Patent ID: 7714991

Claim:
A fiber optic optical subassembly configuration for monitoring fibers, the configuration comprising: a hollow container, the container having an axis and an outer circumference; a laser for emitting laser signals towards the fibers being monitored, the laser disposed along the outer circumference of the container; a photodetector for monitoring reflected laser signals from the fibers being monitored and for monitoring laser output power, the photodetector disposed along the outer circumference of the container, the photodetector substantially disposed diametrically opposite to the laser; a beam splitter, the beam splitter disposed within the container; an optical fiber, the optical fiber embedded in the container and substantially parallel to the aids of the container, the optical fiber disposed substantially perpendicular to the laser signal emitted by the laser, the optical fiber having a coated end face surface, the laser emitting signals toward and through the beam splitter, whereby a portion of the laser signal illuminates the photodetector, and another portion traversing down the optical fiber toward the coated end face surface and reflecting off the coated end face surface toward the fibers that are being monitored, and reflecting back from the fibers being monitored to the photodetector such that faults on the fibers can be detected.