Apparatus for identifying optical array polarity and measuring optical signal and power or loss

A method for determining optical fiber array polarity comprising:

• receiving, at a sensor of a position sensing detector, a plurality of optical signals from an optical array, wherein the plurality of optical signals are incident on the sensor while the sensor remains in a fixed position relative to the optical array, the plurality of optical signals emanating from a corresponding plurality of optical fibers forming the optical array, wherein the sensor is positionable with respect to the optical array and each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers has an associated transmitting position and receiving position relative to other optical fibers in the optical array;
• outputting, by a plurality of electrodes of the position sensing detector, a respective plurality of output signals in response to receipt of an optical signal of the plurality of optical signals by the sensor, each output signal of the plurality of output signals indicating a proximity of a location at which the optical signal of the plurality of optical signals was incident on the sensor to a respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
• identifying, for the plurality of optical signals, respective locations at which the plurality of optical signals were incident on the sensor, wherein the respective locations are identified based on the corresponding plurality of output signals for each received optical signal;
• determining, based on the identified locations, the receiving position in the optical array of at least one optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers;
• and
• determining a polarity of the optical array based on the determined receiving position and a corresponding transmitting position in the optical array of the at least one optical fiber.

An apparatus for measuring optical signal intensity comprising:

• a position sensing detector comprising:
• an optical sensor positionable with respect to an optical array, wherein the optical sensor has a single substrate optical sensing area sized sufficient to receive a plurality of optical signals from the optical array while the optical sensing area remains in a fixed position relative to the optical array, wherein the optical sensor receives an optical signal at a location within the optical sensing area;
• and
• a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the optical sensing area, wherein the plurality of electrodes output a respective plurality of output signals in response to receipt of the optical signal by the optical sensing area, wherein each output signal of the plurality of output signals has an electrical characteristic that is proportional to both an intensity of the optical signal and a proximity of the location at which the optical signal was received to a corresponding electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
• an adder that receives and aggregates the plurality of output signals and produces an output signal aggregate for the optical signal;
• and
• processing circuitry electrically coupled to the adder, wherein the processing circuitry:
• receives the output signal aggregate;
• determines an intensity of the optical signal based on the output signal aggregate, wherein the determined intensity of the optical signal is proportional to the output signal aggregate;
• receives the plurality of output signals for two or more of the plurality of optical signals;
• identifies respective locations at which the two or more of the plurality of optical signals were incident on the optical sensor;
• determines, based on the identified locations, a receiving position in the optical array of at least one optical fiber of a plurality of optical fibers of the optical array;
• and
• determines a polarity of the optical array based on the determined receiving position of the at least one optical fiber and a corresponding transmitting position in the optical array of the at least one optical fiber.