Optical fiber connection system
An optical fiber connection system detects when proper connection is made between a fiber-optic cable and a bulkhead. A conductive strip on the fiber-optic cable contacts a first and second conductor on the bulkhead upon proper positioning of the bulkhead relative to the fiber-optic cable. The system includes indicators for displaying which of a plurality of termination points is properly terminated. In addition, the system includes alternative embodiments for turning off an energy source feeding the fiber-optic cable, in the event the fiber-optic cable becomes disconnected from the bulkhead.
1. A method for detecting a fiber-optic connection, comprising:
providing a connector body of a fiber-optic cable and an optical bulkhead adapted to receive the connector body, wherein the connector body includes a first conductor and the optical bulkhead includes a second conductor and a third conductor; and
enabling the connector body to couple to the optical bulkhead, wherein the fiber-optic cable is configured to establish an optical connection to the optical bulkhead, and wherein the second conductor and the third conductor are configured to establish electrical contact with the first conductor.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting electrical continuity between the second conductor and the third conductor; and
based on a detected electrical continuity, outputting a signal indicating that the optical connection is properly transmitting optical energy.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
responsive to the signal indicating that the optical connection is properly transmitting optical energy, activating an energy source associated with the optical connection.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting electrical incontinuity between the second conductor and the third conductor; and
based on a detected electrical incontinuity, outputting a signal indicating that the optical connection is interrupted.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
responsive to the signal indicating that the optical connection is interrupted, deactivating an energy source associated with the optical connection.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the energy source is an optical energy source.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using a comparator coupled to the second conductor and the third conductor to detect electrical continuity with the first conductor.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
displaying an indication of a detected electrical continuity.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the comparator detects a voltage across the second conductor and the third conductor.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
an alignment means for aligning the connector body with the optical bulkhead.
11. A comparator for use with a fiber-optic connection system, comprising a processor programmable to:
detect a position of a connector body of a fiber-optic cable using two electrodes mounted at a termination bulkhead of the fiber-optic connection system; and
output a signal indicative of the position of the connector body.
12. The comparator of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmable to:
detect the position based on an electrical continuity between the two electrodes and a conductive element included in the conductor body.
13. The comparator of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmable to:
detect the position based on an electrical incontinuity between the two electrodes and an insulative element included in the conductor body.
14. The comparator of claim 11 , wherein the detected position indicates a degree of optical coupling between the fiber-optic cable and the termination bulkhead.
15. The comparator of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmable to:
based on a detected position of the connector body, switch an optical energy source associated with the fiber-optic cable.
16. The comparator of claim 15 , wherein the optical energy source is switched on using the output signal when the detected position indicates a successful optical coupling between the fiber-optic cable and the termination bulkhead.
17. The comparator of claim 15 , wherein the optical energy source is switched off using the output signal when the detected position indicates an unsuccessful optical coupling between the fiber-optic cable and the termination bulkhead.
18. The comparator of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmable to:
repeatedly monitor the two electrodes to detect a change in the position of the connector body.