EXFO. has patented a method to enhance optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) measurements by reducing Rayleigh coherence noise. This technique involves spectral averaging of OTDR traces while correcting for chromatic dispersion, thereby maintaining spatial resolution during fiber link characterization. GlobalData’s report on EXFO gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on EXFO, AI-assisted repair estimation was a key innovation area identified from patents. EXFO's grant share as of July 2024 was 67%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method to reduce rayleigh noise in otdr measurements
The patent US12050150B2 outlines a method and system for characterizing optical fiber links using Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR). The method involves conducting multiple OTDR acquisitions, where each acquisition utilizes a pulsed test signal with different center wavelengths. The process includes detecting return light to generate OTDR traces that represent backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance. A key aspect of the method is the application of chromatic dispersion correction to each OTDR trace, which is then averaged to produce a spectrally averaged OTDR trace. The claims specify that the center wavelengths can be uniformly distributed over a bandwidth or tuning range, and the spacing between these wavelengths is approximately equal to the linewidth of the pulsed test signal.
Additionally, the patent describes an OTDR system that comprises a tunable acquisition device and a processing unit. The acquisition device is designed to perform the OTDR acquisitions while the pulsed test signal is either swept in wavelength or fixed. The processing unit is responsible for applying chromatic dispersion corrections and averaging the corrected acquisitions. The system also includes features for calculating peak positions associated with reflective peaks in the OTDR traces and determining stretching factors for resampling based on the center wavelengths and corresponding chromatic dispersion values. Overall, the patent presents a comprehensive approach to enhancing the accuracy and reliability of optical fiber link characterization through advanced OTDR techniques.
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