GB2293512A - Inspecting the ends of optic fibres - Google Patents
Inspecting the ends of optic fibres Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2293512A GB2293512A GB9418881A GB9418881A GB2293512A GB 2293512 A GB2293512 A GB 2293512A GB 9418881 A GB9418881 A GB 9418881A GB 9418881 A GB9418881 A GB 9418881A GB 2293512 A GB2293512 A GB 2293512A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fibre
- ferrule
- inspection device
- inspecting
- camera
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
- G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N21/95—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
Abstract
A device for inspecting a panel-mounted optical fibre connector having a ferrule-terminated 20 fibre 19 engaged in a connector alignment sleeve 17. The end of the fibre 19 is imaged on the photo-receptive target of a TV camera 11 using objective optics whose optic axis is divided by a reflecting prism 16 into two parts extending in different directions. Beam splitter 17 allows light from illumination source 13 to pass to the optic fibre end and reflected light to reach the TV camera 11. <IMAGE>
Description
OPTICAL FIBRE TERMINATION INSPECTION DEVICE
This invention relates to an optical fibre termination inspection device. Such devices are employed inter alia for detecting the cleanliness of the forward ends of ferrule-terminated fibres. A known form of such inspection device is that made and sold by
Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd of Unit 4, Wilbraham Road, Fulbourn,
Cambridge CB1 5ET under the name 'PRIORSPEC'. This is a hand-held microscope device which, in one form, has a relatively short focal length high numerical aperture x 200 or x 400 magnification objective for viewing the forward end of a ferrule terminated fibre engaged in an aperture provided in the hand-held device. The device is provided with illumination means for illuminating the inserted end of the ferrule, and a eyepiece for viewing the image formed by the objective.Another form of the device is designed for inspection of the forward end of a ferrule terminated fibre that is already engaged within an alignment sleeve designed for holding the forward end of that ferrule, and that of another, in abutted alignment. In this instance the viewing angle for looking at the forward end of the ferrule that is already inserted in the alignment sleeve is severely restricted because that end is recessed deep within the sleeve, and in consequence the microscope objective of this form of the inspection device has to have a much smaller numerical aperture than that of the other, this smaller numerical aperture being provided by a much longer focal length objective housed in a relatively long straight tube protruding forwardly from the rest of the inspection device housing. In other
respects the two forms of the device are essentially similar.
The present invention is also directed to inspection devices adapted for inspecting the end of ferrule terminated fibres with their forward ends engaged within alignment sleeves, these instruments differing from the above-mentioned inspection devices both in their ability to be used in restricted space environments and in their ability to provide a permanent records of the scene inspected.
According to the present invention there is provided a portable inspection device for inspecting a panel-mounted optical fibre connector having a ferrule-terminated fibre engaged in a connector alignment sleeve protruding forwardly of the ferrule end, which inspection device is provided with imaging optics to view the fibre end in the ferrule recessed within the sleeve, which imaging optics include objective optics includes at least one reflector that separates the optic axis of the objective optics into different portions extending in different directions, and which imaging optics forms an image, upon the photo-receptive surface of a TV camera, of the fibre end in the ferrule recessed in the sleeve
There follows a description of an inspection device embodying the present invention in a preferred form.The description refers to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic representation of the instrument.
Referring to the drawing, inside a portable light-tight housing 10 is located a TV camera 11, microscope imaging optics 12, and a light source 13. Protruding from one end of the housing 10 is an opaque rigid tube provided with a right-angled bend linking an inboard (proximal) portion 14a of the tube with an outboard (distal) portion 14b in the end of which is fitted a resilient bush 15. At the bend in the tube is a 45" reflector which conveniently may be constituted by a prism 16. The light source 13 directs illumination into the imaging optics 12 where it is reflected by a partially reflecting mirror 17 towards the prism 16 which redirects the illumination through the bush 15. The bush 15 is designed to engage over one end of a ferrule terminated fibre alignment sleeve 17 mounted so as to extend through an aperture in a panel 18.Behind the panel 18 is an optical fibre 19 terminating in a ferrule 20 inserted in the alignment sleeve 17.
An image of the illuminated end face of the fibre 19 within the ferrule 20 is formed by the imaging optics 12 on the photo-responsive target of the TV camera 11. The TV camera 11 produces an electrical signal which is relayed to a TV monitor (not shown) for real-time viewing of the image. A permanent record may be provided by photographing the image displayed on the TV monitor screen, and it may also be provided as a conventionally recorded video signal.
Since the bush is designed to be of a size specific to a particular size of alignment sleeve, it is convenient to have a design of bush which is readily interchangeable in the end of the tube.
The particular design of instrument illustrated having a right-angle bend in the tube is suited for the inspection of panel-mounted fibre ferrules mounted in top-facing panels of equipment, such as electronic switching equipment, mounted in racks. Such rackmounted equipment may alternatively or additionally feature panel mounted fibre ferrules in forward-facing panels. In such instances it is frequently the case that the panel-mounted ferrule axis is not horizontal, but points downwardly at an angle typically in the range of between 45" and 70" to the horizontal. For use in such applications it may be convenient for the design of the tube (14a, 1 4b) and its reflecting prism 16 (or alternative form of reflector) to be redesigned so that the two portions of the optical axis of the imaging optics objective respectively before and after that reflector are inclined at an angle other than 900, typically at an angle approximately equal to the supplement of the downward angle of the ferrule axis so that the main housing 10 of the instrument is held substantially horizontal when the instrument is in use.
The linear extent of the tube 14a, 14b may be further shortened by the use of more than one reflector for instance providing a folded optical path analogous with that in prismatic binoculars.
Claims (2)
1. A portable inspection device for inspecting a panel-mounted optical fibre connector having a ferrule-terminated fibre engaged in a connector alignment sleeve protruding forwardly of the ferrule end, which inspection device is provided with imaging optics to view the fibre end in the ferrule recessed within the sleeve, which imaging optics include objective optics includes at least one reflector that separates the optic axis of the objective optics into different portions extending in different directions, and which imaging optics forms an image upon the photo-receptive surface of a TV camera, of the fibre end in the ferrule recessed in the sleeve.
2. A portable inspection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9418881A GB2293512A (en) | 1994-09-20 | 1994-09-20 | Inspecting the ends of optic fibres |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9418881A GB2293512A (en) | 1994-09-20 | 1994-09-20 | Inspecting the ends of optic fibres |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9418881D0 GB9418881D0 (en) | 1994-11-09 |
| GB2293512A true GB2293512A (en) | 1996-03-27 |
Family
ID=10761580
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9418881A Withdrawn GB2293512A (en) | 1994-09-20 | 1994-09-20 | Inspecting the ends of optic fibres |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2293512A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1998005945A1 (en) * | 1996-08-01 | 1998-02-12 | Michael John Phillips | Inspection apparatus |
| GB2475756A (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-06-01 | Lifodas Uab | Fibre optic end face inspection probe and system |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2156097A (en) * | 1984-03-20 | 1985-10-02 | Prior Scient Instr Ltd | Optical inspection device |
| US5179419A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1993-01-12 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Methods of detecting, classifying and quantifying defects in optical fiber end faces |
-
1994
- 1994-09-20 GB GB9418881A patent/GB2293512A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2156097A (en) * | 1984-03-20 | 1985-10-02 | Prior Scient Instr Ltd | Optical inspection device |
| US5179419A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1993-01-12 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Methods of detecting, classifying and quantifying defects in optical fiber end faces |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1998005945A1 (en) * | 1996-08-01 | 1998-02-12 | Michael John Phillips | Inspection apparatus |
| GB2475756A (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-06-01 | Lifodas Uab | Fibre optic end face inspection probe and system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9418881D0 (en) | 1994-11-09 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4195904A (en) | Optical system of viewing-direction changing attachment for endoscopes | |
| US4854701A (en) | Arrangement for inspecting light waveguide end faces | |
| US5724127A (en) | System and method for inspecting an end of a fiber optic | |
| EP1514150B1 (en) | Borescope with simultaneous video and direct viewing | |
| DE3271779D1 (en) | A connecting device for an endoscopic television camera | |
| GB2030313A (en) | Endoscopes | |
| US20050111088A1 (en) | Microscope camera | |
| US5702350A (en) | Adapter for connecting a stereoscopic endoscope to electronic documentation devices | |
| US20220170816A1 (en) | Optical fiber endface inspection microscope having a swappable optical head | |
| JPS60203230A (en) | Endoscope using solid image pick-up element | |
| GB2293512A (en) | Inspecting the ends of optic fibres | |
| US20230077495A1 (en) | System for illuminating and viewing recessed angled surfaces | |
| US6424461B1 (en) | Apparatus for observing interior from an ultramicropore space | |
| US6652151B2 (en) | Optical connector coupling end face state confirmation scope and confirmation method thereof | |
| US4682864A (en) | Method and apparatus for simultaneously observing a transparent object from two directions | |
| US8054558B2 (en) | Multiple magnification optical system with single objective lens | |
| JP4105785B2 (en) | Endoscopic imaging optical system | |
| JP2908324B2 (en) | Optical connector ferrule end observer | |
| DK0797362T3 (en) | Test system for optical and electro-optical viewing systems | |
| JP2003029166A (en) | Adapter for imaging | |
| JP3321260B2 (en) | Appearance inspection device | |
| JP4135822B2 (en) | Endoscope image projection unit | |
| JP4429641B2 (en) | Stereo microscope | |
| JPH04246612A (en) | Endoscope | |
| JPH02100013A (en) | Optical adapter for endoscope |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |