Mixer-based in-service time domain reflectometer apparatus and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDaniel N. Harres
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for improved fiber optic signal transmission systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a reflectometer includes an optical source to emit optical energy into a the fiber optic line and to generate time-delayed signals from the repetitive pulses, an optical receiver to detect reflected energy from the fiber optic line and generate reflected signals from the reflected energy, a mixer that receives the reflected signals and receives the time delayed signals to generate a product waveform from the reflected signals and the time-delayed signals, and a processor that receives the product waveform to process the waveform to generate a value based on the sampled characteristic.
Claims42
An optical time domain reflectometer configured to sample a selected optical characteristic in a fiber optic transmission line, comprising:
- an optical source configured to repetitively emit first optical signals into a terminal portion of the fiber optic transmission line and a time delay unit operable to generate second optical signals suitably time-delayed relative to the first optical signals corresponding to the repetitive emissions;
- an optical receiver configured to detect reflected optical energy at the terminal portion of the fiber optic transmission line and generate reflected signals therefrom;
- a mixer operatively coupled to the optical receiver and to the optical source and adapted to receive the reflected signals and to receive the time delayed second optical signals and to generate a product waveform from the reflected signals and the time-delayed second optical signals;
- and
- a processor operatively coupled to the mixer that receives the product waveform to process the waveform to generate a value based on the sampled characteristic.
A fiber optic system, comprising:
- a first fiber optic transceiver coupled to a first electronics package;
- a second fiber optic transceiver coupled to a second electronics package;
- a fiber optic transmission line coupled to the first fiber optic transceiver and the second fiber optic transceiver, the fiber optic transmission line operable to communicate signals between the first electronics package and the second electronics package;
- and
- an optical time domain reflectometer operably coupled to at least one of the first fiber optic transceiver and the second fiber optic transceiver and configured to sample a selected optical characteristic of the fiber optic transmission line, the reflectometer further comprising:
- an optical source configured to repetitively emit first optical signals into a terminal portion of the fiber optic cable and a time delay unit operable to generate second optical signals that are suitably time-delayed relative to the first optical signals corresponding to the repetitive emissions;
- an optical detector configured to detect reflected optical energy at the terminal portion of the fiber optic cable and generate reflected signals therefrom;
- a mixer that receives the reflected signals and receives the time delayed second optical signals to generate a product waveform from the reflected signals and the time-delayed second optical signals;
- and
- a processor that receives the product waveform and processes the waveform to generate a value based on the sampled characteristic.
An aerospace vehicle, comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a propulsion system operatively coupled to the fuselage;
- and
- an optical system at least partially disposed within the fuselage of the vehicle, the optical system comprising:
- a fiber optic transmission line operable to communicate electromagnetic signals;
- and
- an optical time domain reflectometer configured to sample a selected optical characteristic of the fiber optic transmission line and generate a value corresponding to the selected optical characteristic, the reflectometer further comprising:
- an optical source configured to repetitively emit first optical signals into a terminal portion of the fiber optic transmission line and a time delay unit operable to generate second optical signals suitably time-delayed relative to the first optical signals corresponding to the repetitive emissions;
- an optical receiver configured to detect reflected optical energy at the terminal portion of the fiber optic transmission line and generate reflected signals therefrom;
- a mixer that receives the electrical signals from the receiver and the time delayed second optical signals from the source to generate a product waveform from the reflected signals and the time delayed second optical signals;
- and
- a processor that receives the product waveform and process the waveform to generate a value based on the sampled characteristic.
A method for sampling an optical characteristic in a fiber optic transmission line, comprising:
- emitting first optical signals into a terminal portion of the fiber optic transmission line and generating time delayed second optical signals based upon the emitted first optical signals in a time delay unit;
- detecting the first optical signals at the terminal portion of the line and generating reflected signals therefrom;
- mixing the reflected signals and the delayed second optical signals to form a product waveform;
- and
- processing the product waveform to generate a value based upon the sampled characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.