Optical transmission path inspecting system, and optical transmission path inspecting device

An inspecting device configured to inspect an optical transmission path constituted of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a light source unit configured to output test light;
• a plurality of light input/output ports each configured to allow each of the plurality of optical fibers to be detachably connected thereto;
• an optical switch configured to selectively couple the light source unit with each of the light input/output ports;
• a first light detecting unit configured to detect a first intensity of the test light input from a different inspecting device and passing through the optical switch;
• a second light detecting unit configured to detect a second intensity of the test light directed from the light source unit toward the optical switch;
• a third light detecting unit configured to be optically coupled to another end of a test optical fiber having one end connected to each of the plurality of light input/output ports in place of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and to detect a third intensity of the test light received from the light source unit via the test optical fiber;
• an internal loss recording unit configured to record a loss of an optical path inside the device obtained on a basis of a difference between the third intensity and the second intensity;
• and
• a communication unit configured to perform communication with the different inspecting device independently from the optical transmission path.

A system for inspecting an optical transmission path constituted of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a first inspecting device configured to be provided on one end side of the optical transmission path;
• a second inspecting device configured to be provided on another end side of the optical transmission path;
• and
• a loss calculating unit configured to calculate a loss of each of the plurality of optical fibers,
• wherein each of the first and second inspecting devices has
• a light source unit outputting test light,
• a plurality of light input/output ports each detachably connected to each of the plurality of optical fibers,
• an optical switch selectively coupling the light source unit with each of the light input/output ports,
• a first light detecting unit detecting a first intensity of the test light input from the first or second inspecting device on a counterpart side and passing through the optical switch,
• a second light detecting unit detecting a second intensity of the test light directed from the light source unit toward the optical switch,
• a third light detecting unit optically coupled to another end of a test optical fiber having one end connected to each of the plurality of light input/output ports in place of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and detecting a third intensity of the test light received from the light source unit via the test optical fiber, and
• an internal loss recording unit recording a loss of an optical path inside the device obtained on a basis of a difference between the third intensity and the second intensity,
• wherein the loss calculating unit calculates a loss of each of the plurality of optical fibers on a basis of a value obtained by subtracting the first intensity of the second inspecting device, a loss recorded in the internal loss recording unit of the first inspecting device, and a loss recorded in the internal loss recording unit of the second inspecting device from the second intensity of the first inspecting device,
• wherein the optical transmission path is constituted of N (N is an integer of 2 or larger) multi-fiber cables individually including two or more of the optical fibers, and
• wherein a number of the light input/output ports included in the first and second inspecting devices is equal to or more than a total number of the optical fibers included in the N multi-fiber cables.

An inspecting device configured to inspect an optical transmission path constituted of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a light source unit configured to output test light;
• a plurality of light input/output ports each configured to allow each of the plurality of optical fibers to be detachably connected thereto;
• an optical switch configured to selectively couple the light source unit with each of the light input/output ports;
• a first light detecting unit configured to detect a first intensity of the test light input from a different inspecting device and passing through the optical switch;
• a second light detecting unit configured to detect a second intensity of the test light directed from the light source unit toward the optical switch;
• a third light detecting unit configured to be optically coupled to another end of a test optical fiber having one end connected to each of the plurality of light input/output ports in place of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and to detect a third intensity of the test light received from the light source unit via the test optical fiber;
• and
• an internal loss recording unit configured to record a loss of an optical path inside the device obtained on a basis of a difference between the third intensity and the second intensity,
• wherein the optical transmission path is constituted of N (N is an integer of 2 or larger) multi-fiber cables individually including two or more of the optical fibers, and
• wherein a number of the light input/output ports is equal to or more than a total number of the optical fibers included in the N multi-fiber cables.

A system for inspecting an optical transmission path constituted of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a first inspecting device configured to be provided on one end side of the optical transmission path;
• a second inspecting device configured to be provided on another end side of the optical transmission path;
• and
• a loss calculating unit configured to calculate a loss of each of the plurality of optical fibers,
• wherein each of the first and second inspecting devices has
• a light source unit outputting test light,
• a plurality of light input/output ports each detachably connected to each of the plurality of optical fibers,
• an optical switch selectively coupling the light source unit with each of the light input/output ports,
• a first light detecting unit detecting a first intensity of the test light input from the first or second inspecting device on a counterpart side and passing through the optical switch,
• a second light detecting unit detecting a second intensity of the test light directed from the light source unit toward the optical switch,
• a third light detecting unit optically coupled to another end of a test optical fiber having one end connected to each of the plurality of light input/output ports in place of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and detecting a third intensity of the test light received from the light source unit via the test optical fiber, and
• an internal loss recording unit recording a loss of an optical path inside the device obtained on a basis of a difference between the third intensity and the second intensity,
• wherein the loss calculating unit calculates a loss of each of the plurality of optical fibers on a basis of a value obtained by subtracting the first intensity of the second inspecting device, a loss recorded in the internal loss recording unit of the first inspecting device, and a loss recorded in the internal loss recording unit of the second inspecting device from the second intensity of the first inspecting device,
• wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other,
• wherein the optical transmission path is constituted of N (N is an integer of 2 or larger) multi-fiber cables individually including two or more of the optical fibers, and
• wherein a number of the light input/output ports included in the first and second inspecting devices is equal to or more than a total number of the optical fibers included in the N multi-fiber cables.

An inspecting device configured to inspect an optical transmission path constituted of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a light source unit configured to output test light;
• a plurality of light input/output ports each configured to allow each of the plurality of optical fibers to be detachably connected thereto;
• an optical switch configured to selectively couple the light source unit with each of the light input/output ports;
• a first light detecting unit configured to detect a first intensity of the test light input from a different inspecting device and passing through the optical switch;
• a second light detecting unit configured to detect a second intensity of the test light directed from the light source unit toward the optical switch;
• a third light detecting unit configured to be optically coupled to another end of a test optical fiber having one end connected to each of the plurality of light input/output ports in place of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and to detect a third intensity of the test light received from the light source unit via the test optical fiber;
• and
• an internal loss recording unit configured to record a loss of an optical path inside the device obtained on a basis of a difference between the third intensity and the second intensity,
• wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other,
• wherein the optical transmission path is constituted of N (N is an integer of 2 or larger) multi-fiber cables individually including two or more of the optical fibers, and
• wherein a number of the light input/output ports is equal to or more than a total number of the optical fibers included in the N multi-fiber cables.