Method and apparatus for testing fiber optic components

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing a fiber optic component having two ends includes a device having a sensor, an alarm, and a connector assembly having different types of connectors each being operable to connect the device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component. Upon a connector of the connector assembly connecting the device to the second end of the fiber optic component and upon a light signal being transmitted into the first end of the component for the component to conduct to the second end of the component, the sensor determines a power level of the light signal at the second end of the component and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the light signal at the second end of the component is greater than a given threshold.

1 . A method for testing a fiber optic component having two ends, the method comprising:
 obtaining a device having a reflector, a sensor, an alarm, and a connector assembly with different types of connectors each being operable to connect the device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component;   connecting the device to the second end of the fiber optic component by connecting the corresponding connector of the connector assembly to the second end of the fiber optic component, wherein upon a light signal being transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component for the fiber optic component to conduct to the second end of the fiber optic component, the reflector reflects the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component back towards the first end of the fiber optic component, the sensor determines a power level of the reflected light signal, and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the reflected light signal is greater than a given threshold; and   monitoring for the alarm signal.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the alarm includes a light which lights up to generate the alarm signal, wherein the step of monitoring for the alarm signal includes monitoring for the light to light up.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the alarm includes a speaker which emits a sound to generate the alarm signal, wherein the step of monitoring for the alarm signal includes monitoring for the speaker to emit the sound.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 obtaining a second device having a transmitter for transmitting light signals; and   connecting the second device to the first end of the fiber optic component for the transmitter to transmit the light signal into the first end of the fiber optic component.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second device further includes a connector assembly with different types of connectors each being operable to connect the second device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component, wherein the step of connecting the second device to the first end of the fiber optic component includes connecting the corresponding connector of the connector assembly of the second device to the first end of the fiber optic component.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second device further includes a visual display for visually displaying the power level of the reflected light signal;   the method further comprises monitoring the visual display.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second device further includes a visual power level indicator for determining a power level of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component and for visually displaying the power level of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component;   the method further comprising monitoring the visual power level indicator.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second device further includes a visual power level indicator for determining a power level of the reflected light signal at the first end of the fiber optic component and for visually displaying the power level of the reflected light signal at the first end of the fiber optic component;   the method further comprising monitoring the visual power level indicator.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second device further includes a visual power level indicator for determining a power level of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component, for determining a power level of the reflected light signal at the first end of the fiber optic component, for determining a power loss of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component as a function of the power levels of the light transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component and the reflected light at the first end of the fiber optic component, and for visually displaying the power loss of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component;   the method further comprising monitoring the visual power level indicator.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for testing a fiber optic component having two ends, the apparatus comprising:
 a device having a reflector, a sensor, and an alarm; and   a connector assembly having different types of connectors each being operable to connect the device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component;   wherein upon a connector of the connector assembly connecting the device to the second end of the fiber optic component and upon a light signal being transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component for the fiber optic component to conduct to the second end of the fiber optic component, the reflector reflects the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component back towards the first end of the fiber optic component, the sensor determines a power level of the reflected light signal, and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the reflected light signal is greater than a given threshold.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 the alarm includes a light which lights up to generate the alarm signal.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 the alarm includes a speaker which emits a sound to generate the alarm signal.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 the device further includes a visual display for visually displaying the power level of the reflected light signal.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a second device having a transmitter for transmitting the light signal into the first end of the fiber optic component for the fiber optic component to conduct to the second end of the fiber optic component.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein:
 the second device further includes a connector assembly having different types of connectors each being operable to connect the second device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein:
 the second device further includes a visual power level indicator for determining a power level of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component, for determining a power level of the reflected light signal at the first end of the fiber optic component, for determining a power loss of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component as a function of the power levels of the light transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component and the reflected light at the first end of the fiber optic component, for visually displaying the power level of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component, for visually displaying the power level of the reflected light signal at the first end of the fiber optic component, and for visually displaying the power loss of the light signal transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for testing a fiber optic component having two ends, the apparatus comprising:
 a device having a sensor and an alarm; and   a connector assembly having different types of connectors each being operable to connect the device to either end of a corresponding type of fiber optic component;   wherein upon a connector of the connector assembly connecting the device to the second end of the fiber optic component and upon a light signal being transmitted into the first end of the fiber optic component for the fiber optic component to conduct to the second end of the fiber optic component, the sensor determines a power level of the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component is greater than a given threshold.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein:
 the alarm includes at least one of a light which lights up to generate the alarm signal and a speaker which emits a sound to generate the alarm signal.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein:
 the device further includes a visual display for visually displaying the power level of the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein:
 the device further includes a reflector;   wherein the reflector reflects the light signal at the second end of the fiber optic component back towards the first end of the fiber optic component, the sensor determines a power level of the reflected light signal, and the alarm generates an alarm signal when the power level of the reflected light signal is greater than a given threshold.