US5280335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber-optical testing system having a detection circuit
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1992-05-26
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Granted: 1994-01-18
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Expires: 2012-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for testing a fiber-optic component with infrared radiation is provided. The testing system has a source of infrared radiation, an optic coupler, a detecting circuit, and an analog tape recorder. The optic coupler directs the infrared radiation onto the fiber-optic component. The detection circuit is electrically connected to the tape recorder. The detection circuit has an amplifier, a potentiometer connected in parallel to the amplifier, and a photoelectric transducer connected in series to the amplifier. These components are mounted on a non-conductive board. A power source supplies voltage and is connected to the amplifier. The circuit operates by having the photoelectric transducer sense the infrared radiation emitted from the tested fiber-optic component and convert the radiation into an electrical signal. The amplifier then amplifies the electrical signal to the voltage necessary for driving the tape recorder.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis L. Needham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/30; G01M11/33; H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/04; H03F3/08; H03F3/087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation, comprising: a means for mounting and isolating a plurality of circuit components; a means for amplifying voltage at a high-gain, said means for amplifying being mounted to said means for mounting and isolating, said means for amplifying also having a plurality of in-line pin connections; a means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying; a means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying; and a means for generating electrical energy, said means for generating being electrically connected to said means for amplifying and supplying voltage directly to said means for amplifying.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation, comprising: a means for mounting and isolating a plurality of circuit components; a means for amplifying voltage at a high-gain, said means for amplifying being mounted to said means for mounting and isolating, said means for amplifying also having a plurality of in-line pin connections; a means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying; a means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying; and a means for generating electrical energy, said means for generating being electrically connected to said means for amplifying and supplying voltage directly to said means for amplifying.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting and isolating is non-conductive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting and isolating is a non-conductive, low capacitive, noise free board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of in-line pin connections of said means for amplifying includes an inverting input, a non-inverting input, an output, a positive voltage supply input, and a negative voltage supply input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for amplifying is a monolithic operational amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 5 wherein the monolithic operational amplifier is a Burr-Brown Model Number OPA-128.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for dividing is electrically connected on one end to the inverting input of said means for amplifying and on the other end to the output of said means for amplifying.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for dividing is a ten-turn wire wound potentiometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for optically transducing is electrically connected in series with the inverting input of said means for amplifying.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for optically transducing is a pin photo diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 10 wherein the pin photo diode includes the elements of indium, gallium, and arsenide in its construction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 11 wherein the pin photo diode has a dark current of 50 nanoamperes, a capacitance of 20 picofarads, a responsivity of 0.75 amperes per watt, and an area of detection of 500 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for generating electrical energy is electrically connected to the positive voltage supply input and the negative voltage supply input.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation as recited in claim 13 wherein said means for generating electrical energy is a twelve volt, 100 milliampere power pack.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component, comprising: means for emitting infrared radiation; means, positioned between said means for emitting and a fiber-optic component, for optically coupling the emitted radiation onto the fiber-optic component; means, positioned near the fiber-optic component, for detecting the emitted radiation passing the fiber-optic component and converting the emitted radiation into an electrical analog signal, said means for detecting and converting comprising a non-conductive channel isolating mounting board, a means for amplifying voltage at a high-gain, said means for amplifying being mounted to said mounting board, a means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying, a means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying, and a means for generating electrical energy, said means for generating being electrically connected to said means for amplifying and supplying voltage directly to said means for amplifying; and means, connected to said means for detecting and converting, for recording the converted electrical analog signal onto an analog tape.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component, comprising: means for emitting infrared radiation; means, positioned between said means for emitting and a fiber-optic component, for optically coupling the emitted radiation onto the fiber-optic component; means, positioned near the fiber-optic component, for detecting the emitted radiation passing the fiber-optic component and converting the emitted radiation into an electrical analog signal, said means for detecting and converting comprising a non-conductive channel isolating mounting board, a means for amplifying voltage at a high-gain, said means for amplifying being mounted to said mounting board, a means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying, a means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying, and a means for generating electrical energy, said means for generating being electrically connected to said means for amplifying and supplying voltage directly to said means for amplifying; and means, connected to said means for detecting and converting, for recording the converted electrical analog signal onto an analog tape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for amplifying is a monolithic operational amplifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for dividing voltage is a ten-turn wire would potentiometer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for optically transducing infrared radiation is a pin photo diode having a dark current of 50 nanoamperes, a capacitance of 20 picofarads, a responsivity of 0.75 amperes per watt, and an area of detection of 500 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for testing a fiber-optic component as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for generating electrical energy is a twelve volt, 100 milliampere power pack.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation, comprising: means for mounting and isolating a plurality of circuit components, said means for mounting and isolating being non-conductive; means for amplifying voltage, said means for amplifying being mounted to said means for mounting and isolating, said means for amplifying also having a plurality of in-line pin connections; means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying; and means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A circuit for detecting emitted radiation, comprising: means for mounting and isolating a plurality of circuit components, said means for mounting and isolating being non-conductive; means for amplifying voltage, said means for amplifying being mounted to said means for mounting and isolating, said means for amplifying also having a plurality of in-line pin connections; means for dividing voltage, said means for dividing being electrically connected in parallel to said means for amplifying; and means for optically transducing infrared radiation, said means for optically transducing being electrically connected in series to said means for amplifying.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-17 | 1997-07-19 | 1998-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-17 | 2001-07-19 | 2002-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-17 | 2005-07-19 | 2006-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |