Monitoring air pressure and flow in a fiber cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285783-B2
Application number	US-202016884557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2020
Priority date	May 27, 2020
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

A device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber may receive a first pressure signal from a first pressure sensor, wherein the device includes a pneumatic circuit, wherein the pneumatic circuit includes: one or more circuit components, the first pressure sensor, and a second pressure sensor. The device may receive a second pressure signal from the second pressure sensor. The device may determine, based on the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal, whether a pressure difference across a circuit component, of the one or more circuit components, satisfies a threshold. The device may perform, based on the pressure difference across the circuit component not satisfying the threshold, one or more actions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, a first pressure signal from a first particular pressure sensor of a plurality of pressure sensors,
wherein the device includes a pneumatic circuit comprising:
a pressure supply port for receiving an input air flow,
a pressure output port for providing an output air flow for cleaning the end face of the optical fiber,
a plurality of circuit components, comprising:
an input air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure supply port,
a pressure regulator configured to receive the input air flow from the input air filter and regulate a pressure of the input air flow, and
an output air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure regulator, and

a plurality of pressure sensors, comprising:
a first pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, the pressure supply port and a first side of the input air filter,
a second pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the input air filter, opposite of the first side of the input air filter, and a first side of the pressure regulator,
a third pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the pressure regulator opposite, opposite of the first side of the pressure regulator, and a first side of the output air filter, and
a fourth pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the output air filter, opposite of the first side of the output air filter, and the pressure output port;

receiving, by the device, a second pressure signal from a second particular pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors;
determining, by the device and based on the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal, whether a pressure difference across a particular circuit component, of the plurality of circuit components, satisfies a threshold; and
performing, by the device and based on whether the pressure difference across the particular circuit component satisfies the threshold, one or more actions associated with correcting a problem associated with the device,
wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:
causing one or more valves in the pneumatic circuit to close,
causing the one or more valves to open, or
causing the pressure regulator in the pneumatic circuit to be adjusted.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more actions further comprises:
causing a message, to be displayed to a user, that includes an indication that at least one of the input air filter or the output air filter needs inspection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic circuit further comprises the one or more valves.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the pressure supply port, the input air flow; and
providing, via the pressure output port, the output air flow to the end face of the optical fiber.

5. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, a pressure signal from a first particular pressure sensor of a plurality of pressure sensors,
wherein the device includes a pneumatic circuit comprising:
a pressure supply port for receiving an input air flow,
a pressure output port for providing an output air flow for cleaning the end face of the optical fiber,
a plurality of circuit components, comprising:
a pressure regulator,
an output air filter,
a vacuum port, and
a vacuum generator in communication with the vacuum port, and
a plurality of pressure sensors, comprising:
 a first pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, the pressure supply port and a first side of the pressure regulator,
 a second pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the pressure regulator, opposite of the first side of the pressure regulator, and a first side of the output air filter, wherein the second pressure sensor is further connected to the vacuum generator, and
 a third pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the output air filter, opposite of the first side of the output air filter, and the pressure output port;

determining, by the device and based on the pressure signal, whether the input air flow satisfies a threshold; and
performing, by the device and based on whether the input air flow satisfies the threshold, one or more actions associated with correcting a problem associated with the device,
wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:
causing one or more valves in the pneumatic circuit to close,
causing the one or more valves to open, or
causing the pressure regulator in the pneumatic circuit to be adjusted.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein performing the one or more actions further comprises:
causing a message, to be displayed to a user, that includes at least one of:
a first indication that a pressure of the input air flow is low, or
a second indication that a volumetric flow rate of the input air flow is low.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprises;
providing, via the vacuum port, a vacuum to the end face of the optical fiber.

8. A device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, the device comprising:
a pneumatic circuit including:
a pressure supply port for receiving an input air flow,
a pressure output port for providing an output air flow for cleaning the end face of the optical fiber,
a plurality of circuit components, comprising:
an input air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure supply port,
a pressure regulator configured to receive the input air flow from the input air filter and regulate a pressure of the input air flow, and
an output air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure regulator, and

a plurality of pressure sensors, comprising:
a first pressure sensor connected to, positioned between, the pressure supply port and a first side of the input air filter,
a second pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the input air filter, different from the first side of the input air filter, and a first side of the pressure regulator,
a third pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the pressure regulator opposite, opposite of the first side of the pressure regulator, and a first side of the output air filter, and
a fourth pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the output air filter, opposite of the first side of the output air filter, and the pressure output port; and

a controller, configured to:
receive, from a first particular pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors, a first pressure signal,
receive, from a second particular pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors, a second pressure signal,
determine at least one:
whether the input air flow satisfies a first threshold based on the first pressure signal,
whether a pressure difference across a particular circuit component, of the plurality of circuit components, satisfies a second threshold, and

perform, based on at least one of whether the input air flow satisfies the first threshold or whether the pressure difference across the particular circuit component satisfies the second threshold, one or more actions associated with correcting a problem associated with the device,
wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:
causing one or more valves in the pneumatic circuit to close,
causing the one or more valves to open, or
causing a pressure regulator in the pneumatic circuit to be adjusted.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of circuit components f

Assignees

• Viavi Solutions Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G02B6/3866 Primary

  Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors (cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• G01N2015/084

  Testing filters · CPC title

• G01N15/0826

  and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change · CPC title

• B08B2240/02

  Optical fibers or optical fiber connectors · CPC title

• B08B13/00

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title