Monitoring solvent in a fiber cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596983-B2
Application number	US-202016884563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2020
Priority date	May 27, 2020
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber may apply a vacuum to a solvent tank, where the device includes a vacuum generator to apply the vacuum and the solvent tank. The device may receive, from a solvent reservoir and in response to applying the vacuum, solvent with the solvent tank. Additionally, or alternatively, a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber may apply a pressure to a solvent reservoir, where the device includes a pressure port to apply the pressure and a solvent tank. The device may receive, from the solvent reservoir and in response to applying the pressure, solvent with the solvent tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
applying, by a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, a vacuum to a solvent tank,
wherein the device includes:
a vacuum generator to apply the vacuum, and
the solvent tank; and

receiving, by the device, from a solvent reservoir, and in response to applying the vacuum, solvent with the solvent tank;
determining, by the device and when applying the vacuum and based on a signal of a capacitive sensor of the device, a rate of change of capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank; and
performing, by the device and based on the rate of change of the capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the vacuum,
displaying information regarding fluid in the solvent tank, and
providing at least one of a first visual alert or a first audible alert.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the vacuum to the solvent tank generates a suction to pull solvent from the solvent reservoir.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
filtering air entering the solvent reservoir,
wherein the air enters the solvent reservoir in response to applying the vacuum to the solvent tank.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a sensor, and wherein the method includes:
determining, based on a signal from the sensor, a solvent level in the solvent tank, and
performing, based on the solvent level, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the vacuum,
displaying the solvent level, and
providing at least one of a visual alert or an audible alert.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a capacitive sensor or a float sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises:
a float sensor to generate a liquid-level signal based on a level of liquid in the solvent tank; and

wherein the method includes:
determining, based on a capacitance signal and the liquid-level signal, whether the solvent tank is contaminated; and
performing, based on determining that the solvent tank is contaminated, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the vacuum, and
providing at least one of a second visual alert or a second audible alert.

7. A method, comprising:
applying, by a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, a pressure to a solvent reservoir,
wherein the device includes:
a pressure port to apply the pressure, and
a solvent tank;

receiving, by the device, from the solvent reservoir, and in response to applying the pressure, solvent with the solvent tank;
determining, by the device and based on a capacitance signal and a liquid-level signal, whether the solvent tank is contaminated,
wherein the capacitance signal is generated by a capacitive sensor of the device based on a capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, and
wherein the liquid-level signal is generated by a float sensor based on a level of liquid in the solvent tank; and

performing, by the device and based on determining that the solvent tank is contaminated, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the pressure, and
providing at least one of a first visual alert or a first audible alert.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein applying the pressure to the solvent reservoir generates a positive pressure to push solvent from the solvent reservoir to the solvent tank.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a sensor, and
wherein the method includes:
determining, based on a signal from the sensor, a solvent level in the solvent tank; and
performing, based on the solvent level, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the pressure,
displaying the solvent level, and
providing at least one of a visual alert or an audible alert.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a sensor, and
wherein the method includes:
determining, based on a signal from the sensor, a rate of change of a solvent level in the solvent tank; and
performing, based on the rate of change of the solvent level, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the pressure,
displaying information regarding fluid in the solvent tank, and
providing at least one of a visual alert or an audible alert.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of the capacitive sensor or a float sensor.

12. The method of claim 7 ,
wherein the method includes:
determining, when applying the pressure and based on a signal from the capacitive sensor, a rate of change of capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, and
performing, based on the rate of change of capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the pressure,
displaying information regarding fluid in the solvent tank, and
providing at least one of a second visual alert or a second audible alert.

13. A device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, comprising:
a vacuum generator to generate a vacuum for cleaning the end face;
a solvent tank to store solvent for cleaning the end face; and
one or more processors configured to:
apply, using the vacuum generator, the vacuum to the solvent tank;
receive, from a solvent reservoir, and in response to applying the vacuum, solvent with the solvent tank;
determine, when applying the vacuum and based on a signal of a capacitive sensor of the device, a rate of change of capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank; and
perform, based on the rate of change of the capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the vacuum,
displaying information regarding fluid in the solvent tank, and
providing at least one of a visual alert or an audible alert.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a sensor to sense a solvent level in the solvent tank,
wherein the sensor includes at least one of the capacitive sensor or a float sensor, and
wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform, based on the solvent level, one or more actions,
wherein the one or more actions include:
stopping applying the vacuum to the solvent tank,
stopping applying pressurized air to the solvent reservoir,
displaying the solvent level, and
providing at least one of a visual alert or an audible alert.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense a capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the capacitive sensor comprises:
a tube extending vertically in the solvent tank,
wherein the tube includes vertically-spaced openings; and

a rod extending vertically in the solvent tank,
wherein the rod is positioned within the tube.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
determine, based on the rate of change of the capacitance of fluid in the solvent tank, whether the solvent tank is contaminated.

18. The device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a float sensor to generate a liquid-level signal based on a level of liquid in the solvent tank; and
wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine, based on a capacitance signal and the liquid-level signal, whether the solvent tank is contaminated.

19. The device of claim 13 , further

Assignees

• Viavi Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mackay Gordon
• Cassady Kevin
• Kriofske Peter
• Rosenau William Shawn
• Basler Brad

Classifications

• G01F23/263

  by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors · CPC title

• B08B2240/02

  Optical fibers or optical fiber connectors · CPC title

• B08B3/00 Primary

  Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam (B08B9/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B08B5/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• B08B3/08 Primary

  the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect · CPC title