Optical Fiber Inspection Device Auto-Trigger Focus Metric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual focus control in optical fiber inspection devices is prone to mechanical variability and technician error, leading to difficulties in achieving and maintaining high focus, especially when inspecting fibers with challenging optics in tight spaces, which can result in inaccurate analysis and potential network performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that automatically initiate an inspection test when the image of the optical fiber's end face is manually focused, using a focus metric threshold value or local maximum detection to ensure the image is in focus, thereby allowing for accurate analysis of cleanliness and damage without requiring the technician to simultaneously press a test button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual focus control is used in optical fiber inspection, then the technician can adjust focus, but mechanical variability and technician error lead to difficulty in achieving and maintaining high focus
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors focus metric and triggers inspection when focus condition is satisfied, eliminating the need for technician to manually determine when focus is adequate. The system serves itself by auto-detecting focus state and initiating inspection automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors focus metric and provides feedback to determine when the focus condition is satisfied. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically trigger inspection at the optimal moment without relying on manual judgment.
2Measurement precision
If automatic test initiation is implemented, then inspection accuracy improves, but computing resources are consumed during focus monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically evaluates focus metric at discrete intervals during manual focusing, rather than continuously processing. Inspection is triggered periodically when focus condition is satisfied, reducing computing resource consumption while maintaining inspection accuracy.
3Reliability
If continuous focus monitoring is performed, then focus accuracy is maintained, but time and computing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary continuous focus monitoring during the manual focusing phase to prepare for automatic trigger. Once focus condition is satisfied, the system is ready to automatically initiate inspection without requiring additional technician action, thus reducing overall inspection time while maintaining focus accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures accurate test results by maintaining high focus and conserving computing resources, reducing the risk of connecting damaged or dirty optical fibers, which can degrade network performance.
Implementation Method 1
capturing, using a camera, an image of an end face of an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
capturing, using a camera, an image of an end face of an optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A device may use a camera to capture an image of an end face of an optical fiber in a field of view of the camera. The device may monitor a focus metric associated with the image while the image is manually focused using an opto-mechanical assembly. The device may automatically initiate a test to inspect the image of the end face of the optical fiber for compliance with a set of criteria related to cleanliness and damage based on the focus metric satisfying a condition. The device may output a result from the test indicating whether the end face of the optical fiber satisfies the set of criteria related to cleanliness and damage.