IP Library Granted Patent US 10,996,138
Granted Patent B2
US 10,996,138 · App. 16/682,863 · Granted May 4, 2021

Parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition

Inventor: Vincent Lecoeuche (Tarentaise, FR)
Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
G01M11/3136G01M11/3145
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,996,138
App. No.
16/682,863
Granted
May 4, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some examples, parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition may include a laser array operatively collimated to an optical fiber array to transmit, in parallel, a plurality of laser beams to optical fibers of the optical fiber array. A photodiode array may receive, in parallel, backscattered and reflected light from the optical fiber array. The photodiode array may determine, based on the backscattered and reflected light, properties of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.

Claims (43)

1. A parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) acquisition system comprising:

a laser array operatively collimated to an optical fiber array to transmit, in parallel, a plurality of laser beams to optical fibers of the optical fiber array;

a photodiode array to

receive, in parallel, backscattered and reflected light from the optical fiber array; and

a processor to determine, based on the backscattered and reflected light, properties of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.

2. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a coupler operatively disposed in a transmission path between the laser array and the optical fiber array to

transmit the plurality of laser beams to the optical fibers of the optical fiber array, and

reflect the backscattered and reflected light from the optical fibers to the photodiode array.

3. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser array, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a one-dimensional configuration.

4. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser array, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a two-dimensional configuration.

5. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber array includes an optical fiber array traffic in position and an optical fiber array traffic out position, further comprising:

a wavelength-division multiplexing plate operatively disposed between the optical fiber array traffic in position and the optical fiber array traffic out position to

transmit a wavelength at a specified frequency from the optical fiber array traffic in position and the optical fiber array traffic out position, and

reflect another wavelength at another specified frequency from the optical fiber array traffic out position towards the photodiode array.

6. A parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) acquisition system comprising:

a laser to transmit a laser beam;

a rod lens and a cylindrical lens to collimate and control the laser beam from the laser for transmission as a plurality of parallel laser beams to optical fibers of an optical fiber array;

a photodiode array to

receive, in parallel, backscattered and reflected light from the optical fiber array; and

a processor to determine, based on the backscattered and reflected light, properties of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.

7. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a coupler operatively disposed in a transmission path between the laser and the optical fiber array to

transmit the plurality of parallel laser beams to the optical fibers of the optical fiber array, and

reflect the backscattered and reflected light from the optical fibers to the photodiode array.

8. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 6 , wherein the laser, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a one-dimensional configuration.

9. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 6 , wherein the laser, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a two-dimensional configuration.

10. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 6 , a lens array operatively disposed between the laser and the optical fiber array.

11. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 6 , a lens array operatively disposed between the optical fiber array and the photodiode array.

12. A parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) acquisition system comprising:

a laser to transmit a laser beam toward an optical fiber array;

a rod lens and a cylindrical lens to collimate and control expansion of the laser beam on fast and slow axis respectively for transmission of the laser beam as a plurality of parallel laser beams to optical fibers of the optical fiber array;

a photodiode array to

receive, in parallel, backscattered and reflected light from the optical fiber array and

a processor to determine, based on the backscattered and reflected light, properties of the optical fibers of the optical fiber array.

13. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a coupler operatively disposed in a transmission path between the laser and the optical fiber array to

transmit the plurality of parallel laser beams to the optical fibers of the optical fiber array, and

reflect the backscattered and reflected light from the optical fibers to the photodiode array.

14. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 12 , wherein the laser, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a one-dimensional configuration.

15. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 12 , wherein the laser, the optical fiber array, and the photodiode array include a two-dimensional configuration.

16. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 12 , a lens array operatively disposed between the laser and the optical fiber array.

17. The parallel optics based optical time domain reflectometer acquisition system according to claim 12 , a lens array operatively disposed between the optical fiber array and the photodiode array.

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 Nov 22, 2019
From: LECOEUCHE, VINCENT
To: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 051092/0102 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19306059 · Aug 30, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210063273A1 · Mar 4, 2021