The Photonic Engineering research group of the University of Alcalá, in collaboration with the Institute of Optics of the CSIC and FOCUS S.L. presents a system and method of distributed characterization of optical fibers that provides an absolute measurement of the dispersion profile of the fiber.
The group looks for telecommunications companies specialized in the industrial area of sensing and distributed fiber optic characterization, for patent licensing agreements or commercial agreements with technical assistance.
So far, the dispersion profile of a fiber has been characterized with high spatial resolution using optical reflectometry in the frequency domain (OFDR Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry).
However, the known methods of recovering the dispersed signal phase, such as I / Q (separation phase and quadrature), provide limited temporal resolution. These phase recovery methods are sensitive to environmental changes. In addition, interferometric methods have been extended to allow the recovery of arbitrary signal profiles, but these techniques require the use of a precisely synchronized local oscillator.
For long range systems based on OTDR sensing, the spatial resolution is limited by the pulse width, or the width of an individual bit, in the case of a coded pulse.
This novel invention presents a system and method of distributed fiber optic characterization which provides an absolute measurement of the scattering profile of the fiber by comparing the phase and amplitude of a pulsed light and the Rayleigh dispersion generated by that pulsed light, being measured at least, the Rayleigh scattering through photonic differentiation. So the optical fiber under test is characterized absolutely and continuously, without comparing multiple states, and the results can be provided in real time.
In a first aspect of the invention, a distributed fiber-optic characterization system is presented. In a second aspect of the invention, a method of distributed characterization of the dispersion profile of an optical fiber is presented. In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising computer program code adapted to implement the described method, when executed in a digital signal processor, an integrated circuit specific of the application, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or any other form of programmable hardware.
The measurement of the scattering profile of an optical fiber provides useful information for distributed fiber characterization as well as for distributed sensing schemes such as reflectometry in the time domain sensitive to the phase (OTDR Optical Time Domain Reflectometry).
Competitive advantages:
- The optical fiber under test is characterized absolutely and continuously, without comparing multiple states, and the results can be provided in real time.
- With the system, method and computer program of the invention, an absolute dispersion profile of high resolution and high sensitivity is provided. The measuring range is limited only by the intensity of the pulsed light, allowing to incorporate systems of distributed amplification.
Current development status
Finished technologies
Intellectual property status
Patent already applied for
Patent application number : P201530793
The PCT has also been requested PCT / ES2016 / 070423
Where : Spain and PCT for other countries
Desired business relationship
Patent licensing or Commercial Agreement with Technical Assiatance
The Technology Transfer Office at Alcalá University serves as a liaison between the University and its socioeconomic environment in terms of research and innovation. It encorages collaboration between research groups from universities and companies/institutions, with the objective to promote and commercialize research results and scientific capabilities.
Some of the services offered by this office are specified in the following list:
- Promotion of R & D and improvement of the relationships with companies.
- Promote the participation in R & D projects applicants to public calls (regional, national and European).
- Advising, processing and monitoring of patents and other forms of industrial protection.
- Support in the negotiation of contracts and agreements for R&D&i
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