JPH11223573A - Device for measuring optical power of optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical power measuring device capable of searching for the cores of optical fibers and measuring optical power without the need for two types of core discriminating devices and an optical power meter. SOLUTION: An optical power measuring device is provided with a main body part 1 with a photoelectric converter inserted part 11 supporting a photoelectric converter at its tip part, a core searching head 21 which is formed so that the photoelectric converter inserted part 11 can be fitted and sandwiches an optical fiber, and an optical power measuring head 31 which is formed so that the photoelectric converter inserted part 11 can be fitted and to which a specified optical fiber can be connected. By this, as it is possible to measure the optical power of an optical fiber by one device, effects such as inexpensiveness and easiness in operation are obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical power measuring apparatus capable of searching for a specific optical fiber core from an optical fiber cable and measuring optical power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical fiber cable is formed by bundling a coated long optical fiber (for example, 5 km or 10 km) into an optical cable, and furthermore, accommodating a plurality of the optical cables in a wrap sheath. It is configured. In such an optical fiber cable, when measuring the optical power of each optical fiber at the time of laying or after laying, first, the core side light is transmitted from the transmission side of the optical fiber core by the light source device for the core, and received. The optical fiber discriminator provided on the side receives this optical fiber reference light and specifies the optical fiber optical fiber to be searched. Then, measurement light is transmitted from the transmission side of the optical fiber core specified by the core discriminator by a light source device for measuring optical power, and the optical power of the optical fiber core is measured by an optical power meter provided on the reception side.

[0003]

However, when measuring the optical power of an optical fiber core, as described above, two types of measuring equipment, a core detector and an optical power meter, are required. Was troublesome and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can easily search for an optical fiber core and measure optical power without requiring two types of ID testers and an optical power meter. It is an object to provide an inexpensive optical power measuring device.

[0005]

An optical power measuring apparatus according to the present invention has a side surface formed substantially in an inverted L-shape, has a concave portion at a front end portion of a horizontal portion, and has a concave portion from a bottom portion of the concave portion to a vertical portion side. A photoelectric converter insertion portion provided with a photoelectric converter holding portion formed so as to extend, and the photoelectric converter insertion portion is attached to a distal end portion, and is formed to extend to a distal end side of the photoelectric converter insertion portion. A base having a head mounting portion at a lower portion, a main body portion sliding on the base, and a substantially semicircular protrusion fitted to a concave portion of the photoelectric converter insertion portion in a vertical portion, A light-shielding portion formed so as to cover the protruding portion on the vertical portion; and a groove portion for guiding a holding portion of the photoelectric converter insertion portion to the protruding portion on a horizontal portion; An attachment portion detachably attached to the attachment portion is provided at a lower portion of the horizontal portion, and the After the optical fiber is laid along the optical fiber insertion head, the optical fiber insertion head is inserted into the light-shielding part and the optical fiber is sandwiched between the protrusion and the recess, and the optical fiber is detachably mounted. A connector has a vertical portion, a light shielding portion formed to cover the connector is provided in the vertical portion, and a groove portion for guiding the holding portion of the photoelectric conversion device insertion portion to the connector is provided in the horizontal portion. An attaching portion detachably attached to the head attaching portion of the base is provided at a lower portion of the horizontal portion, and the photoelectric converter insertion portion is fitted into the light shielding portion so that the connector faces the photoelectric converter insertion portion. And a head for measuring optical power.

The main unit includes a display unit, a gain conversion unit for amplifying the electric signal converted by the photoelectric converter, and an A / A converter for converting a digital signal when the output of the gain conversion unit is an analog signal. / D conversion unit, and either the core wire contrast or the optical power measurement is displayed on the display unit in accordance with an external operation, the gain conversion unit is offset, and a low value range is displayed on the gain conversion unit. When a signal is output from the gain conversion unit when the core wire contrast is selected, the signal is read and compared with a predetermined reference value, and the H level of the signal is equal to or higher than the reference value. In the case of (1), a core wire contrast discriminating unit for displaying on the display unit that light of the optical fiber held between the core wire searching head is received, and the A / D when the optical power measurement is selected.
When a digital signal is output from the conversion unit, the signal is read to calculate the optical power, and the optimal range is set in the gain conversion unit based on the calculated value, and
An optical power discriminating unit for displaying the optical power on the display unit.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an optical power measuring apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body having an operation section and a display section, which will be described later, at the top; A base on which the portion 1 is slidably mounted, and has a head mounting portion 4a for detachably mounting a head to be described later on the distal end side. Reference numeral 5 denotes a gripper attached to the base 4, which has a trigger 6 for sliding the main body 1 on the base 4, and a battery (not shown) for operating various circuits provided inside the main body 1. Is housed.

[0008] Reference numeral 11 denotes a photoelectric converter insertion portion having a side surface formed in a substantially inverted L-shape and attached to the tip of the main body 1.
The concave portion 1 formed at the tip of the inverted L-shaped horizontal portion 12
4, a holding portion 15 formed to extend from the bottom of the concave portion 14 to the vertical portion 13 and hold a photoelectric converter described later, and a projection 16a provided below the horizontal portion 12 so as to sandwich the holding portion 15, 16b. This protrusion 16
a and 16b extend to the vertical portion 13.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a core searching head, which is provided in the vertical portion 23 and has a substantially semicircular protrusion 27 fitted into the concave portion 14 of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11, and a protrusion 27 protruding from the vertical portion 23. Light-shielding portion 24 formed so as to cover
2, a groove 25 for guiding the holding portion 15 of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11 into the protrusion 27, and protrusions 16a and 16b of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11 provided on the horizontal portion 22 are slidably fitted. Guide grooves 26 a, 26 b, a concave mounting portion 30 provided below the horizontal portion 22, and a side wall 2 of the light shielding portion 24.
The slits 29a and 29b are formed between the horizontal portions 22 and 8a and 28b, and the core guide grooves 27a are formed by the projecting portions 27 and the upper surface of the horizontal portion 22.
The attachment part 30 and the head attachment part 4a on the main body part 1 side are fixed with, for example, screws.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an optical power measuring head,
For example, an FC type connector 3 penetrating through and attached to
7, a light-shielding portion 34 protruding from the vertical portion 33 so as to cover the connector 37, and a groove portion 35 provided in the horizontal portion 32 for guiding the holding portion 15 of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11 to the connector 37. A guide groove 26a, 26b provided in the horizontal portion 32 and slidably fitted with the protrusions 16a, 16b of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11, and a concave mounting portion 30 provided in a lower portion of the horizontal portion 32 It is composed of The optical power measuring head 31 is provided with an FC type connector 37.
The optical fiber core 39 is inserted and fixed in the plug 38 when the optical power is measured, and the plug 38 is inserted into the connector 37. Although the FC power connector 37 is attached to the optical power measurement head 31, an SC connector may be used instead of the FC connector 37.

When searching for an optical fiber core using the present apparatus configured as described above, first, the protrusions 16a, 16b of the photoelectric converter insertion section 11 provided on the main body 1 side are used.
Are fitted into the guide grooves 26a and 26b of the core searching head 21, and the horizontal portion 12 of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11 is fitted into the light shielding portion 24. Next, the main body 1 fitted at this time
The head mounting portion 4a on the side and the mounting portion 30 on the side of the core wire searching head 21 are fixed with screws, and the core searching head 21 is fixed to the main body 1 side. Thereafter, the trigger 6 is pulled to retract the photoelectric converter insertion section 11 together with the main body section 1, and the optical fiber core is inserted from the slits 29 a and 29 b of the head 21 along the core guide groove 27 a in the light shielding section 24. And then
When the trigger 6 is released, the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11 is advanced and fitted into the light shielding portion 24, and the optical fiber core is clamped by the concave portion 14 of the photoelectric converter insertion portion 11. At this time, the photoelectric converter inserted into the holding part 15 of the photoelectric converter insertion part 11 accurately faces the optical fiber core.

When measuring the optical power of the optical fiber core specified by the core searching head 21, first, the projection 1 of the photoelectric converter insertion part 11 on the main body 1 side is measured as described above.
6a and 16b are formed in the guide grooves 26 of the optical power measuring head 31.
a, 26b, the horizontal part 12 of the photoelectric converter insertion part 11 is fitted into the light shielding part 34, and then the head mounting part 4a of the main body part 1 and the optical power measuring head 31 fitted at this time. The optical power measuring head 31 is fixed to the main body 1 side by fixing the mounting portion 30 on the side with a screw. At this time, the central part of the connector 37 attached to the vertical part 33 of the optical power measuring head 31 faces the photoelectric converter in the holding part 15 provided at the tip of the photoelectric converter insertion part 11. Thereafter, the specified optical fiber core 39 is inserted and fixed in the plug 38, and is inserted into the connector 37 of the optical power measuring head 31.

Here, an electric block configuration of the main body of the apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the optical power measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment.
Is an operation unit provided on the upper part of the main body unit 1, which is a center line contrast (I
ID / W selection switch 2a for selecting either D) or optical power (W) measurement, dB (REL) switch 2b, W / dBm changeover switch 2c, and optical power measurement of the specified optical fiber core A data hold switch 2 d for storing the value in the memory 42 and a gain conversion unit 4
A zero set switch 2e for offsetting 4;
A wavelength switching switch 2f for setting a wavelength corresponding to output light of a light source device (not shown).

Reference numeral 41 denotes a buzzer which sounds, for example, when a fiber-contrast light is input, and 3 denotes a display section for displaying based on the operation of various switches and for displaying the optical power input value at the time of optical power measurement. 42 is the memory described above, 43 is the main unit 1
The photoelectric converter 44 is held by the holding unit 15 provided in the photoelectric converter insertion unit 11, a gain conversion unit 44 amplifies the electric signal converted by the photoelectric converter 43, and 45 is an output of the gain conversion unit 44. An A / D conversion unit that converts an analog signal into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a CPU provided with, for example, the functions of the function setting unit, the core wire discriminating unit, and the optical power discriminating unit of the present invention.
When the ID / W selection switch 2a is depressed, either the core wire reference or the optical power measurement is displayed on the display unit 3 in accordance with the selection, and a low value range is set in the gain conversion unit 44. When the zero set switch 2e is pressed, the gain conversion unit 44 is offset. When a signal (rectangular wave) is output from the gain conversion unit 44 when the core contrast is selected, the rectangular wave signal is output. The H level of the rectangular wave signal is read and compared with a predetermined reference value. When the H level of the rectangular wave signal is equal to or higher than the reference value, the buzzer 41 displays the light reception of the optical fiber core held between the core search head 21 and When the digital signal is output from the A / D converter 45 when the power measurement is selected, the signal is read to calculate the optical power, and the optimum range is determined based on the calculated value. 44 Set, and displays the calculated value on the display unit 3.

The operation of the optical power measuring apparatus having the above-described configuration for determining the optical fiber reference light and measuring the optical power will be described. The mounting of each head has been described above and will not be described. For example, after attaching the core search head 21 to the photoelectric converter insertion section 11 of the main body 1, a power switch (not shown) is pressed, and then the ID side is selected by the ID / W selection switch 2a, and When the zero set switch 2e is pressed, the CPU 46 displays “I
"D" is displayed, a low value range is set in the gain conversion unit 44, and the gain conversion unit 44 is offset.

Here, when the optical fiber core is held between the photoelectric converter insertion part 11 and the core searching head 21, the photoelectric converter 43 converts the optical fiber into a rectangular wave signal in accordance with the light leaking from the optical fiber core, and The converter 44 amplifies the rectangular wave signal according to the set range. At this time, the CPU 46
Reads the amplified rectangular wave signal and compares it with a predetermined reference value. When the H level of the rectangular wave signal is equal to or more than the reference value, the buzzer 41 indicates the reception of light from the optical fiber.

When the optical fiber core is specified by this search, the core search head 21 is removed from the photoelectric converter insertion part 11 of the main body 1 and the optical power measurement head 3 is removed.
1 is attached. Then, the ID / W selection switch 2a sets W
When the side is selected and the zero set switch 2e is pressed, the CPU 46 displays “W” indicating that the optical power is measured on the display unit 3 and sets a low value range in the gain conversion unit 44, Further, the gain conversion unit 44 is offset.

Here, when the specified optical fiber core is inserted into the connector 37 of the head 31 via the plug 38, the photoelectric converter 43 converts the optical fiber into an analog signal according to the light from the optical fiber core, as described above. Then, the gain converter 44 amplifies the signal according to the set range. At this time, since the output signal of the gain converter 44 is analog, the A / D converter 45 converts the signal into a digital signal and outputs it to the CPU 46. The CPU 46 reads the signal, calculates the optical power, and sets the optimum range in the gain conversion unit 44 based on the calculated value.
In addition, the calculated value is displayed on the display unit 3.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a method for measuring the optical power of an optical fiber by preparing a core searching head and an optical power measuring head which can be attached to and detached from the photoelectric converter insertion portion of the main body. First, the optical fiber search head is attached to the photoelectric converter insertion part of the main body, the optical fiber is clamped, and when the fact is input by an external operation, if there is light from the optical fiber, the fact is displayed. Then, connect the specified optical fiber to the optical power measuring head, attach it to the photoelectric converter insertion part of the main unit, and input the fact by external operation, and measure the optical power of the optical fiber in the optimal range. Since the display is performed by using a single device, it is possible to measure the optical power of the optical fiber with one device, so that the effect of reducing the cost and facilitating the operation is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an optical power measurement device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the optical power measurement device according to the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body, 2 operation, 3 display, 4 base, 4
a Head mounting part, 5 gripping part, 6 trigger, 11 photoelectric converter insertion part, 14 recess, 15 holding part, 21 core search head, 25 groove, 27 protrusion, 27a core guide groove, 31 optical power Measuring head, 35 groove, 37
FC connector, 38 plug, 41 buzzer, 42
Memory, 43 photoelectric converter, 44 gain converter, 4
5A / D converter, 46 CPU.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A side face is formed in a substantially inverted L-shape, a concave portion is provided at a tip of a horizontal portion, and a holding portion of a photoelectric converter is formed extending from a bottom portion of the concave portion to a vertical portion side. And a base having a head mounting portion formed at the distal end of the photoelectric converter insertion portion and extending toward the distal end of the photoelectric converter insertion portion. A main body that slides on the base, and a substantially semicircular protrusion that fits into the recess of the photoelectric converter insertion portion is formed in the vertical portion so as to cover the protrusion. A light-shielding portion is provided, and further, a horizontal portion has a groove portion for guiding the holding portion of the photoelectric converter insertion portion to the projecting portion, and a mounting portion removably mounted on the head mounting portion of the base is located below the horizontal portion. Provided in the light shielding portion after laying an optical fiber along the protruding portion. A head for searching for a core wire that fits the photoelectric converter insertion portion to hold the optical fiber between the protruding portion and the concave portion, and a connector to which the optical fiber is detachably mounted is provided in the vertical portion; A light-shielding portion formed so as to cover the connector is provided, and further, a horizontal portion has a groove portion for guiding a holding portion of the photoelectric converter insertion portion to the connector,
A mounting portion detachably attached to the head mounting portion of the base is provided at a lower portion of the horizontal portion, and the photoelectric conversion device insertion portion is fitted into the light shielding portion so that the connector faces the photoelectric conversion device insertion portion. An optical power measuring device for an optical fiber, comprising: a power measuring head. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main unit includes a display unit, a gain conversion unit that amplifies the electric signal converted by the photoelectric converter, and an A that converts a digital signal when an output of the gain conversion unit is an analog signal. A D / D conversion unit, and either one of the core wire contrast and the optical power measurement is displayed on the display unit in accordance with an external operation, and the gain conversion unit is offset, and
A function setting unit that sets a low range of values to the gain conversion unit, and when a signal is output from the gain conversion unit when the core wire contrast is selected, the signal is read and compared with a predetermined reference value. When the H level of the signal is equal to or higher than the reference value, a core wire contrast determination unit that displays on the display unit that light of the optical fiber held by the core wire search head is received, and optical power measurement are selected. When a digital signal is output from the A / D converter when the signal is output, the signal is read to calculate the optical power, and an optimum range is set in the gain converter based on the calculated value. 2. The optical fiber optical power measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical power discriminating unit that displays the optical power on the display unit.