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Test Solutions for Connector, Cable Assembly, Patchcord, Splitter and Coupler Manufacturing

Almost every singlemode patchcord used throughout the telecommunication network is tested for insertion loss and reflectance. Multimode assemblies (patchcords, pigtails and connectors) have always been tested to verify the insertion loss but, over the past few years, reflectance measurements have been gaining popularity mostly due to the Gigabit Ethernet applications and the use of VCSEL transmitters.

To measure the return loss of a component, two approaches are available, as per the following table:

Method Advantages Disadvantages
Optical Continuous-Wave Reflectometry (OCWR)
  • Relatively simple building blocks (power meter and source)
  • Requires the technician to mandrel-wrap the fiber or to use matching gel to take the measurement.
  • Can be difficult (if not impossible) to test ribbon or rigid cable assemblies.
  • The measurement requires more handling, which translates into longer testing time.
Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (OTDR)
  • Mandrel-free
  • Minimal handling required
  • Easily applicable to multimode cable assemblies
  • Need to revert to mandrel or matching gel for cable assemblies shorter than 1 m.


Featured Test Solutions

Components under test Challenge ORL tests - Proposed equipment IL tests - Proposed equipment
Simplex Connectors
  • Getting accurate and repeatable measurements
  • Obtaining automation capability




Multifiber or fanout cable assemblies
  • Obtaining multichannel automatic test sequence
  • Finding wide detectors to accept multifiber connector

Splitters
  • Getting discrete reflectance measurements for the input connector, the splitter and the output connectors.