Non-contact methods of measuring insertion loss in optical fiber connectors

摘要

A non-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a DUT connector is disclosed. The DUT connector has a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face. The method utilizes a reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules so that the first and second end faces are confronting and spaced apart to define a gap with an axial gap distance d; measuring values of the insertion loss between the first and second optical fibers for different gap distances d>0; and estimating a value for the insertion loss for a gap distance of d=0 based on the measured values of the insertion loss when d>0.

主权项

1. A non-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a device-under-test (DUT) jumper cable with a system that includes a reference jumper cable, wherein an end of the DUT jumper cable includes a first DUT connector having a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face, wherein an end of the reference jumper cable includes a reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face, the method comprising:
(a) optically coupling a remote end of the DUT jumper cable that is opposite the end with the first DUT connector to a detector of the system; (b) axially aligning the first and second ferrules so that the first and second end faces are confronting and spaced apart to define a gap with an axial gap distance d; (c) measuring values of the insertion loss between the first and second optical fibers for different gap distances d>0, wherein light is passed through the reference jumper cable and the DUT jumper cable and measured by the detector when measuring values of the insertion loss such that the insertion loss represents a total jumper cable insertion loss; (d) calculating a contact position where the first and second end faces are expected to come into contact so that there is a gap distance of d=0, wherein the calculating of the contact position is based on the measured values of the insertion loss when d>0; and (e) after the calculating of the contact position, estimating a value for the insertion loss for the gap distance of d=0 based on the measured values of the insertion loss when d>0.