TESTING METHOD FOR FIBER CASSETTES

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is being filed on January 4, 2019 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201810006168.1, filed on January 4, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of the fiber cassettes, and in particular to a testing apparatus for fiber cassettes and a testing method for fiber cassettes.

BACKGROUND

Fiber cassettes such as MPO cassettes are widely used in fiber networks. Optical testing, such as optical continuity and polarity tests must be performed for these cassettes, so as to ensure the quality of the cassettes and the effective use thereof. Fig. 1 shows a conventional testing method for an MPO to LC cassette. As illustrated, a typical MPO to LC cassette 20 comprises an integrated end 21 and a fan-out end 22 each with respective optical ports. In order to test the MPO to LC cassette 20, it requires an MPO/MPO patch cord for connecting an adaptation port 11 of the MPO testing apparatus 10 with the integrated end 21 of the fiber cassette 20, and an MPO/LC patch-cord for connecting another adaptation port 11 of the MPO testing apparatus 10 with the fan-out end 21 of the fiber cassette 20. During testing, light is emitted into one end of the fiber cassette 20 by the MPO testing apparatus and detected at the other end of the fiber cassette, such that the optical testing of continuity and polarity of the fiber cassette is realized. However, owing to the need of plugging or pulling of the patch-cords before/after testing, the above conventional testing method for a fiber cassette is time consuming, leading to inefficient optical testing of the fiber cassettes 20. In addition, there is a risk that the end face of the ferrules therein might be polluted or scratched due to the plugging or pulling of the patch cords. SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a testing apparatus for a fiber cassette and its corresponding testing method. With the testing apparatus for a fiber cassette and its corresponding testing method, the optical testing for the fiber cassettes can be realized without the need of the patch-cords, leading to a highly improved testing efficiency for the fiber cassettes. Meanwhile, the pollution and/or scratch risk of the end face of the ferrules in the optical ports of the fiber cassettes can be avoided.

In one aspect, there is provided a testing apparatus for a fiber cassette comprising: a detector; and a light source module, arranged opposite to the detector and comprising a plurality of light sources; during testing, the fiber cassette is arranged between the detector and the light source module, wherein the detector is arranged at an integrated end of the fiber cassette and the light source module is arranged at a fan-out end of the fiber cassette; and wherein each of the plurality of light sources is arranged to align with each optical port at the fan-out end of the fiber cassette.

In some embodiments, the testing apparatus further comprises a frame, wherein the detector and the light source module are arranged on the frame.

In some embodiments, the detector is movable on the frame along a first direction being parallel with the end surface of the integrated end of the fiber cassette.

In some embodiments, the frame further comprises a holder, which holds the fiber cassette right above the light source module.

In some embodiments, the testing apparatus further comprises a controller, by which the plurality of light source are controlled to emit light in sequence into the multiple optical ports at the fan-out end of the fiber cassette.

In some embodiments, the plurality of light sources are arranged in an array.

In some embodiments, the fiber cassette is an MPO cassette, with one end being the integrated end and the other end being the fan-out end.

In some embodiments, the fan-out end comprises a plurality of LC or SC optical ports.

In some embodiments, the detector is a CCD.

In another aspect, there is provided a testing method for a fiber cassette, which comprises: arranging a fiber cassette between a detector and a light source module comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is arranged to align with each optical port at a fan-out end of the fiber cassette; emitting light from the light source module into the fan-out end of the fiber cassette; and detecting light at an integrated end of the fiber cassette.

In some embodiments, said emitting further comprises: driving the plurality of light sources of the light source module to emit light in sequence into the multiple optical ports at the fan-out end of the fiber cassette.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the above aspects can also be combined in order to provide additional advantages.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be understood better from the description of specific embodiments of the disclosure given in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional testing method for an MPO-LC fiber cassette;

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, with the fiber cassette removed;

Figs. 5A-5C illustrates a perspective view, a front view and a side view of the fiber cassette; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of the detector.

In the figures, identical or similar reference numerals indicate identical or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail in conjunction with accompanying figures. Although example embodiments are shown in the accompanying figures, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be embodied in various ways and is not limited to the embodiments depicted herein.

Instead, the embodiments are provided herein to make the disclosure more thorough and complete and to convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in this art.

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the testing apparatus for a fiber cassette according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, with the fiber cassette removed. Figs. 5A-5C illustrates a perspective view, a front view and a side view of the fiber cassette. Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of the detector

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the testing apparatus 100 for a fiber cassette comprises a detector 120 and a light source module 140.

The light source module 140 is arranged opposite to the detector 120 and comprises a plurality of light sources 142. During testing, the fiber cassette 200 can be arranged between the detector 120 and the light source module 140.

According to an embodiment, the fiber cassette 200 comprises an integrated end 201 and a fan-out end 202, each including one or more optical ports. As a non-limited example, the fiber cassette 200 may be e.g., an MPO-LC/SC fiber cassette, with one end being an integrated end with MPO optical ports, and the other end being a fan-out end with LC/SC optical ports. However, in other embodiments, fiber cassettes 200 can be any type of fiber cassettes that are suitable to be positioned between the light source module 140 and the detector 120.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the detector 120 can be arranged at the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200, and the light source module 140 can be arranged at the fan out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200. According to some embodiments, both of the detector 120 and the light source module 140 are kept a distance away from the optical ports of the fiber cassette 200, that is, there is no physical contact between the detector 120 and the light source module 140 and the optical ports of the fiber cassette 200. However, in other embodiments, it is possible that either or both of the detector 120 and the light source module 140 is/are in contact with the optical ports of the fiber cassette 200. In order for a better coupling of the light source module 140 with the optical ports at the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200, the light source module 140 may comprise a plurality of light sources 142 arranged in an array, and these light sources 142 are arranged such that each light source 142 may be aligned with each optical port at the fan out end 202 of the fiber cassette, and thereby light may be emitted from one light source 140 into a corresponding optical port at the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200. The advantage of each light source 142 being aligned with each optical port at the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette lies in that each light source 142 can be allowed to emit light into each optical port at the fan-out end 202 in a non-interference manner, facilitating the non interference transmitting of light in each optical path in the fiber cassettes.

The testing apparatus 100 for the fiber cassette further comprises a frame 110. Thereby, the detector 120 and the light source module 140 can be arranged opposite to each other on the frame 110. As a non-limiting example, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the detector 120 is arranged on the top of the frame 120, the light source 140 is arranged on the bottom of the frame 140. However, in other embodiments, the detector 120 and the light source module 140 can be arranged on the frame 110 with different position relationships.

According to some embodiments, the frame 110 may comprise a sliding rail 111. Therefore, the detector 120 can be moved on the frame 110 in a first direction along the sliding rail 111, wherein the first direction may be parallel with the end surface of the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200. This allows the detector 120 to move from one optical port at the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200 to another optical port at the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200, so as to detect light from different optical ports. As shown in Fig. 2, there is provided two optical ports at the end surface of the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200. However, in other embodiments, there may be provided more or less optical ports at the end surface of the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200.

The frame 110 may further comprises a holder 160, which is used for maintaining the fiber cassette 200 in a position above the light source module 140 and under the detector 120. In particular, the holder 160 is arranged such that the detector 120 and the light source 140 do not physically contact the optical ports at the ends of fiber cassette 200

In addition, the testing apparatus 100 can further preferably comprise a controller (not shown), which can be configured to control the plurality of light sources in the lighting module 140 to emit light in sequence into the plurality of optical ports at the fan out end of the fiber cassette 200. At the same time, the detector 120 is arranged at the integrated end of the fiber cassette to detect the light from the fan-out end of the fiber cassette. In this way, the optical continuity or polarity of the fiber cassettes can be determined.

According to a preferred embodiment, the controller can be further coupled to the frame 110 and the detector 120, so as to automatically control the sliding of the detector 120 and the light detection. In a preferred embodiment, the detector 120 may be CCD.

The testing method for the fiber cassette can be described as below.

During testing, the fiber cassette 200 is firstly arranged between the detector 120 and the light source module 140 comprising the plurality of light sources 142; wherein each of the plurality of light sources 142 is arranged to align with each optical port at the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200. Then, light is emitted from the light source module 140 into the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200, and detected at the integrated end 201 of the fiber cassette 200. In particular, the plurality of light sources 142 of the light source module 140 may be driven to emit light in sequence into the multiple optical ports at the fan-out end 202 of the fiber cassette 200, so as to improve the detecting efficiency of the fiber cassette 142.

In the forgoing, the testing apparatus and its corresponding testing method according to the present disclosure have been described in detail. With the testing apparatus and its corresponding testing method, the optical testing can be realized without the need of patch-lords, thereby highly improving the testing efficiency for the fiber cassette. The testing experiments show that: the testing speed of the testing apparatus for the fiber cassettes according to the present disclosure is at least 4 times faster than the conventional testing apparatus.

As there is no need to use patch-lords for optical testing according to the present application, the optical testing for the fiber cassette without physical contact is made possible, thereby avoiding the pollution and/or scratch risk for the end face of the ferrules and guaranteeing that the quality of the fiber cassettes would not be affected by the optical testing. In addition, in the case that the dust caps for the fiber cassettes are transmissive, the optical testing for the fiber cassettes can even be implemented without the need to remove the dust caps.

Although embodiments for the testing apparatus and its corresponding testing method according to the present disclosure have been described above in detail, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.