Patent ID: 8854609
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: G01M,G01N,H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus capable of either high speed data transmission or optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) measurement, comprising: an electrical multiplexer having a first coupled input for a data communications signal from an external source and a second coupled input for an OTDR signal, wherein the electrical multiplexer selects a signal from either the first or second coupled inputs for conversion into the optical domain; OTDR circuitry generating the OTDR signal; a processor controlling the OTDR circuitry; a light transmitter system coupled to an output of the electrical multiplexer; a light detector coupled to the OTDR circuitry; and a bi-directional optical coupling structure in a light path of the light transmitter system adapted for channeling a light to an input of the fiber optic line, and for channeling reflected light from the fiber optic line to the light detector; wherein at the generated OTDR signal is at least one of a pulse mode and a step mode is forwarded from the electrical multiplexer to the light transmitter system and input into the bi-directional optical coupling structure and into the fiber optic line, wherein a time delay in the reflected light is used to determine the distance of the disruption in the fiber optic line.