IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,914,655
Granted Patent B2
US 10,914,655 · App. 16/152,046 · Granted Feb 9, 2021

Optical time-domain reflectometer device including multiple and bi-directional optical testing for fiber analysis

Inventors: Charlène Roux (Chamboeuf, FR); Olivier Receveur (Saint Marcellin en Forez, FR)
Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
G01M11/3145G01M11/3154H01L21/76898
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,914,655
App. No.
16/152,046
Granted
Feb 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some examples, an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) device may include a laser source to emit a laser beam into a device under test (DUT), and a connection port to connect the OTDR device to a first end of the DUT, where the OTDR device may be designated a first OTDR device. A sensor display generator may determine a length of the DUT, receive, from a second OTDR device connectable to a second opposite end of the DUT, and over the DUT, OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device in a direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device, and ascertain, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, further OTDR information in a direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device. The sensor display generator may generate a bi-directional combined schematic display that includes relevant optical events with respect to the DUT.

Claims (87)

1. An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) device comprising:

a laser source to emit a laser beam into a device under test (DUT);

a connection port to connect the OTDR device to a first end of the DUT, wherein the OTDR device is designated a first OTDR device; and

a sensor display generator, executed by at least one hardware processor, to:

determine, based on the laser beam, a length of the DUT;

receive, from a second OTDR device connectable to a second opposite end of the DUT, and over the DUT, OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device, wherein the OTDR information includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device;

ascertain, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, further OTDR information that includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device;

ascertain an insertion loss (IL) measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device; and

receive, from the second OTDR device and over the DUT, IL measurement determined by the second OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device;

generate, based on

the determined length of the DUT,

the OTDR information received, over the DUT, by the first OTDR device, and

the further OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device, a bi-directional combined schematic display that includes

relevant optical events with respect to the DUT,

the IL measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, and

the IL measurement received, over the DUT, from the second OTDR device.

2. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the DUT includes an optical fiber.

3. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to generate the bi-directional combined schematic display that includes the relevant optical events with respect to the DUT by:

receiving, from the second OTDR device and over the DUT, a first set of OTDR optical event parameters for each optical event identified in the OTDR information that includes the identification of the optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device, wherein the first set of OTDR optical event parameters includes at least one of position, attenuation, reflectance, or optical event type associated with the optical events identified by the second OTDR device;

ascertaining, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, a second set of OTDR optical event parameters for each optical event identified in the further OTDR information that includes the identification of the optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, wherein the second set of OTDR optical event parameters includes at least one of position, attenuation, reflectance, or optical event type associated with the optical events identified by the first OTDR device;

receiving, from the second OTDR device and over the DUT, a first set of OTDR acquisition parameters associated with the OTDR information that includes the identification of the optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device, wherein the first set of OTDR acquisition parameters includes at least one of pulse width or resolution used during acquisition by the second OTDR device;

ascertaining, based on determination by the first OTDR device, a second set of OTDR acquisition parameters associated with the further OTDR information that includes the identification of the optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, wherein the second set of OTDR acquisition parameters includes at least one of pulse width or resolution used during the acquisition by the first OTDR device; and

generating, based on

the determined length of the DUT,

the OTDR information, the first set of OTDR optical event parameters, and the first set of OTDR acquisition parameters received, over the DUT, by the first OTDR device, and

the further OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device, the second set of OTDR optical event parameters acquired by the first OTDR device, and the second set of OTDR acquisition parameters determined by the first OTDR device, the bi-directional combined schematic display that includes the relevant optical events with respect to the DUT.

4. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein for a passive optical network (PON) topology, the first end of the DUT corresponds to an optical network terminal (ONT) and the second end of the DUT corresponds to an optical line terminal (OLT).

5. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to generate the bi-directional combined schematic display by:

determining, based on the IL measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, and the IL measurement received, over the DUT, from the second OTDR device, an average IL measurement for the DUT; and

generating the bi-directional combined schematic display to include the average IL measurement for the DUT.

6. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to:

ascertain an optical continuous wave reflectometer-optical return loss (OCWR)-(ORL) measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device;

receive, from the second OTDR device and over the DUT, OCWR-ORL measurement determined by the second OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device; and

generate the bi-directional combined schematic display to include

the OCWR-ORL measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, and

the OCWR-ORL measurement received, over the DUT, from the second OTDR device.

7. The OTDR device according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to generate the bi-directional combined schematic display by:

determining, based on the OCWR-ORL measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, and the OCWR-ORL measurement received, over the DUT, from the second OTDR device, a highest OCWR-ORL measurement for the DUT; and

generating the bi-directional combined schematic display to include an identification of the highest OCWR-ORL measurement for the DUT.

8. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection port includes a single connection port to perform bi-directional measurements without any optical disconnection.

9. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical events identified by the first and second OTDRs correspond to a wavelength of the laser beam, and are different from optical events that correspond to a different wavelength of the laser beam.

10. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to ascertain, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, the further OTDR information that includes the identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device by:

ascertaining, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device without any optical disconnection from the DUT, the further OTDR information that includes the identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device.

11. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein the OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device or the OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device is filtered to delete an optical event based on an optical event position relative to a splitter.

12. The OTDR device according to claim 1 , wherein for a passive optical network (PON) topology, the first end of the DUT corresponds to an optical network terminal (ONT) and the second end of the DUT corresponds to an optical line terminal (OLT), and wherein the OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device or the OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device is filtered to delete an optical event based on a determination of whether the optical event is:

an end of fiber event that is not relevant at the OLT;

an optical event that is located after a specified splitter from the ONT; and

an optical event that is located after the specified splitter or after another specified splitter from the OLT.

13. An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) device comprising:

a laser source to emit a laser beam into a device under test (DUT);

a connection port to connect the OTDR device to a first end of the DUT, wherein the OTDR device is designated a first OTDR device; and

a sensor display generator, executed by at least one hardware processor, to:

determine, based on the laser beam, a length of the DUT;

receive, from a second OTDR device connectable to a second opposite end of the DUT, and over the DUT, OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device, wherein

the OTDR information includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device, and

the OTDR information is filtered to add or delete an optical event based on a quality criterion;

ascertain, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, further OTDR information that includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device;

filter the further OTDR information to add or delete the optical event based on the quality criterion;

ascertain an optical continuous wave reflectometer-optical return loss (OCWR)-(ORL) measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device;

receive, from the second OTDR device and over the DUT, OCWR-ORL measurement determined by the second OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device; and

generate, based on

the determined length of the DUT,

the OTDR information received, over the DUT, by the first OTDR device, and

the further OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device, a bi-directional combined schematic display that includes

relevant optical events with respect to the DUT,

the OCWR-ORL measurement determined by the first OTDR device with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device, and

the OCWR-ORL measurement received, over the DUT, from the second OTDR device.

14. The OTDR device according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor display generator is further executed by the at least one hardware processor to filter the further OTDR information to add or delete the optical event based on the quality criterion by:

determining that the optical event associated with the OTDR information that includes the identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device is identical to the optical event associated with the further OTDR information that includes the identification of the optical events with respect to the DUT in the direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device; and

analyzing the optical event to display specified optical event parameters with respect to the optical event.

15. The OTDR device according to claim 14 , wherein the specified optical event parameters include at least one of a mean value for attenuation associated with the optical event, a highest reflectance value associated with the optical event, or a distance from the first OTDR device.

16. The OTDR device according to claim 13 , wherein the DUT includes an optical fiber.

17. A computer implemented method comprising:

emitting, by a laser source of an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) device, a laser beam into a device under test (DUT), wherein

the OTDR device is connectable by a connection port to a first end of the DUT, and

the OTDR device is designated a first OTDR device;

determining, based on the laser beam, a length of the DUT;

receiving, by the first OTDR device, from a second OTDR device connectable to a second opposite end of the DUT, and over the DUT, OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device, wherein the OTDR information includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the second OTDR device towards the first OTDR device;

ascertaining, based on acquisition by the first OTDR device, further OTDR information that includes an identification of optical events with respect to the DUT in a direction from the first OTDR device towards the second OTDR device; and

generating, by the first OTDR device, based on

the determined length of the DUT,

the OTDR information received, over the DUT, by the first OTDR device, and

the further OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device, a bi-directional combined schematic display that includes relevant optical events with respect to the DUT, wherein for a passive optical network (PON) topology, the first end of the DUT corresponds to an optical network terminal (ONT) and the second end of the DUT corresponds to an optical line terminal (OLT), and wherein the OTDR information acquired by the first OTDR device or the OTDR information acquired by the second OTDR device is filtered to delete an optical event based on a determination of whether the optical event is:

an end of fiber event that is not relevant at the OLT;

an optical event that is located after a specified splitter from the ONT; and

an optical event that is located after the specified splitter or after another specified splitter from the OLT.

18. The computer implemented method according to claim 17 , wherein the DUT includes an optical fiber.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 73189/0873 Recorded May 28, 2026
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 075642/0381 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC; INERTIAL LABS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 073571/0137 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2025
From: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 073189/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2018
From: ROUX, CHARLÈNE; RECEVEUR, OLIVIER
To: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 047307/0133 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 18 57711 · Aug 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200072703A1 · Mar 5, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 12,254,378 US 12,590,865 US 12,626,081 US 12,687,458