Method of and system for characterization of fiber optic connections in situ

A method for identifying faulty connections in a fiber optic path comprising a plurality of connectors, the fiber optic path being installed in an avionics system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing characterizing tests on the fiber optic path by:
• (1) applying a first signal to a first end of the fiber optic path;
• (2) receiving an output signal from a second end of the fiber optic path, the output signal being generated in response to the first signal;
• (3) combining a frequency domain expression of the first signal and a frequency domain expression of the output signal to produce a first resultant signal;
• (4) identifying specific frequencies in the first resultant signal having a correspondence to specific connectors of the plurality of connectors;
• (5) determining a characteristic condition of each of the plurality of connectors from amounts of energy at each of the specific frequencies to determine characterizing amounts of energy;
• and
• (6) performing all of steps (1) through (5) while subjecting the fiber optic path to a predetermined mechanical stress;
• (b) applying a test pulse to the first end of the fiber optic path;
• (c) receiving an output pulse from the second end of the fiber optic path, the output pulse being generated in response to the test pulse;
• (d) combining a frequency domain expression of the test pulse and a frequency domain expression of the output pulse to produce a resultant pulse;
• (e) identifying specific frequencies in the resultant pulse having a correspondence to specific connectors of the plurality of connectors;
• and
• (f) determining a condition of each of the plurality of connectors from amounts of energy at each of the specific frequencies and comparing the amounts of energy to the characterizing amounts of energy.

A method of identifying faulty connections in an optical path system, the optical path system having a memory for storing parameters, the optical path system comprising at least one optical path, the optical path comprising a plurality of connectors, the optical path system having predetermined characterization parameters, the characterization parameters being stored in and accessible from the memory, the characterization parameters including a finite number of connectors, a distance between each of the connectors, and a nominal performance level of the connectors, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a reference input at a first end of the optical path;
• (b) detecting an output at a second end of the optical path, the output being generated in response to the reference input;
• (c) combining a transform of the reference input and a transform of the output to produce a resultant signal;
• (d) identifying specific parameters in the resultant signal that are indicative of and have a correspondence to a specific connector of the plurality of connectors;
• (e) determining a condition of each specific connectors from amounts of energy at each of the specific parameters to determine whether any faulty connections exist;
• and
• (f) displaying the condition to a user of the optical path system.

A method of identifying faulty connections in an optical path comprising a plurality of connectors, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a reference input at a first end of the optical path;
• (b) detecting an output at a second end of the optical path, the output being generated in response to the reference input;
• (c) converting the reference input to a converted input and the output to a converted output, the converted input and converted output being representative of another domain for signal analysis;
• (d) combining the converted input and the converted output to produce a resultant signal;
• (e) identifying specific parameters in the resultant signal that are indicative of and have a correspondence to a specific connector of the plurality of connectors;
• and
• (f) determining a condition of each specific connectors from amounts of energy at each of the specific parameters to determine whether any faulty connections exist.

A system for identifying faulty connections in an optical path comprising a plurality of connectors, the system comprising:

• means for introducing a reference input at a first end of the optical path;
• means for detecting an output at a second end of the optical path, the output being generated in response to the reference input;
• means for combining a transform of the reference input and a transform of the output to produce a resultant signal;
• means for identifying specific parameters in the resultant signal that are indicative of and have a correspondence each specific connector of the plurality of connectors;
• and
• means for determining a condition of each of the plurality of connectors from amounts of energy at each of the specific parameters to determine whether the faulty connections exist.