Optical fiber temperature control system and method
AssigneeAFL Telecommunications LLC
InventorMohamed Amine Jebali
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for monitoring optical fiber temperature includes heating an optical fiber using a heat source, and measuring an infrared radiation level emitted by an optical fiber during heating of the optical fiber. The method further includes comparing the infrared radiation level to a radiation level setpoint for the optical fiber to determine a radiation level error value. The method further includes adjusting a power level setpoint of the heat source based on the radiation level error value.
Claims19
A method for monitoring optical fiber temperature, the method comprising:
- receiving an image of a position of an optical fiber with a camera;
- positioning the optical fiber based on the received image;
- emitting a heating element from a heat source;
- splitting the heating element into a first heating element and a second heating element with a splitter;
- directing the first heating element to a heating portion of the optical fiber with a first mirror;
- directing the second heating element to the heating portion of the optical fiber with a second mirror;
- heating the heating portion of the optical fiber using the first heating element directed by the first mirror and the second heating element directed by the second mirror;
- measuring, with an infrared sensor, an infrared radiation level emitted by the optical fiber during heating the heating portion of the optical fiber;
- comparing the measured infrared radiation level to a radiation level setpoint for the optical fiber to determine a radiation level error value based on a difference between the measured infrared radiation level and the radiation level setpoint;
- and
- adjusting a power level setpoint of the heat source based on the radiation level error value, whereby the infrared radiation level is brought to the radiation level setpoint.
An optical fiber temperature control system, comprising:
- a camera configured to receive an image of a position of an optical fiber;
- a heat source operable to emit a heating element towards a splitter, the splitter configured to split the heating element into a first heating element and a second heating element;
- a first mirror positioned to direct the first heating element to a heating portion of the optical fiber;
- a second mirror positioned to direct the second heating element to the heating portion of the optical fiber;
- an infrared sensor operable to measure an infrared radiation level emitted by the heating portion of the optical fiber during heating of the optical fiber by the first heating element and the second heating element;
- and
- a controller in operable communication with the camera, a moving stage on which the optical fiber is mounted, the infrared sensor and the heat source, the controller configured for:
- positioning the optical fiber based on the image of the position of the optical fiber;
- comparing the infrared radiation level measured by the infrared sensor to a radiation level setpoint for the optical fiber to determine a radiation level error value based on a difference between the infrared radiation level and the radiation level setpoint;
- and
- adjusting a power level setpoint of the heat source based on the radiation level error value, whereby the infrared radiation level is brought to the radiation level setpoint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.