Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Module for High Resolution

This program investigated an approach for inserting high resolution OTDR technology within the T-BERD 6000 Compact Optical Test Platform. This platform can measure multiple configurations of fiber links by utilizing pluggable modules. This platform is used for Navy aircraft and ship-board applications. The goal was to identify a feasible and low-cost approach to implementing high-resolution OTDR in a T-BERD module. The approach should work for wavelengths and fiber types of interest to Navy platforms. We identified a wavelength and fiber-type agnostic capability for measuring the quality of optical fibers, waveguides and devices with a resolution of 1 cm, which is a 30X improvement over current state-of-the-art. Fiber optic pathways today contain links at the board-level, backplane-level and box-to-box level. The box-to-box links traverse several bulk-head connectors. The improved resolution will allow aircraft and ship maintainers to isolate faults within the cable plant to a specific section of the pathway, reducing the time required for diagnostics. This technology will also aid in the development and maintenance of WDM networks, allowing isolation of optical discontinuity to the component level.