Patent ID: 8023774
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: G01M,G02B,G02F,H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for identifying an optical fiber, comprising: at least one modulating device for imparting a time-varying modulation onto an existing optical signal propagating in said optical fiber, wherein said at least one modulating device comprises a means for varying a frequency of said propagating optical signal as a function of time through non-linear interactions, wherein said means for varying the frequency of said propagating optical signal as said function of time comprises a means for introducing acoustic waves and said means for introducing acoustic waves varies the frequency of said propagating optical signal as said function of time through non-linear interactions of said acoustic waves and said propagating optical signal; at least one fiber bending device for bending said optical fiber such that at least a portion of the optical signal is scattered out of said optical fiber; and at least one detector for receiving the scattered portion of the optical signal for detecting a presence of said imparted time-varying modulation to identify said optical fiber.