Patent ID: 9638874
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: G01M,G02B,H04B

Claim:
1. A method of determining link loss in a channel of a full active optical cable, the method comprising: assembling the full active optical cable with a channel that includes a light source, a photodetector optically connected to the light source, and a transimpedance amplifier connected to an output of the photodetector, wherein the transimpedance amplifier squelches its output when optical power incident on the photodetector is below a threshold optical power; during the assembling of the full active optical cable, determining optical power of the light source as a function of bias current, wherein the bias current is applied to the light source; after the assembling of the full active optical cable, varying optical power of the light source to determine a maximum optical power of the light source at which the transimpedance amplifier squelches its output; and determining link loss in the channel by subtracting the maximum optical power of the light source at which the transimpedance amplifier squelches its output from the threshold optical power.