Patent ID: 6522434
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of determining optical loss characteristics in optical fibers, comprising the steps of:providing an optical transmitter module containing a light source that produces a light signal and an internal monitor for quantifying said light signal; coupling said optical transmitter module to a first end of at least some of said optical fibers with a first optical switch, wherein said first optical switch can selectively direct said light signal to any of the optical fibers connected thereto; providing an optical monitor for detecting said light signal; coupling said optical monitor to a second end of at least some of said optical fibers with a second optical switch; and coupling said optical transmitter module and said optical monitor to a common systems controller, wherein said systems controller compares the light signal from said optical transmitter module to the light signal detected by said optical monitor and calculates loss characteristic of the optical fiber through which the light signal passed.