Patent US4012149A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4012149A
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US
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Measuring method and equipment for locating a break in an optical cable
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-07-01
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A method essentially consisting in measuring the duration of the go and return travel of a light impulse between an accessible end of an optical cable and a break in the said cable. The distance of the break from the latter end can be calculated if the refractive index of the light conducting material is known. The equipment essentially comprises a source of light impulses forming optical signals, an injector element coupling the source to the cable, a separator dividing each optical signal into two signals respectively traveling on a first and a second path, the latter of which includes the above-mentioned go and return travel, detector elements detecting the signals at the outputs of their paths, and a viewing element displaying the detector outputs on a common screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Remy A. Bouillie
- 👤 Pierre Lamouler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/30; G01M11/31; G01M11/3109; G01M11/3154; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
An apparatus for determining the position of a break in a fiber of an optical cable comprising: generating and directing means providing a train of recurrent light pulses toward an end of said optical cable; said generating means including a laser source of said recurrent light pulses, an electrical pulse generator, means to feed electrical power to said generator and an amplifier connecting said generating means and said laser source; an optical separator means located along the emitting axis of said light pulses generated from said laser source comprising at least a first, a second and a third optical fiber for dividing said train of said light pulses into a first train of light pulses along said first optical fiber, a second train of light pulses along said second optical fiber, and for reflectively directing a third train of light pulses along said third optical fiber; optical concentrator means for directing said second train of light pulses to the end of the optical cable being tested; first receiving means including a first electro-optical transducer for receiving said first train of light pulses and converting said first train of light pulses into a first electrical signal; second receiving means including a second electro-optical transducer for receiving said third train of light pulses reflectively along said third optical fiber of said optical separator means after said second train issues from said second optical fiber and is reflected from said second train of light pulses by a break in the fiber of said optical cable; said second receiving means converting said third train of light pulses into a second electrical signal; and, electrical time measurement means receiving said first and second electrical signals for measuring the time delay interval between a light pulse of said first train and a light pulse of said third train to thereby determine the position of the break in a fiber of said optical cable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
317 words
An apparatus for determining the position of a break in a fiber of an optical cable comprising: generating and directing means providing a train of recurrent light pulses toward an end of said optical cable; said generating means including a laser source of said recurrent light pulses, an electrical pulse generator, means to feed electrical power to said generator and an amplifier connecting said generating means and said laser source; an optical separator means located along the emitting axis of said light pulses generated from said laser source comprising at least a first, a second and a third optical fiber for dividing said train of said light pulses into a first train of light pulses along said first optical fiber, a second train of light pulses along said second optical fiber, and for reflectively directing a third train of light pulses along said third optical fiber; optical concentrator means for directing said second train of light pulses to the end of the optical cable being tested; first receiving means including a first electro-optical transducer for receiving said first train of light pulses and converting said first train of light pulses into a first electrical signal; second receiving means including a second electro-optical transducer for receiving said third train of light pulses reflectively along said third optical fiber of said optical separator means after said second train issues from said second optical fiber and is reflected from said second train of light pulses by a break in the fiber of said optical cable; said second receiving means converting said third train of light pulses into a second electrical signal; and, electrical time measurement means receiving said first and second electrical signals for measuring the time delay interval between a light pulse of said first train and a light pulse of said third train to thereby determine the position of the break in a fiber of said optical cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for determining the position of a break in a fiber of an optical cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical pulse generator comprises manual means for controlling the repetition frequency of light pulses of said first train to thereby track the successive light pulse of said first train with the light pulse of said third train and thereby determine the position of the break in the optical cable from the observed repetition frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |