Patent ID: 7126678
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A polarized lightwave reflectometry method comprising at least the following in succession: a step of sending a plurality of linearly polarized light signals into an optical fiber to be tested; a polarization-sensitive step of detecting the traces obtained by the light signals back-scattering; a step of normalizing each of the traces; a step, for each of the traces, of computing over at least a portion of the optical fiber to be tested, the standard deviation of the normalized trace, the result being referred to as the relative noise of the trace; a step of computation applying a weighted average type function to the relative noise of the various traces, giving the same weight in the weighted average type function to the noise from each of the various traces, the result being referred to as an overall relative noise; and a step of estimating the polarization mode dispersion coefficient from the overall relative noise by means of a function having one scalar input and one scalar output; the annular offset between the linearly polarized light signals being determined in such a manner that the overall relative noise remains independent of any rotation of polarization in the optical fiber to be tested.