Iterative Pulse Width Adjustment for Fault Location Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating faults in telecommunication lines, particularly in pulsed systems like PAM and OTDR, is challenging due to long distances and buried cables, leading to high costs and uncertainty in identifying faulty splices, which can disrupt communications.
Innovation Solution
A Fault Detection System that iteratively changes pulse width to refine fault location resolution using existing telecommunications equipment, allowing for precise identification of faulty splices without disrupting network communications, by transmitting signals with varying pulse widths and evaluating echo taps to update pulse width and location indices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single pulse width is used for fault detection, then the detection process is simple and quick, but the fault location resolution is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pulse width based on the current uncertainty interval. Instead of using a fixed pulse width, the pulse width is modified iteratively - starting with a larger pulse width for broad coverage and progressively reducing it to refine the fault location, thereby achieving high resolution without excessive time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from each detection iteration to inform the next pulse width selection. The uncertainty interval obtained from each measurement feeds back into the algorithm to determine the optimal pulse width for the subsequent measurement, creating a closed-loop system that converges on the fault location efficiently
2Measurement precision
If multiple pulse widths are used iteratively to improve resolution, then the fault location precision increases, but the detection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into iterative stages, each with a specific pulse width designed to probe a particular scale of uncertainty. The algorithm divides the search space systematically, using coarse pulse widths for initial localization and finer pulse widths for precision, optimizing the balance between speed and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pulse width parameter adaptively based on the current state of knowledge about the fault location. By modifying this critical parameter iteratively, the system achieves high measurement precision while minimizing the number of measurements required, thus maintaining high detection speed
3Device complexity
If existing telecommunications equipment is used for fault detection, then the system complexity is reduced and deployment is easier, but the functional capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes existing telecommunications equipment perform multiple functions - specifically, enabling these devices to conduct iterative pulse width-based fault location in addition to their primary communication functions. This universal approach allows high-precision fault detection without requiring specialized expensive equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing equipment's own resources and capabilities to perform fault detection. The telecommunications equipment detects faults in the network using its built-in transmission and reception capabilities, eliminating the need for separate dedicated fault detection devices and reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting fault are disclosed. In one aspect, a signal having an initial pulse width is transmitted on a telecommunication line. A fault location index is identified based on at least one fluctuating echo tap of the signal. An updated pulse width is determined based on the initial pulse width and the fault location index. The fault location index is updated based on at least one fluctuating echo tap of an updated signal having the updated pulse width.