OTDR method targeting identified event
AssigneeEXFO Inc.
InventorStephane Perron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided an OTDR method and device for characterizing an optical fiber link. At least a first OTDR acquisition is performed toward the optical fiber link. From the at least one first OTDR acquisition, one or more events are identified along the optical fiber link and a value of at least one characteristic associated with each event is estimated. A second OTDR acquisition is performed toward the optical fiber link in order to target a specific event among the identified events. Values of one or more OTDR acquisition parameters for the second OTDR acquisition are determined such that the OTDR acquisition parameters comprise a second pulse width different from the first pulse width used in the first OTDR acquisition.
Claims18
An Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) method for characterizing an optical fiber link, the OTDR method comprising:
- performing at least one first OTDR acquisition toward the optical fiber link, wherein each OTDR acquisition is performed by propagating in the optical fiber link under test, a test signal corresponding to a first pulse width and detecting corresponding return light from the optical fiber link so as to obtain an OTDR trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link;
- from said at least one first OTDR acquisition, identifying one or more events along the optical fiber link and estimating a value of insertion loss associated with each said one or more events;
- if it is determined that the estimated value of insertion loss associated with at least one of said events does not meet an evaluation criterion, performing a second OTDR acquisition toward the optical fiber link using one or more new OTDR acquisition parameters to assess said at least one of said events;
- wherein said new OTDR acquisition parameters comprise a second pulse width different from said first pulse width.
An Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) device for characterizing an optical fiber link, the OTDR device comprising:
- an OTDR acquisition device connectable toward an end of the optical fiber link for performing one or more OTDR acquisitions toward the optical fiber link, wherein each OTDR acquisition is performed by propagating in the optical fiber link under test, a test signal corresponding to a first pulse width and detecting corresponding return light from the optical fiber link so as to obtain an OTDR trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link;
- a processing unit receiving the OTDR trace and configured for:
- identifying one or more events along the optical fiber link from at least one OTDR trace, and estimating a value of insertion loss associated with each said one or more events;
- and
- if it is determined that the estimated value of insertion loss associated with at least one of said events does not meet an evaluation criterion, causing the OTDR acquisition device to launch a second OTDR acquisition toward the optical fiber link using one or more new OTDR acquisition parameters to assess said at least one of said events, wherein said new OTDR acquisition parameters comprises a second pulse width different from said first pulse width.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform the steps of:
- receiving data derived from at least one first Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) acquisition performed toward an optical fiber link under test, wherein each OTDR acquisition is performed by propagating in the optical fiber link under test, a test signal corresponding to a first pulse width and detecting corresponding return light from the optical fiber link so as to obtain an OTDR trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link under test;
- from said at least one first OTDR acquisition, identifying one or more events along the optical fiber link and estimating a value of insertion loss associated with each said one or more events;
- and
- if it is determined that the estimated value of insertion loss associated with at least one of said events does not meet an evaluation criterion, launching a second OTDR acquisition toward the optical fiber link using one or more new OTDR acquisition parameters to assess said at least one of said events, wherein said new OTDR acquisition parameters comprise a second pulse width different from said first pulse width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.