Realization of an On-Line Fiber-Optic Bending Loss Measurement System

Abstract

In this paper, an on-line bending loss measurement system is studied and realized. To avoid complicated calculation of fiber bending loss, we propose a simplified theoretical model for on-line evaluation. A specific fiber adaptor is developed for light signal feeding and picking up through a free space optical fiber coupling technique. Relevant factors, including free space fiber misalignment, are considered. The signal-to-noise ratio of the whole system is improved by optimizing the spatial perturbation length of the fiber and the deformation of the bending fiber. The use of an on-line monitoring technique for measuring the bending loss of optical fibers is presented in this paper. With this technique, manufacturing efficiency can be improved, and the cost of maintaining fiber quality control can be reduced.