# US 2014/0193147 A1 · System for Testing Passive Optical Lines

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- Number: US 2014/0193147 A1
- Document ID: US20140193147A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/066,084
- Filed: 2013-10-29
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-29
- Assignees: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
- Applicants: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
- Inventors: Trevor D. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193147A1

## CPC

- H04B 10/071: using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
- G02B 6/28: having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- H04B 10/077: using a supervisory or additional signal
- G02B 6/3502: {involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides}
- G02B 6/3846: {with fibre stubs}
- G02B 6/3849: {using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes (G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44)}
- H04B 10/073: using an out-of-service signal (H04B10/071 takes precedence)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical splitter assembly including a splitter housing, a passive optical power splitter positioned within the splitter housing and a plurality of splitter output pigtails that extend outwardly from the splitter housing. Each of the splitter output pigtails including an optical fiber structure having a first end optically coupled to the passive optical power splitter and a second end on which a fiber optic connector is mounted. Each of the splitter output pigtails having a different test characteristic such that the splitter output pigtails can be individually identified during optical network testing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical splitter assembly comprising:
a splitter housing;
a passive optical power splitter positioned within the splitter housing; and
a plurality of splitter output pigtails that extend outwardly from the splitter housing, each of the splitter output pigtails including an optical fiber structure having a first end optically coupled to the passive optical power splitter and a second end on which a fiber optic connector is mounted, each of the splitter output pigtails having a different test characteristic such that the splitter output pigtails can be individually identified during optical network testing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 1, wherein optical network testing is performed using an optical time domain reflectometer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 1, wherein the different test characteristics are provided by providing the splitter output pigtails with different fiber lengths.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 3, wherein the different fiber lengths are provided by varying the lengths of the fiber structures that extend from the splitter housing to the fiber optic connectors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 3, wherein the different fiber lengths are provided by varying the lengths of the fiber structures that extend from the passive optical power splitter to outside the splitter housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 1, wherein the different test characteristics are provided by providing the splitter output pigtails with fiber structures having different optical properties.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 6, wherein the fiber structures include stub optical fibers supported within the ferrules of the fiber optic connectors, and wherein the stubs optical fibers have different optical properties.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 7, wherein the fiber structures include intermediate optical fibers spliced to the stub optical fibers.

### Claim 9

A system for testing an optical network, comprising:
a splitter housing;
a passive optical power splitter positioned within the splitter housing;
a plurality of splitter output pigtails that extend outwardly from a splitter housing, each of the splitter output pigtails including an optical fiber structure having a first end optically coupled to the passive optical power splitter and a second end on which a fiber optic connector is mounted;
intermediate optical fibers spliced to the plurality of splitter output pigtail, the intermediate optical fibers each having different signature optical properties;
a transmitter connected to the fiber and configured to launch a test signal having a wavelength down the fiber such that the plurality of splitter output pigtails can be individually identified during optical network testing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 9, wherein the different test characteristics are provided by providing the splitter output pigtails with different fiber lengths.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 9, wherein the different fiber lengths are provided by varying the lengths of the fiber structures that extend from the splitter housing to the fiber optic connectors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The optical splitter assembly of claim 9, wherein the different fiber lengths are provided by varying the lengths of the fiber structures that extend from the passive optical power splitter to outside the splitter housing.