Optical switching assembly for testing fiber optic device

An optical switching assembly comprising:

• first and second groups of optical fibers, each optical fiber having a first and second end;
• a first optical switch for selectively connecting a light source to the first end of one of the first group of optical fibers;
• a second optical switch for selectively connecting an optical device to the first end of one of the second group of optical fibers;
• and
• a plurality of junctions, each having an optical fiber lead and connecting the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the first group and the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the second group to the optical fiber lead, wherein the light source is used to test a fiber optic device connected to at least one of said optical fiber leads by performing at least two testing procedures without requiring the fiber optic device to be disconnected from said at least one of said optical fiber leads prior to completing the at least two testing procedures.

An optical switching assembly comprising:

• first and second groups of optical fibers, each optical fiber having a first and second end;
• a first optical switch for selectively, individually and alternately connecting a light source to each of the first ends of the first group of optical fibers;
• a second optical switch for selectively, individually and alternately connecting an optical device to the first end of one of the second group of optical fibers;
• and
• a plurality of junctions, each having an optical fiber lead and connecting the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the first group and the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the second group to the optical fiber lead.

An optical switching assembly comprising:

• first and second groups of optical fibers, each optical fiber having a first and second end;
• a first optical switch for selectively connecting a first optical device to the first end of one of the first group of optical fibers;
• a second optical switch for selectively connecting a second optical device to the first end of one of the second group of optical fibers;
• and
• a plurality of junctions, each having an optical fiber lead and connecting the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the first group and the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the second group to the optical fiber lead, wherein the light source is used to test a fiber optic device connected to at least one of said optical fiber leads by performing at least two testing procedures without requiring the fiber optic device to be disconnected from said at least one of said optical fiber leads prior to completing the at least two testing procedures.

A method for testing a fiber optic device, comprising:

• connecting at least first and second fiber optic devices, each having a optical fiber lead, to respective first and second junctions of an optical switching assembly, the optical switching assembly comprising a first optical switch and a second optical switch, each of the junctions having first and second optical fibers connecting the corresponding junction to the first and second optical switches, respectively;
• setting the first and second optical switches to test the first fiber optic device coupled to the first junction;
• testing the first fiber optic device coupled to the first junction by performing at least two testing procedures on the first fiber optic device connected to at least one of said optical fiber leads without requiring the fiber optic device to be disconnected from said at least one of said optical fiber leads prior to completing the at least two testing procedures;
• and
• resetting the first and second optical switches to test the second fiber optic device coupled to the second junction.

An optical switching assembly comprising:

• first and second groups of optical fibers, each optical fiber having a first and second end;
• a first optical switch for selectively connecting a first optical device to the first end of one of the first group of optical fibers;
• a second optical switch for selectively connecting a second optical device to the first end of one of the second group of optical fibers;
• and
• a plurality of junctions, each having an optical fiber lead and connecting the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the first group and the second end of a corresponding optical fiber from the second group to the optical fiber lead,
• wherein the light source is used to test at least one of the first and second optical devices connected to at least one of said optical fiber leads by performing at least two testing procedures without requiring the at least first and second optical devices to be disconnected from said at least one of said optical fiber leads prior to completing the at least two testing procedures.