Patent ID: 8810783

Claim:
A method for detecting faults on fiber optic cables, comprising: providing a hand held probe having a photo detector, the hand held probe configured to receive an optical signal by scanning an outer surface of a fiber optic cable, the photo detector configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal; providing a coupler receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector; providing a plurality of amplifiers receiving the electrical signal from the coupler wherein each amplifier is configured to detect a unique wavelength of light for the received optical signal, via the received electrical signal, relative to the other amplifiers of the plurality of amplifiers; providing an analog to digital converter receiving the electrical signal from the photo detector plurality of amplifiers; and providing a processor receiving digital signals from the analog to digital converter, said processor detecting live signals and faults based thereon; providing an audible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said audible indicator presenting audio signals representative of: the detected wavelength; a detected live signal; absence of a live signal, wherein each audio signal for each said detected wavelength, a said detected live and absence of live signal is distinct relative to one another; and providing a visible indicator connected to the processor for indicating test results, said visible indicator presenting visible signals representative of: the detected wavelength; a detected live signal; and absence of a live signal, wherein each visible signal for each said detected wavelength, a said detected live and absence of live signal is distinct relative to one another.