Patent ID: 11860434
Assignee: TELESCENT INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 20:
21. A method of cleaning an optical fiber end face with a cleaning fabric in an automated cross-connect system that reconfigures optical fiber end faces among a multiplicity of receiving receptacles, the method comprising:
energizing an electrical actuator;
rotating a fabric advance roller to translate fabric ribbon;
unspooling fabric ribbon partially from fabric ribbon source spool;
advancing a pre-determined section of fabric to present an unused section of fabric at a cleaning element;
contacting the optical fiber end face substantially normal to a surface of the fabric;
detecting contact of the optical fiber end face on fabric using a force or pressure sensor;
withdrawing the cleaned optical fiber end face from the cleaning element; and
plugging the optical fiber end face into one of the multiplicity of receiving receptacles,
wherein the method uses a cleaning cartridge system for dispensing and usage monitoring of fiber end face cleaning fabric, wherein the cleaning cartridge system comprises: a source spool of cleaning fabric; an actuator that drives a fabric advance roller; a pressure sensor that detects when a fiber end face is in contact with fabric and outputs a contact-indicating signal; an internal control circuit that drives the actuator to advance the cleaning fabric in time-relation to the contact-indicating signal; and an external controller that determines proper advance of the cleaning fabric and consumption of the cleaning fabric over time, and wherein contact of a fiber end face with the fabric on the pressure sensor causes the actuator, after a predetermined delay, to rotate the fabric advance roller and advance a predetermined amount of the fabric from the source spool to a take-up spool.