JP2007225468A - State determination method of optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a determination method restricting to work operation extremely near an optical fiber connection part, dispensing with cutting/end face shaping of the optical fiber, and having greatly improved measurement accuracy of a loss at the optical fiber connection part or the like compared with a conventional method. <P>SOLUTION: Light is allowed to enter the optical fiber 1 from a light source 5 connected to one end of the optical fiber 1, and light propagating along a part other than the core of the optical fiber 1 in light propagating along the optical fiber 1 is leaked by a bent part 21 installed on the downstream side of an irregular part 20 of the optical fiber such as the optical fiber connection part. The leakage light is received by a light receiving element 8 and optical power is measured, and a loss at the irregular part 20 is evaluated/determined from the optical power of the leakage light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting and determining the state of an irregular portion of an optical fiber such as an optical fiber connection point when an optical fiber line (transmission path) is constructed or maintained.

  FIG. 1 shows a typical configuration of an optical fiber line, here an example in an access network. An optical fiber line formed by connecting a plurality of optical fibers 1 at an optical fiber connection point 2 is a central office of a communication carrier. 3 and the user's home 4. There is also a branched optical fiber line that connects a single optical fiber line between the central office and a plurality of user houses.

  As a conventional method for determining the state of this optical fiber line, a method (first method) in which the power of light propagating through the core of the optical fiber is received from the end face of the optical fiber (first method) or from the side of the optical fiber There is a method of measuring light by leaking a part (second method) and a method of measuring the backscattered light intensity of light propagating through the core of the optical fiber by a light pulse tester (third method). there were.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the first method. When connecting an optical fiber, etc., a light source 5 is installed at one end of the optical fiber line, for example, the central office 3, and light is incident. As shown in FIG. 1A, an optical power meter 6 is installed at an optical fiber to be determined, here a predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 (planned location) indicated by a broken line, and is incident from one end of the optical fiber line. The optical power P _in of the light propagating through the optical fiber line at the predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 is measured, and then the predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 as shown in FIG. The optical power meter 6 is installed in the user's home 4 at a point downstream from the installation location of the light source 5 (hereinafter referred to as the lower part of the connection point), and is incident from one end of the optical fiber line. User's home 4 of light propagating along the track Of the light power P _out is measured, it determines the state of the optical fiber from P _in the -P _out of a predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 connection loss and predetermined optical fiber connecting point 2 to the user's home.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the second method. As described above, a light source 5 is installed at one end of an optical fiber line and light is incident thereon, and an optical fiber to be judged, here, a predetermined optical fiber connection. A portion (bending portion) 7 and a light receiving element 8 for leaking light propagating through the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber are installed before and after the point 2, respectively, and are incident from one end of the optical fiber line. Of the propagating light, the light propagating through the core of the optical fiber is leaked at the upstream portion 7 of the predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 and the leaked light is received by the light receiving element 8 to receive the optical power P _r. while measuring _-in, the predetermined downstream the leaked light is leaked at the portion 7 of the optical fiber connection points 2 and received by the light receiving element 8 by measuring the optical power _{P r-out, P r-} in - P _r-out from a predetermined constant of the connection loss etc. of the optical fiber connection point 2 The judges.

  In order to emphasize technical features in the following figures, only the central office 3 and the vicinity of the optical fiber connection point 2 to be determined are described, but the optical fiber line basically has the same configuration as that in FIG. Shall have.

  FIG. 4 shows an outline of the third method. A well-known optical pulse tester 9 is installed at one end of the optical fiber line, the intensity of the backscattered light propagating through the core of the optical fiber is measured, and the backscattering is performed. Discontinuity of the distance dependence of light is evaluated, that is, the connection loss is determined from the step of the backscattered light intensity before and after the predetermined optical fiber connection point 2 here, and reflection from the peak is obtained. The state of the optical fiber connection point 2 is determined.

The conventional optical fiber determination method described above is described in Non-Patent Document 1.
Kikuchi, Nishizawa "FTTH Construction Technology Supporting the Optical Communication Age" Optronics, 2004, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12

  However, the above-described method for measuring the power of light propagating through the optical fiber core has problems in terms of workability and accuracy.

First, the first method has a problem that it is premised on simultaneous operation at a plurality of locations. That is, in addition to the operation of _Pin measurement at the optical fiber connection point 2, it is necessary to dispatch a worker to the lower part of the connection point for measuring P _out , and the end face shaping of the optical fiber 1 for the P _out measurement. And the need for an optical power meter 6 (Note that the operation on the light source side, including the case of the second method, should be performed in advance near the central office and the optical fiber connection point. It is only necessary to install a light source at another user's house and enter the light into one end of the optical fiber, without increasing the number of places that require simultaneous operation.

  In the second method, an ID tester used for identifying an optical fiber is generally used as the portion 7 and the light receiving element 8 for leaking light propagating through the core of the optical fiber. The light leaked from the core of the optical fiber is easily affected by parameters such as the cutoff wavelength, mode field diameter, and coating color of the optical fiber. It is known that there is a possibility that the measured value of the optical power of the leaked light before and after the optical fiber connection point 2 may vary by about several dB because the manufacturer is different and there is a high possibility that the above-described parameter will vary. It has been. For this reason, for example, even when the loss at the optical fiber connection point 2 is about 1 dB, the determination is difficult in terms of accuracy.

  Further, in the method of determining from the backscattered wave light intensity, in addition to the work site such as the optical fiber connection point 2 or the like, one end of an optical fiber line such as a central office is used to measure the backscattered light intensity with the optical pulse tester 9. It is necessary to dispatch workers to a certain point. Further, since the backscattered light intensity also depends on the optical fiber parameters such as the relative refractive index difference and the mode field diameter, when the difference between the parameters of the optical fibers connected at the optical fiber connection point 2 is large, apparently, There is a possibility that the measurement value of the connection loss given from the step of the backscattered light intensity may be a negative value, and there is a problem in the accuracy of determination. Furthermore, in the measurement of the backscattered light intensity, a dead zone due to reflection at the optical fiber connection point 2 may occur, and when there are a plurality of optical fiber connection points 2 at short intervals, the evaluation itself is difficult. there were.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and is limited to work operation in the immediate vicinity of the optical fiber connection point, and does not require cutting or end face shaping of the optical fiber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a determination method in which the measurement accuracy of loss at a point or the like is dramatically improved as compared with the conventional method.

  In the method according to the first invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, means for entering light into an optical fiber, means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, The state of the optical fiber is determined from the optical power of the leaked light using a means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power.

  In the method according to the second invention for solving the above-described problem, in the first invention, an optical fiber core is used as means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the optical fiber core to the outside of the optical fiber. A bending portion or a lateral pressure applying portion for the optical fiber in which the power ratio between the propagating light and the light leaking from the core is 40 dB or more (light leaking in the light propagating through the core is 1 / 10,000 or less) It is used.

  In the method according to the third invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, in the first or second invention, a light source having a wavelength of 1.3 μm band connected to one end of the optical fiber is used as means for entering light into the optical fiber. As a means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, a bending portion having a curvature radius of 6 mm or more with respect to the optical fiber is used.

  In the method according to the fourth invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, in any one of the first to third inventions, the means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power is light having a wavelength other than the wavelength of 1.3 μm band. It has the means to interrupt | block.

  In a method according to a fifth invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, means for leaking light propagating through the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, and receiving the leaked light A means for measuring optical power, a means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber, and a means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power simultaneously. Alternatively, it is used by switching.

  In the method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, the light propagating through the optical fiber connection point connecting the optical fibers other than the optical fiber core is selected according to any of the first to fifth aspects of the invention. In particular, it is characterized in that the light is leaked to the outside of the optical fiber and received, and the connection loss at the connection point of the optical fiber is evaluated from the relationship between the power of the leaked light and the connection loss.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the connection loss at the optical fiber connection point is evaluated according to the sixth aspect during the connection work between the optical fibers.

According to the optical fiber status determination method of the present invention, it is only necessary to measure the power of leakage light of light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber at a determination target point such as an optical fiber connection point. work operation, shaping work of the optical fiber end surface can be dispensed with in P _out and other points were required in the measurement of the backscattered light intensity of the third method of the process of. In addition, as a method for detecting a decrease in optical power propagating through the core corresponding to the connection loss of the optical fiber, by selectively leaking light propagating outside the core and receiving it, and measuring and detecting the power change, since it can be measured as a change in greater light intensity, measured as a measure of the backscattered light intensity of P _r-out and a third method of the second conventional method, a decrease in the optical power propagating through the core directly The connection loss of the optical fiber can be determined with higher accuracy than the method.

  Hereinafter, an optical fiber determination method according to the best mode of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<Principle of the present invention>
First, the principle of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 shows how light propagates in an irregular portion of an optical fiber such as an optical fiber connection point. In the figure, 11 is the core of the optical fiber 1, 12 is the cladding of the optical fiber 1, 13 is the coating of the optical fiber 1, 1α is the light propagating through the core of the optical fiber, 1β is the light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber, Reference numeral 20 denotes an irregular portion of the optical fiber such as an optical fiber connection point or a bend.

  In a normal optical fiber 1, light is confined in the core 11 and propagates as 1α due to the relative refractive index difference between the core 11 and the cladding 12. However, part of the light 1α propagating through the core is coupled to the clad 12 and the coating 13 by the irregular portion 20 such as the optical fiber connection point, a sharp bend, and a short bend repeated bend, and the light propagating outside the core. Converted to 1β.

  Since the light 1β propagating outside the core of the optical fiber is less confined in the optical fiber than the light 1α propagating through the core, the light 1β is transmitted to the outside of the optical fiber by bending with a relatively large radius of curvature or side pressure. Easily leaks. As a result, under the condition that the radius of curvature is constant, the rate of leakage to the outside of the optical fiber is higher for 1β than for 1α.

  The present invention utilizes this feature, and receives the light 1β propagating outside the core of the optical fiber that is easily leaked by the irregular portion 20, and determines the state of the optical fiber (the degree of irregularity). .

  FIG. 6 shows a basic configuration for realizing the optical fiber determination method of the present invention based on the above-mentioned principle. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber, 5 is a light source, 8 is a light receiving element, and 20 is an optical fiber. A regular portion 21 is a portion that selectively leaks light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, and the portion 21 is installed on the downstream side of the portion 20. As described above, light that propagates other than the core that has been easily leaked at the irregular portion 20 of the optical fiber such as an optical fiber connection point or bend is leaked from the coating of the optical fiber 1 by the portion 21. The light receiving element 8 can receive light.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration when experimentally confirming the basic configuration of FIG. 6 and obtaining the conditions of the embodiment. The optical fiber 1 is a general-purpose single-mode optical fiber with a wavelength of 1.3 μm and zero dispersion. The irregular portion of the optical fiber uses an optical fiber connection point 2 by butt, and the interval between the end faces of the optical fiber to be connected is variable. As a parameter, the loss of light propagating through the core can be arbitrarily set from about 0.1 dB to about 4 dB. Even when the optical fiber connection point 2 was not provided, the power of the leakage light of light propagating through the core of the optical fiber 1 was measured.

  The light source 5 emitted 270 Hz intensity-modulated light having a wavelength of 1.3 μm, and the optical power in the vicinity of the optical fiber connection point was set to approximately 0 dBm. On the other hand, the light receiving element 8 has a diameter of about 5 mm and a light receiving sensitivity of up to about -70 dBm. As the portion 21 for selectively leaking the light propagating through the portion other than the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, as the bending portion of the structure in which the optical fiber 1 is wound once around the rod of the radius R, the leaked optical power The dependence on the radius R was measured. The measurement results are shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the radius-of-curvature dependency of the ratio of the optical power of the leaked light to the light propagating through the core when the optical fiber connection point 2 is not provided. From this figure, in the optical fiber having no irregular portion such as the optical fiber connection point 2 or the like, leakage from the core hardly occurs when the radius of curvature is about 10 mm, but when the radius of curvature is about 5 mm, It can be seen that optical power at a level lower by about 40 dB from the power leaks and is received by the light receiving element 8.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the connection loss dependency of the ratio of the optical power of the leaked light to the light propagating through the core when the optical fiber connection point 2 is provided, and the connection loss is large even when the curvature radius is about 10 mm. In this case, it can be seen that the leaked optical power is sufficiently large. This is a result of selectively leaking light propagating in a portion other than the core to the outside of the optical fiber. However, if the radius of curvature is about 5 mm or less, the contribution of leakage of light propagating through the core to the outside of the optical fiber increases, and this acts as a noise component. Therefore, the leakage light of light propagating outside the core due to connection loss It becomes difficult to detect a change in power, and a highly accurate determination is somewhat difficult.

  From the above, the radius of curvature is set to an appropriate value, and the power ratio between the light propagating through the core of the optical fiber and the light leaking by bending from the core is 40 dB or more (the light leaking in the light propagating through the core is A configuration that selectively measures the optical power of light leaking from other than the core is suitable for irregular determination of an optical fiber.

  Examples of the optical fiber status determination method according to the present invention will be specifically described below.

<Example 1>
The first embodiment of the present invention has the basic configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, that is, means for injecting light into the optical fiber 1, here the light source 5 connected to one end of the optical fiber 1, Means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber 1 to the outside of the optical fiber 1, here, the bending portion 21, means for receiving the leaked light and measuring optical power, here light receiving element (To be precise, including a circuit for displaying or recording an electric signal output from the light receiving element as a power value) 8, the light source 5 is incident on one end of the optical fiber 1 and propagates through the optical fiber 1. Of the incoming light, light propagating other than the core of the optical fiber 1 is leaked by the bending portion 21, the leaked light is received by the light receiving element 8, the optical power is measured, and from the optical power of the leaked light It is an example which determines the condition of the optical fiber 1. FIG.

<Example 2>
In the second embodiment of the present invention, in the same manner as described in the principle of the present invention, a portion 21 for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber is used. Applying a bending portion or lateral pressure to the optical fiber in which the power ratio between the light propagating through the core and the light leaking from the core is 40 dB or more (light leaking in the light propagating through the core is 1 / 10,000 or less) This is an example using a part. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

<Example 3>
In the third embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the contents described in the principle of the present invention, as a means for entering light into the optical fiber, a wavelength band of 1.3 μm connected to one end of the optical fiber (strict regulation is required). If necessary, the light source 5 having a wavelength of 1.25 μm or more and 1.35 μm or less) is used as a means 21 for selectively leaking light propagating through a portion other than the core of the optical fiber. This is an example using a bent portion of 6 mm or more, preferably about 10 mm. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

<Example 4>
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 22 denotes an optical filter for blocking light having a wavelength other than the 1.3 .mu.m wavelength band. The light receiving element 8 prevents light having a wavelength other than the 1.3 μm wavelength band that is disposed between the optical fibers 1 and leaked to the outside of the optical fiber 1. In the optical fiber 1, light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength band of 1.3 μm may propagate through the core as wavelength light for communication, and the light having a longer wavelength has a large leakage due to bending. Although it acts as noise when performing determination with light having such a short wavelength and may deteriorate the accuracy, the influence can be suppressed by blocking with the optical filter 22. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.

<Example 5>
FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 23 denotes a light source that generates light having a longer wavelength than that of the light source 5, 24 denotes light having a shorter wavelength, and here the wavelength generated by the light source 5. It is an optical filter that blocks the light.

  In this embodiment, for the optical fiber to be determined, here, the optical fiber 1 including the irregular portion 20 of the optical fiber, first, as shown in the lower side of the figure, a light source 23 is provided at one end of the optical fiber 1. A portion 7 and a light receiving element 8 for connecting light having a long wavelength to be incident and leaking light propagating through the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber are disposed downstream of the portion 20. The optical filter 24 is arranged between the light receiving element 8 and only the leaked light from the core of light having a long wavelength from the light source 23 is received, and it is confirmed that the optical fiber is a determination target optical fiber.

  Thereafter, as shown in the upper side of the figure, a light source 5 is connected to one end of the optical fiber 1 so that light having a long wavelength is incident, and light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber is selectively transmitted downstream of the portion 20. A portion 21 and a light receiving element 8 that leak to the outside of the optical fiber are installed, and an optical filter 22 is provided between the portion 21 and the light receiving element 8, so that light from the light source 5 other than the core of light having a short wavelength is provided. It is possible to receive only leaked light and measure the optical power, and determine the state of the optical fiber that is the determination target from this optical power.

  When there are a plurality of optical fiber cores at a place where an optical fiber is connected, there is a possibility that it is not possible to determine which optical fiber core wire is a determination target. In such a case, the above configuration may be used.

  It should be noted that the switching between the lower configuration and the upper configuration is actually performed by changing the connection of the light sources 23 and 5 and changing the radius of curvature of the bent portion in the optical fiber constituting the portions 7 and 21 (for example, 5 mm and 10 mm) and replacement of the optical filters 24 and 22. Further, both the light sources 23 and 5 are connected to one end of the optical fiber 1 via an optical coupler or the like (or one light source that generates light of both wavelengths of the light sources 23 and 5 is connected), and The configuration shown in the lower part of the figure is installed on the upstream side, and light having a long wavelength is received on the upstream side of the portion 20 and light having a short wavelength is received on the downstream side of the portion 20, thereby identifying the optical fiber described above. It is also possible to perform two operations of state determination simultaneously.

<Example 6>
In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the contents described in the principle of the present invention, the power and connection of the leakage light of light propagating other than the core of the optical fiber transmitted through the optical fiber connection point shown in FIG. This is an example of evaluating the connection loss of the optical fiber connection point from the relationship with the loss.

  If the value of the radius R is set appropriately as in the case of R = 11 mm in FIG. 9, most of the leakage light power measured by the light receiving element 8, for example, P1 in the configurations of FIGS. This is due to light propagating outside the core. Therefore, particularly when the power of light propagating through the core at the optical fiber connection point is known, the connection loss can be evaluated with high accuracy from the relationship shown in FIG. However, in consideration of fluctuations in the value of leakage light power P1 due to attenuation loss of light propagating outside the core after the optical fiber connection point, the leaked light is at a substantially constant position within a distance of about several tens of centimeters from the optical fiber connection point. It is desirable to measure the power P1.

  The power of light propagating through the core at the optical fiber connection point is known when one of the connectors is attached to the optical fiber on the side connected to the light source, for example, in the case of connection work of a field-attached connector. If the distance between the light source and the optical fiber connection point is close and the loss in the optical fiber line is small (for example, the wavelength of the optical fiber line made up of a single mode optical fiber). When light of 1.31 μm is propagated, the loss at a distance of several 10 to 100 m is 0.1 dB or less), the output power of the light source may be measured in advance, and this may be used as it is.

  On the other hand, it is possible to cope with the case where the power of light propagating through the core at the optical fiber connection point is not known by utilizing the fact that the light propagating outside the core is easily attenuated and lost. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 7, after measuring the leakage optical power P1, the light propagating outside the core can be attenuated by further bending the radius R = 11 mm between the optical fiber connection point 2 and the bent portion 21. For example, the leakage optical power measured by the light receiving element 8 decreases to a level when the connection loss due to the optical fiber connection point 2 is zero, for example, P2. That is, the value of (P1-P2) decreases as the connection loss at the optical fiber connection point 2 decreases, and conversely increases as the connection loss at the optical fiber connection point 2 increases. As a measure, the connection loss at the optical fiber connection point 2 can be determined.

  In addition, instead of the large bending of R added after the measurement of the leakage light power P1, an appropriate amount of lateral pressure or periodic minute bending may be applied, and in that case, the leakage light power of light propagating through the core It is sufficient to set the side pressure and microbending conditions to such an extent that does not cause noise as a problem.

<Example 7>
The seventh embodiment of the present invention selectively leaks / receives light propagating other than the core of the optical fiber that has passed through the optical fiber connection point by the method of Example 6 during the connection work between the optical fibers. In this example, the connection loss of the optical fiber is evaluated from the relationship between the power of the leaked light and the connection loss. By this method, since the connection loss can be determined during the connection work, the connection work with lower loss can be performed without failure.

  The present invention can also be used for construction and maintenance operation of an optical fiber communication network using an optical fiber, manufacturing work of an optical transmission device using an optical fiber, and the like.

Diagram showing basic configuration of optical fiber line The figure which shows the conventional 1st method of judging the condition of an optical fiber track The figure which shows the conventional 2nd method of judging the condition of an optical fiber track The figure which shows the conventional 3rd method of judging the condition of an optical fiber track Diagram explaining the behavior of propagating light at optical fiber connection points, etc. The figure which shows the basic composition of the determination method of the optical fiber of this invention The figure explaining the experimental system which calculated | required the conditions of the Example of this invention The figure which shows the curvature radius dependence of the power ratio of the leakage light with respect to the light which propagates through the core when there is no optical fiber connection point The figure which shows the connection loss dependence of the power ratio of the leaked light to the light propagating through the core when there is an optical fiber connection point The figure which shows the structure of the 4th Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the 5th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1: optical fiber, 2: optical fiber connection point, 3: central office, 4: user home, 5: light source, 6: optical power meter, 7: light propagating through the core of the optical fiber is leaked to the outside of the optical fiber 8: light receiving element, 9: optical pulse testing machine, 11: optical fiber core, 12: optical fiber cladding, 13: optical fiber coating, 1α: light propagating through the optical fiber core 1β: light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber, 20: irregular portion of the optical fiber, 21: portion for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber (bending portion) ), 22: an optical filter that blocks light with a long wavelength, 23: a light source with light with a long wavelength, 24: an optical filter that blocks light with a short wavelength, and R: a radius of curvature.

Claims (7)

Means for injecting light into the optical fiber;
Means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber;
Using the means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power,
An optical fiber status determination method comprising: determining the status of an optical fiber from the optical power of the leaked light. As means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, the power ratio between the light propagating through the core of the optical fiber and the light leaking from the core is 40 dB or more (propagating through the core The method for determining the condition of an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein a bending portion or a side pressure applying portion for the optical fiber is used. As a means for entering light into the optical fiber, a light source having a wavelength of 1.3 μm band connected to one end of the optical fiber is used.
The bent portion having a curvature radius of 6 mm or more with respect to the optical fiber is used as means for selectively leaking light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber. An optical fiber status determination method. The optical fiber status determination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power comprises means for blocking light having a wavelength other than the 1.3 μm wavelength band. Method. Means for leaking light propagating through the core of the optical fiber to the outside of the optical fiber, means for measuring the optical power by receiving the leaked light, and selectively transmitting the light propagating outside the core of the optical fiber The method for judging the status of an optical fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for leaking outside and the means for receiving the leaked light and measuring the optical power are used simultaneously or while switching. 6. The optical fiber status determination method according to claim 1, wherein light propagating through a portion other than the optical fiber core transmitted through the optical fiber connection point connecting the optical fibers is selectively leaked to the outside of the optical fiber. And determining the connection loss at the connection point of the optical fiber from the relationship between the power of the leaked light and the connection loss. An optical fiber status determination method, comprising: evaluating a connection loss at an optical fiber connection point by the optical fiber status determination method according to claim 6 during connection work between optical fibers.

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