AFL Receives Flexible Port OTDR Patent

AFL has been awarded a patent for OTDR for combining multiple wavelength-specific test signals generators and detector channels on a single OTDR test port. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) July 17, 2013 - The U.S Patent Office has granted the AFL a patent for optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) technology. US Paten 8,411,259 covers OTDRs where multiple wavelength-specific test signals generators and detector channels are combined on a single OTDR test port.

According to the company, this approach enables users to determine if a fiber is live or dark, to measure the power level of any signals present on the fiber and to apply test signals (including non-interfering signals) on dark and live fibers, all without the need for swapping test ports or test equipment. Typical OTDRs usually devote different test ports for different functions. For example, one port may handle dark (out-of-service) test signals while another may be the same source of live (in-service) test signals. To switch from dark test signals to lives once, the OTDR user would have to connect the line under test to both ports. In PON applications, the technicians also may have to connect the fiber to a third port for PON power meter capabilities.

AFL says its newly-patented approach is the first to combine a PON power meter with a live/dark fiber OTDR in a single test port. The company's Noyes OFL280 and FLX380 FlexTester OTDRs with ServiceSafe leverage the new technology to automatically detect live fibers, measure downstream signal levels, and restrict tests signals to only those wavelengths not present on the fiber.

"Our focus is to provide innovative, easy-to-use solution and services to make our customers successful," commented Seán Adam, general manager of AFL's NOYES Test and Inspection business unit. "This unique OTDR architecture reduces the complexity and time it takes to test a PON network, increasing our customers' efficiency and reducing their test costs."

###

space

Other Related Press Releases