Oblique lighting system for inspection of end connectors of fiber optic cables by microscope

A system of oblique lighting, comprising:

• a light ring comprising a plurality of light sources disposed in a circular pattern to illuminate an end connector of a fiber optic cable for viewing under a microscope;
• a reflector ring comprising an inner reflective surface, wherein the inner reflective surface is disposed to receive light directly from the plurality of light sources and to reflect the light from the plurality of light sources onto the end connector with an angle of incidence (AOI) sufficient to provide darkfield illumination to the end connector;
• an imager connected to the microscope to capture images of the end connector under darkfield illumination;
• and
• a controller to:
• control the plurality of light sources to provide darkfield illumination to the end connector;
• control the imager to capture one or more images of the end connector under darkfield illumination;
• and
• analyze the captured one or more images to identify at least one of particulate matter, a defect, or an imperfection on the end connector.

An oblique lighting system for inspection, under a microscope, of an end connector of a fiber optic cable, comprising:

• a planar light ring comprising:
• a planar ring parallel to a plane of an objective lens of the microscope;
• and
• a plurality of light sources disposed on the planar ring, wherein a center of the planar ring coincides with a viewing axis of the microscope;
• a reflector ring comprising an inner reflective surface, wherein the inner reflective surface is disposed to receive light directly from the plurality of light sources in the planar light ring and to reflect light from the plurality of light sources onto the end connector with an angle of incidence (AOI) sufficient to provide darkfield illumination to the end connector;
• an imager connected to the microscope to capture images of the end connector under darkfield illumination;
• and
• a controller to:
• control one or more of the plurality of light sources to provide darkfield illumination to the end connector;
• control the imager to capture one or more images of the end connector under darkfield illumination;
• and
• analyze the captured one or more images to identify at least one of particulate matter, a defect, or an imperfection on the end connector.

A method for inspecting, under a microscope, an end connector of a fiber optic cable, comprising:

• controlling, by a controller operably connected to the microscope, one or more of a plurality of light sources disposed on a light ring to light,
• wherein a reflective ring comprising an inner reflective surface is disposed to receive light directly from the plurality of light sources disposed on the light ring and to reflect the received light onto the end connector, and
• wherein the reflected light of the one or more of the plurality of light sources in the light ring provides light with an angle of incidence (AOI) sufficient to produce darkfield illumination of the end connector;
• controlling, by the controller, an imager to capture one or more images of the end connector under darkfield illumination;
• and
• analyzing, by the controller, the captured one or more images to identify at least one of particulate matter, a defect, or an imperfection on the end connector.