Optical Fiber Test Apparatus with Combined Light Measurement and Fault Detection

Abstract

An optical fiber test apparatus includes an optical power meter operable to detect light at a predetermined wavelength, and a laser source operable to generate a visible laser beam. The optical fiber test apparatus further includes an optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end, and a diplexer which includes a first optical connector and is coupled to the optical power meter, the laser source, and the first end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber test apparatus further includes a second optical connector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber and including a test port. The diplexer is operable to transmit light at the predetermined wavelength from the second optical connector to the optical power meter and transmit the visible laser beam from the laser source to the second optical connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An optical fiber test apparatus, comprising:
 an optical power meter operable to detect light at a predetermined wavelength;   a laser source, the laser source operable to generate a visible laser beam;   an optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end;   a multiplexer comprising a first optical connector, the multiplexer coupled to the optical power meter, the laser source, and coupled to the first end of the optical fiber through the first optical connector; and   a second optical connector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber;   wherein the multiplexer is operable to transmit light at the predetermined wavelength from the second optical connector to the optical power meter and transmit the visible laser beam from the laser source to the second optical connector.   
     
     
         22 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 ; wherein the laser source is a single laser source of the optical fiber test apparatus and the multiplexer is a diplexer. 
     
     
         23 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined wavelength is in the infrared wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         24 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the second optical connector is configured for connecting to a light source external of the optical fiber test apparatus to receive light at the predetermined wavelength from the light source external of the optical fiber test apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising an optical fiber connector coupled to the first end of the optical fiber the optical fiber connector coupling the first end of the optical fiber to the first optical connector of the diplexer. 
     
     
         26 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the optical fiber connector comprises a ferrule and the first end of the optical fiber is disposed within the ferrule, and wherein the ferrule is inserted into the first optical connector of the diplexer to couple the first end of the optical fiber to the diplexer. 
     
     
         27 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first optical connector comprises a ferrule, and wherein the ferrule of the optical fiber connector abuts against the ferrule of the first optical connector when the ferrule of the optical fiber connector is inserted into the first optical connector. 
     
     
         28 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first optical connector comprises an optical fiber stub, and wherein the first end of the optical fiber is optically aligned with the optical fiber stub. 
     
     
         29 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the optical fiber stub is a multimode optical fiber stub. 
     
     
         30 . The optical fiber test apparatus  claim 21 , wherein the optical power meter comprises a photodiode. 
     
     
         31 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the laser source comprises a laser driver circuit and a laser diode. 
     
     
         32 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the optical fiber is a multimode optical fiber. 
     
     
         33 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber. 
     
     
         34 . An optical fiber test apparatus, comprising:
 an optical power meter operable to detect light at a predetermined wavelength, the optical power meter comprising a photodiode;   a laser source comprising a laser driver circuit and a laser diode;   an optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end;   a multiplexer comprising a first optical connector, the multiplexer coupled to the optical power meter and the single laser source, and coupled to the first end of the optical fiber through the first optical connector; and   a second optical connector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber and comprising a test port,   wherein the multiplexer is operable to transmit light at the predetermined wavelength from the second optical connector to the optical power meter and transmit the visible laser beam from the laser source to the second optical connector.   
     
     
         35 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the laser source is a single laser source of the optical fiber test apparatus and the multiplexer is a diplexer. 
     
     
         36 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the predetermined wavelength is in the infrared wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         37 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the second optical connector is configured for connecting to a light source external of the optical fiber test apparatus to receive light at the predetermined wavelength from the light source external of the optical fiber test apparatus. 
     
     
         38 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising an optical fiber connector coupled to the first end of the optical fiber the optical fiber connector coupling the first end of the optical fiber to the first optical connector of the multiplexer. 
     
     
         39 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the optical fiber connector comprises a ferrule and the first end of the optical fiber is disposed within the ferrule, and wherein the ferrule is inserted into the first optical connector of the multiplexer to couple the first end of the optical fiber to the multiplexer. 
     
     
         40 . The optical fiber test apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the first optical connector comprises a ferrule, and wherein the ferrule of the optical fiber connector abuts against the ferrule of the first optical connector when the ferrule of the optical fiber connector is inserted into the first optical connector.