# US 12,111,224 B2 · Optical transmission path inspecting system, and optical transmission path inspecting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,224 B2 - Document ID: US12111224B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/612,745 - Filed: 2020-06-03 - Published: 2022-07-28 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-11 - Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Optifrontier Co., Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Optifrontier Co., Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Gouichi Fukumoto; Yoshifumi Hishikawa; Tetsufumi Tsuzaki; Toshiyuki Miyamoto; Kenichiro Otsuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111224B2 ## CPC - G01M 11/335: {using two or more input wavelengths} - H04B 10/0731: {Testing or characterisation of optical devices, e.g. amplifiers} - G01M 11/33: {with a light emitter being disposed at one fibre or waveguide end-face, and a light receiver at the other end-face} - G01M 11/39: {in which light is projected from both sides of the fiber or waveguide end-face} - H04B 10/0775: {Performance monitoring and measurement of transmission parameters} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An inspecting device has an optical switch selectively coupling a light source unit with each of light input/output ports; a first light detecting unit detecting a first intensity of test light input from an 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, 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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, and wherein each of the first and second inspecting devices further has a communication unit for communicating independently from the optical transmission path between the first inspecting device and the second inspecting device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit of the second inspecting device transmits the first intensity detected in the second inspecting device and data related to a loss recorded in the internal loss recording unit of the second inspecting device to the communication unit of the first inspecting device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 2, wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 2, 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 5, 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 1, 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 1, wherein the loss calculating unit is provided inside the first inspecting device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 1, wherein the loss calculating unit is provided outside the first inspecting device. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inspecting device for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 10, wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The inspecting device for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 11, 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The inspecting device for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 10, 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. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 14, wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 14, wherein the loss calculating unit is provided inside the first inspecting device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 14, wherein the loss calculating unit is provided outside the first inspecting device. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The inspecting device for inspecting the optical transmission path according to claim 18, wherein the light source unit has two or more light sources having output wavelengths different from each other. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 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.