Monitored patch panel system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9780871-B2
Application number	US-201514939511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 12, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A monitored fiber optic patch panel system is disclosed. The system includes a unit controller and at least one patch panel unit. The unit controller includes a computer, a graphic display, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub. The patch panel unit is connected to the USB hub and includes connectors configured to receive a corresponding optical fiber. Optical directional couplers are coupled to a corresponding one of the connectors, and photodiodes are positioned adjacent corresponding optical directional couplers to measure an optical power level conveyed on the corresponding optical fiber. A data acquisition device is connected to the photodiodes to capture data indicative of the optical power levels. A microcontroller is connected to the data acquisition device to store the data captured by the data acquisition device. The computer is configured to receive the stored data from the microcontroller, and to identify to which connectors optical fibers are connected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A monitored fiber optic patch panel unit, comprising:
a connector configured to receive an optical fiber;
a phototransistor positioned adjacent the connector and a light emitting diode located opposite the phototransistor to detect a presence of the optical fiber;
an optical directional coupler coupled to the connector;
a photodiode positioned adjacent the optical directional coupler and configured to measure an optical power level conveyed on the optical fiber;
a data acquisition device connected to the photodiode operative to capture data indicative of the optical power level; and
a microcontroller connected to the data acquisition device and configured to store the data captured by the data acquisition device.

2. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 1 , further comprising a status indicator corresponding to the connector and operative to indicate a status of the connector.

3. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 1 , wherein the optical directional coupler is a first optical directional coupler, and further comprising a second optical directional coupler.

4. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 3 , wherein the photodiode is a first photodiode, and further comprising a second photodiode positioned adjacent the second optical directional coupler.

5. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 4 , wherein the first optical directional coupler and the first photodiode are configured to measure a first optical power level corresponding to a first signal direction, and wherein the second optical directional coupler and the second photodiode are configured to measure a second optical power level corresponding to a second signal direction.

6. A monitored fiber optic patch panel unit, comprising:
a plurality of connectors, each configured to receive a corresponding optical fiber;
a phototransistor positioned adjacent each of the plurality of connectors and a light emitting diode located opposite each phototransistor to detect a presence of the corresponding optical fiber;
a plurality of optical directional couplers, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of connectors;
a plurality of photodiodes, each positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the plurality of optical directional couplers and configured to measure an optical power level conveyed on the corresponding optical fiber;
one or more data acquisition devices connected to the plurality of photodiodes operative to capture data indicative of the optical power level; and
a microcontroller connected to the one or more data acquisition devices and configured to store the data captured by the one or more data acquisition devices.

7. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 6 , further comprising a shift register interconnecting the each phototransistor and the microcontroller.

8. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of optical directional couplers are first optical directional couplers, and further comprising a plurality of second optical directional couplers, each coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of connectors.

9. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of photodiodes are first photodiodes, and further comprising a plurality of second photodiodes positioned adjacent corresponding ones of the plurality of second optical directional couplers.

10. The monitored fiber optic patch panel unit of claim 9 , wherein the first optical directional couplers and the first photodiodes are configured to measure first optical power levels corresponding to a first signal direction, and wherein the plurality of second optical directional couplers and the plurality of second photodiodes are configured to measure second optical power levels corresponding to a second signal direction.

11. A monitored fiber optic patch panel system, comprising:
a unit controller, including:
a computer;
a graphic display; and
a Universal Serial Bus hub; and

at least one patch panel unit connected to the Universal Serial Bus hub, the at least one patch panel unit including:
a plurality of connectors, each configured to receive a corresponding optical fiber;
a phototransistor positioned adjacent each of the plurality of connectors and a light emitting diode located opposite each phototransistor to detect a presence of the corresponding optical fiber;
a plurality of optical directional couplers, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of connectors;
a plurality of photodiodes, each positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the plurality of optical directional couplers and configured to measure an optical power level conveyed on the corresponding optical fiber;
one or more data acquisition devices connected to the plurality of photodiodes operative to capture data indicative of the optical power level; and
a microcontroller connected to the one or more data acquisition devices and configured to store the data captured by the one or more data acquisition devices;

wherein the computer is configured to receive the stored data from the microcontroller.

12. The monitored fiber optic patch panel system of claim 11 , further comprising a shift register interconnecting the each phototransistor and the microcontroller.

13. The monitored fiber optic patch panel system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of optical directional couplers are first optical directional couplers, and further comprising a plurality of second optical directional couplers, each coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of connectors.

14. The monitored fiber optic patch panel system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of photodiodes are first photodiodes, and further comprising a plurality of second photodiodes positioned adjacent corresponding ones of the plurality of second optical directional couplers.

15. The monitored fiber optic patch panel system of claim 14 , wherein the first optical directional couplers and the first photodiodes are configured to measure first optical power levels corresponding to a first signal direction, and wherein the plurality of second optical directional couplers and the plurality of second photodiodes are configured to measure second optical power levels corresponding to a second signal direction.

16. The monitored fiber optic patch panel system of claim 11 , further comprising a status indicator corresponding to each of the plurality of connectors and operative to indicate a status of the corresponding one of the plurality of connectors.

17. A method for monitoring a patch panel, comprising:
positioning a light emitting diode adjacent a connector;
positioning a phototransistor opposite the light emitting diode to detect a presence of a corresponding optical fiber;
measuring, via a photodiode positioned proximate to an optical directional coupler, an optical power level conveyed on the optical fiber;
storing the measured optical power level; and
indicating, based on the measured optical power level, a status of the connector.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Rapipong Jeff Piman
• Davidson Howard Lee
• Manyam Vijay Kumar

Classifications

• H04B10/25891

  Transmission components (H04B10/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B10/801

  using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections · CPC title

• H04B10/07955 Primary

  Monitoring or measuring power · CPC title

• G02B6/3895

  identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts (keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64) · CPC title

• G02B6/2804

  forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers · CPC title