam splitter module and transmitted to the first optical switch, the second optical switch, and the third optical switch, respectively. The transmission direction of the optical path passing through the circulator is controlled by switching the first optical switch, the second optical switch, and the third optical switch, and the transmission parameters in the optical path are detected by the corresponding optical power meter.

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