Optical cable search method and optical cable search system

Abstract

To provide an optical cable search method and an optical cable search system which can easily search for a specific optical cable from a plurality of laid optical cables.SOLUTION: The optical cable search system includes a first device and a second device. The first device has a process of generating rotary torque in a rotary torque generation unit and transmitting the rotary torque to a specific part of a tension member of an optical cable selected from a plurality of optical cables by using the rotary torque as a vibration in a transmission unit. The second device has a process of detecting a vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable in a sound acquisition unit, converting the detected vibration sound into a digital signal by an analysis unit, and calculating a pulse cycle and amplitude of the digital signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an optical cable detection method and detection system. [Background technology]

[0002] Optical fibers for communication are laid inside pipes, ducts, etc. along the laying route. In addition, many optical fibers may be laid along the same laying route. When branching or replacing the optical fibers after laying them, workers stop the equipment, pull the cable from both ends, and detect the slightest movement of the cable to identify the target optical fiber cable among multiple optical fibers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-209810 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, this method requires the equipment to be stopped, and requires a lot of time and effort. In addition, since the target optical cable is identified by manual work, it may be difficult to accurately identify the target optical cable. When the laying route is complicated or there are many laid cables, it is difficult to identify the target cable, and there is a risk of identifying an incorrect cable by mistake.

[0005] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an optical cable detection method and detection system that makes it possible to easily detect a specific optical cable from among multiple installed cables without stopping equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the optical cable detection system according to the present invention comprises a first device and a second device. The first device comprises a process of generating a rotational torque in a rotational torque generating unit and transmitting the rotational torque as vibration in a transmission unit to a specific location of a tension member of an optical cable selected from a plurality of optical cables. The second device comprises a process of detecting a vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable in a sound acquiring unit, converting the detected vibration sound into a digital signal in an analyzing unit, and calculating a pulse period and an amplitude of the digital signal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an optical cable exploration system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the vibration generator of this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block of the vibration generator. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the analysis device of this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the analysis device of this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the cable exploration process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the optical cable detection system 1 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration of the embodiment described below, and the actions and results (effects) brought about by the configuration are merely examples, and are not limited to the contents described below. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish parts and components, and do not indicate order or priority.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical cable detection system 1 according to an embodiment. The optical cable detection system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a system for a worker to identify a target optical cable 10 from among multiple optical cables laid in a building or the like during branching or replacement work of an optical cable.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the optical cable exploration system 1 is used for exploring optical cables in a system composed of, for example, a first control panel 13, a second control panel 14, and a plurality of optical cables 10, and includes a vibration generator 11 and an analyzer 12. Note that, with respect to the vibration generator 11, only a rotation controller 115, which is a part of it, is shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] The optical cables 10 are communication cables that propagate optical signals. One end of each optical cable 10 is connected to a first control panel 13, and the other end is connected to a second control panel 14. Communication between the first control panel 13 and the second control panel 14 is performed via the multiple optical cables 10.

[0012] The first control panel 13 and the second control panel 14 are devices in which control devices, electric circuits, instruments, switches, etc. are centrally installed in one place. The second control panel 14 is installed in a place away from the first control panel 13. The first control panel 13 and the second control panel 14 communicate with each other via the optical cable 10.

[0013] The vibration generator 11 is installed, for example, on the side of the first control panel 13, and is a vibration generator for applying vibration to one end of an optical cable selected from the plurality of optical cables 10. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the vibration generator 11 is installed on the side of the first control panel 13. Alternatively, the vibration generator 11 can be installed on the side of the second control panel 14. The vibration generator 11 is an example of the first device. The configuration of this vibration generator 11 will be described in detail later.

[0014] The analysis device 12 is a device that detects vibration sound generated in an optical cable selected from the multiple optical cables 10 at an arbitrary position between the first control panel 13 and the second control panel 14 and analyzes the waveform. The analysis device 12 identifies the optical cable to which vibration is directly applied by the vibration generator 11, based on the waveform of the vibration sound detected from each optical cable 10 and the waveform of the vibration generated by the vibration generator 11. The analysis device 12 is an example of a second device. The configuration of this analysis device 12 will also be described in detail later.

[0015] [Vibration Generator 11] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the vibration generator 11. The vibration generator 11 is a device that generates a rotational torque, converts the rotational torque into vibration, and transmits the vibration to one end of the laid optical cable 10.

[0016] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the vibration generator 11 of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the vibration generator 11 has a motor 110, a shaft 112, a cam 114, and a rotation controller 115. Note that the vibration generator 11 may have other components. Specific functions of the vibration generator 11 will be described later (see Fig. 3).

[0017] 2, the optical cable 10 includes a tension member 100 and a glass fiber (not shown). The tension member 100 is configured as a central axis of the optical cable 10. The glass fiber is bundled around the tension member 100.

[0018] One end of the tension member 100 of the optical cable 10 selected by the worker is usually fixed to the inner surface of the first control panel 13, but is removed and left as a free end during measurement. Similarly, one end of the glass fiber is connected to a device in the first control panel 13. On the other hand, one end of the tension member 100 of the optical cable 10 not selected by the worker is fixed to the inner surface of the first control panel 13.

[0019] The other end of the tension member 100 of the optical cable 10 is fixed to the inner surface of the second control panel 14. The other end of the tension member 100 of the optical cable 10 is fixed to the inner surface of the second control panel 14 by, for example, but not limited to, a cable fastener. The other end of the glass fiber is connected to a device in the second control panel 14.

[0020] The motor 110 generates a rotational torque. The motor 110 is fixed to the first control panel 13, for example, by a magnet 130 attached to the inner surface of the first control panel 13 and an expansion fitting 132 attached to the magnet 130. With this configuration, the installation position of the motor 110 in the first control panel 13 can be changed by an operator changing the fixing position of the magnet 130 to the first control panel 13. That is, the operator can install the motor 110 at a position corresponding to the position of the optical cable 10.

[0021] A rotation controller 115 is connected to the motor 110. The motor 110 is an example of a rotation torque generating unit. The rotation controller 115 is installed outside the first control panel 13, but is not limited to this. The rotation controller 115 controls the rotation of the motor 110. This allows the operator to set the rotation speed of the motor 110 to an arbitrary number of rotations. The rotation controller 115 is an example of a control unit.

[0022] The shaft 112 is connected to the shaft center of the motor 110. When the motor 110 generates a rotational torque, the shaft 112 rotates around the shaft center of the motor 110. The cam 114 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and a part of the periphery of the cam 114 is connected to the periphery of the shaft 112. When the motor 110 generates a rotational torque, the cam 114 rotates integrally with the shaft 112 around the shaft center of the motor 110. The cam 114 is an example of a transmission part.

[0023] 3 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the vibration generator 50. As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration generator 50 includes a rotational torque generating unit 502, a transmission unit 504, and a control unit 506.

[0024] The rotational torque generating unit 502 generates a rotational torque on the shaft 112 by rotating the shaft 112 of the motor 110. The direction in which the motor 110 rotates the shaft 112 is, for example, but is not limited to, clockwise with respect to the motor 110. Furthermore, the motor 110 may change the rotational direction of the shaft 112 at a constant cycle.

[0025] The transmission unit 504 transmits the rotational torque generated in the shaft 112 to the cam 114. Furthermore, the transmission unit 504 transmits the rotational torque of the cam 114 to the tension member 100 as vibration by the rotating cam 114 coming into contact with the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10.

[0026] The control unit 506 controls the rotation direction and rotation speed (number of rotations) of the motor 110 according to instructions from an operator. The control unit 506 can also control the rotation direction and rotation speed of the motor 110 according to previously inputted contents instead of instructions from an operator.

[0027] The vibration transmitted to the tension member 100 is transmitted through the tension member 100 to the microphone 120 in contact with the selected optical cable 10 .

[0028] [Analyzer 12] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the analysis device 12. The analysis device 12 is a device that detects the sound of vibration transmitted through the tension member 100, analyzes the waveform of the sound, and displays it.

[0029] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the analysis device 12 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the analysis device 12 has a microphone 120, a pulse analyzer 122, and a monitor .

[0030] The microphone 120 detects vibration sound generated by vibration transmitted from the cam 114 to the selected optical cable 10. For example, a unidirectional dynamic microphone is used as the microphone 120, but is not limited to this. The microphone 120 is an example of a sound acquisition unit.

[0031] The microphone 120 is brought into contact with, for example, a middle position on the selected optical cable 10 between one end in the first control panel 13 and the other end in the second control panel 14. The position where the microphone 120 is brought into contact is not limited to this, and may be any position on the selected optical cable 10 designated by the worker.

[0032] Pulse analyzer 122 receives the vibration sound of optical cable 10 acquired by microphone 120, converts the received vibration sound into a digital signal, and calculates the pulse period and amplitude of the digital signal. Pulse analyzer 122 may calculate information other than the pulse period and amplitude of the vibration sound. Pulse analyzer 122 is a portable type, and is installed at any position designated by the operator. Pulse analyzer 122 may include a monitor 124, which will be described later.

[0033] Monitor 124 displays at least the pulse period and amplitude of the vibration sound calculated by pulse analyzer 122 as waveforms. The waveform of the vibration sound displayed on monitor 124 is displayed in a form that allows the worker to visually recognize the pulse waveform calculated by pulse analyzer 122. Monitor 124 may display information other than the waveform of the vibration sound detected by microphone 120, for example, the frequency of the vibration sound may be displayed as a numerical value. Monitor 124 is an example of a display unit.

[0034] Next, the functional configuration of the analysis device 60 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the analysis device 60 of this embodiment. Note that the functional block diagram of Fig. 5 shows the minimum configuration required for the optical cable exploration system 1 to realize the contents of the present invention.

[0035] The sound acquisition unit 602 detects the vibration sound propagating through the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10 by the microphone 120. Then, the detected vibration sound is converted into an analog signal.

[0036] The analysis unit 604 samples the analog signal converted by the microphone 120 using the pulse analyzer 122, and calculates at least the period and amplitude of the vibration sound. The analysis unit 604 may calculate information other than the period and amplitude of the vibration sound.

[0037] The display unit 606 displays the period and amplitude of the vibration sound calculated by the analysis unit 604 as a waveform on the monitor 124. The monitor 124 may display information other than the waveform of the vibration sound acquired by the microphone 120.

[0038] [Cable detection process] Next, a cable detection process using the optical cable detection system 1 will be described. The cable detection process is outlined as follows. That is, an operator first selects one of the optical cables 10 in order to identify the target optical cable 10. Then, the tension member 100 at one end of the selected optical cable 10 is released to make it a free end. The vibration generator 11 generates vibrations and transmits the vibrations to one end of the selected optical cable 10.

[0039] The vibration transmitted to one end of the selected optical cable 10 travels through the optical cable 10 and reaches the analysis device 12 that is in contact with the selected optical cable 10. The analysis device 12 detects the vibration sound generated from the propagated vibration and converts the vibration sound into a waveform. The worker recognizes the converted waveform and compares the waveform with the period of the vibration generated by the vibration generator 11, thereby determining whether the selected optical cable 10 is the target optical cable 10 to be identified.

[0040] Next, the flow of operations of the optical cable exploration system 1 in the above cable exploration process will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the cable exploration process. Note that the dashed lines in Fig. 6 are an example of a portion corresponding to the operation of the optical cable exploration system 1. Also, in the following, for convenience of explanation, the first control panel 13 side is defined as the upstream side, and the second control panel 14 side is defined as the downstream side relative to the first control panel 13 side.

[0041] First, in step S101, an upstream worker selects, from among a plurality of laid optical cables 10, an optical cable 10 to which a specific vibration is to be applied.

[0042] Next, in step S102, the upstream worker sets one end of the tension member 100 of the target optical cable 10, which is fixed to the first control panel 13, to a free end. Here, the free end of the tension member 100 is positioned so as to come into contact with the peripheral portion of the cam 114 when the cam 114 rotates.

[0043] Next, in step S103, the motor 110 rotates together with the shaft 112 and the cam 114 in a constant direction and at a constant rotation speed. That is, the rotation of the motor 110 generates a rotational torque in the shaft 112 and the cam 114. The direction and rotation speed of the motor 110 are controlled by the rotation controller 115. The direction and rotation speed of the motor 110 do not have to be constant and may change over time.

[0044] Next, in step S104, a part of the rotating cam 114 comes into contact with one end of the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10. Then, the one end of the tension member 100 vibrates due to the kinetic energy received from the rotating cam 114. At this time, the number of rotations of the rotating cam 114 matches the number of vibrations of one end of the tension member 100. In other words, the cam 114 transmits the rotational torque of the cam 114 as vibration to one end of the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10. Here, the direction of the central axis of the shaft 112 is approximately the same as the direction of the central axis of the selected optical cable 10. In other words, the shaft 112 extends in approximately the same direction as the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10.

[0045] In step S104, the rotational torque of the cam 114 is transmitted to one end of the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10, and when the one end of the tension member 100 vibrates, a vibration sound due to the vibration is generated at the one end of the tension member 100. The generated vibration sound then propagates through the tension member 100, starting from the one end of the tension member 100.

[0046] Next, in step S105, the microphone 120 detects vibration sound generated at and propagating through one end of the tension member 100 of the selected optical cable 10, and converts it into an electrical signal (analog signal). The location where the microphone 120 detects the vibration sound may be any location on the selected optical cable 10, but in this embodiment, it is a midpoint between one end and the other end of the selected optical cable 10.

[0047] Next, in step S106, the pulse analyzer 122 samples the electrical signal converted by the microphone 120 and converts it into a digital signal, and then calculates the period and amplitude of the converted digital signal.

[0048] Then, in step S107, the monitor 124 displays the period and amplitude of the calculated digital signal of the vibration sound, for example, as a waveform. The monitor 124 may also include a RAM (Random Access Memory) so that the monitor 124 stores information on the period and amplitude or waveform of the vibration sound.

[0049] Next, in step S108, a downstream worker (typically a worker positioned near the middle between the first control panel 13 and the second control panel 14) reads the pulse period of the vibration sound from the waveform of the vibration sound displayed on the monitor 124. The downstream worker then determines whether the pulse period of the read vibration sound is equivalent to the pulse period of the vibration generated in step S104. If the worker determines that they are equivalent, the downstream worker determines and decides that the optical cable 10 selected in step S101 is the target optical cable 10 (step S109). Furthermore, if vibrations with the same pulse period are detected in multiple optical cables 10 due to vibration propagation, the downstream worker determines that the optical cable 10 with the largest amplitude is the target cable.

[0050] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S108 that the pulse period of the vibration sound read by the downstream worker is not equal to the pulse period of the vibration generated in step S104, the upstream worker selects one of the optical cables 10 not selected in step S101 (step S110). Then, the downstream worker shifts the microphone 120 to another optical cable 10 and executes the processes of steps S105 to S110. The downstream worker repeatedly executes the processes of steps S105 to S110 until an optical cable 10 in which the pulse period of the vibration generated in step S104 is detected is found.

[0051] Among the processes from step S101 to step S110, the processes from step S103 to step S107 are executed by the optical cable exploration system 1 of this embodiment. The processes from step S101, step S102, and steps S108 to S110 are executed by an operator.

[0052] In the method executed in the above embodiment, the optical cable exploration system 1 includes a vibration generator 11 and an analyzer 12. The vibration generator 11 includes a process of generating a rotational torque with a motor 110 and transmitting the rotational torque as vibration with a cam 114 to a tension member 100 of an optical cable selected from a plurality of optical cables 10, and a process of detecting a vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable 10 with a microphone 120, converting the detected vibration sound into a digital signal with a pulse analyzer 122, and calculating a pulse period and an amplitude of the digital signal, in the analyzer 12.

[0053] In the above-mentioned method, the worker judges whether the pulse period of the vibration sound calculated by the analysis device 12 is equal to the pulse period of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device 11. This enables the worker to determine whether the selected optical cable 10 is the target optical cable or not, and thus enables the worker to easily search for the specific optical cable 10.

[0054] The method performed in this embodiment further includes the step of transmitting the pulse period of the vibration generated in the cam 114 by the rotational torque generated in the motor 110 to the pulse analyzer 122 .

[0055] According to the above-described method, the pulse analyzer 122 compares the pulse period of the vibration generated by the cam 114 with the pulse period calculated from the vibration sound detected by the microphone 120, thereby enabling the worker to more accurately determine whether the selected optical cable 10 is the target optical cable or not.

[0056] Moreover, in this embodiment, the optical cable exploration system 1 includes a vibration generator 11 and an analyzer 12. The vibration generator 11 has a motor 110 that generates a rotational torque, and a cam 114 that transmits the rotational torque as vibration to the tension member 100 of an optical cable 10 selected from the multiple optical cables 10. The analyzer 12 has a microphone 120 that detects vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable 10, and a pulse analyzer 122 that converts the detected vibration sound into a digital signal and calculates a pulse period and amplitude of the digital signal.

[0057] In the above-described optical cable detection system 1, the worker judges whether the pulse period calculated by the analysis device 12 is equal to the pulse period of the vibration generated by the vibration generating device 11. This enables the worker to determine whether the selected optical cable 10 is the target optical cable or not, and thus enables the worker to easily detect the specific optical cable 10.

[0058] In this embodiment, the vibration generator 11 further includes a rotation controller 115 that controls the rotation generated by the motor 110.

[0059] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the rotation controller 115 controls the rotation of the motor 110, so that the motor 110 can generate rotation torque with more various patterns. This allows the worker to more accurately determine whether or not the optical cable is the target one by using the vibration sounds with more various patterns.

[0060] In this embodiment, the analysis device 12 further includes a monitor 124 that displays the pulse waveform calculated by the pulse analyzer 122 .

[0061] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the worker can visually check the pulse waveform calculated by the pulse analyzer 122. This allows the worker to determine for himself or herself whether the optical cable 10 selected from the pulse information is the target optical cable or not.

[0062] (Modification) In the above embodiment, an example is given of a case in which a downstream worker changes the optical cable 10 on which the microphone 120 is installed, and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S105 to S110 until finding the target optical cable 10. Alternatively, a plurality of microphones 120 may be installed on each of a plurality of optical cables 10, and the pulse analyzer 122 may automatically select the optical cable 10 from which the vibration sound obtained from each microphone 120 is closest to the pulse period of step S104.

[0063] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Optical cable detection system 10 Optical Cable 11 Vibration Generator 12 Analyzer 100 Tension members 110 Motor 114 Cam 115 Rotation Controller 120 Mike 122 Pulse Analyzer 124 monitors

Claims

1. A method executed in an optical cable detection system used to detect a specific optical cable from among a plurality of optical cables, comprising: A first device and a second device, a step of generating a rotational torque in a rotational torque generating section of the first device and transmitting the rotational torque as vibration in a transmission section to a specific location of a tension member of an optical cable selected from the plurality of optical cables; a step of detecting a vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable by a sound acquisition unit of the second device, converting the detected vibration sound into a digital signal by an analysis unit, and calculating a pulse period and an amplitude of the digital signal; An optical cable detection method comprising:

2. The method further includes a step of transmitting a pulse period of the vibration obtained in the transmission unit by the rotational torque generated in the rotational torque generation unit to the analysis unit. The optical cable detection method according to claim 1 .

3. An optical cable detection system used to detect a specific optical cable from among a plurality of optical cables, A first device and a second device, the first device has a generating unit that generates a rotational torque, and a transmitting unit that transmits the rotational torque as vibration to a tension member of the optical cable selected from the plurality of optical cables, The second device has a sound acquisition unit that detects vibration sound generated in the selected optical cable, and an analysis unit that converts the detected vibration sound into a digital signal and calculates a pulse period and an amplitude of the digital signal. Optical cable detection system.

4. The first device further has a control unit that controls the rotation generated by the generation unit. The optical cable detection system according to claim 3 .

5. The second device further includes a display unit that displays the pulse period and the amplitude calculated by the analysis unit as a waveform. The optical cable detection system according to claim 4 .

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