Optical-Fiber Expansion Device for Connector Pinning Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical power loss measurement methods, such as the one-cord reference method, are limited by incompatible connectors between power meter instruments and devices under test, introducing uncertainty and requiring adapters that add bias, and are not adaptable to both pinned and unpinned interfaces or angle-polished and non-angle polished connectors.
Innovation Solution
An optical-fiber expansion device that converts the pinning of the power meter instrument's input interface from pinned to unpinned or vice-versa using a patch cord with a core diameter between the device under test and the power meter instrument, allowing for a one-cord or one-cord equivalent reference method, and optionally featuring a UPC/APC hybrid interface for universal compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adapter cords are used to convert connector interfaces between power meter instruments and devices under test, then connector compatibility is improved, but measurement uncertainty increases due to introduced bias
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical expansion device as an intermediary component between the power meter instrument and the device under test. This expansion device includes optical fibers with intermediate core diameters that act as a mediator to bridge the gap between incompatible connectors. By using this intermediary optical path, the system achieves connector compatibility without introducing the measurement bias that occurs with traditional adapter cords, as the expansion device maintains proper optical alignment and coupling throughout the measurement path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing optical fibers with intermediate core diameters. The expansion device employs fibers whose core diameters fall between those of the power meter instrument and the device under test. This parameter transition allows for gradual optical coupling mismatch reduction, enabling compatibility between different connector types while maintaining measurement accuracy by optimizing the optical field transformation along the fiber path.
2Productivity
If the input interface of the power meter instrument is used for multiple connections, then productivity is improved, but the interface becomes susceptible to wearing out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection interface into multiple components: the power meter instrument's input interface, the optical expansion device's interfaces, and the device under test's interface. By introducing the optical expansion device as a separate segment with its own connector interfaces, the wear and mechanical stress from multiple connections are distributed to the expansion device's connectors rather than concentrating on the power meter instrument's input interface. This segmentation protects the critical measurement interface while maintaining measurement efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided herein test instruments, devices and methods for measuring the optical power loss of optical-fiber devices under test, and particularly those terminated with multifiber connectors, which allows for a one-cord or one-cord equivalent reference method whichever the pinning of the actual optical-fiber device under test. There is proposed to add an optical-fiber expansion device to convert the pinning of the input interface of the power meter instrument from pinned to unpinned or vice-versa, while not adding extra measurement uncertainty. This is accomplished using a patch cord which core diameter is between that of the device under test and that of the input interface of the power meter instrument.