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The present invention relates to a system and method for in situ inspection of optical ports for occlusions that might impede an optical signal. The present invention utilizes a mini-borescope of the type having a borescope insertion tube of less that two millimeters in diameter. The mini-borescope

The present invention relates to a system and method for in situ inspection of optical ports for occlusions that might impede an optical signal. The present invention utilizes a mini-borescope of the type having a borescope insertion tube of less that two millimeters in diameter. The mini-borescope may utilize a video camera for capturing images of the target and adjustably magnifies the target image for display. In addition, one of a plurality of component type borescope-to-optical port adapters is coupled to the mini-borescope insertion tube. Each particular type borescope-to-optical port adapter allows the insertion tube to be inserted and aligned to a corresponding type of optical component, for instance if the BOPA is an SC-type male connector, then the insertion tube will be readily accepted by an SC-type female adapter. Also included in the BOPA is a protective sleeve that surrounds a portion of the mini-borescope insertion tube. The protective sleeve provides the insertion tube with added rigidity, thereby lessening the likelihood of accidentally bending the tube during insertion. BOPAs may also cooperate with component shutter systems for actuating protective shutters during engagement of the BOPA, thereby exposing the coupling surface without manual intervention.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for visually inspecting optical component comprising:a borescope, said borescope having a borescope insertion tube and an optical lens for viewing a target; andborescope insertion tube adapter for adapting the borescope insertion tube to an optical component to be inspected. 2. The devic

1. A device for visually inspecting optical component comprising:a borescope, said borescope having a borescope insertion tube and an optical lens for viewing a target; andborescope insertion tube adapter for adapting the borescope insertion tube to an optical component to be inspected. 2. The device recited in claim 1 above, wherein the borescope insertion tube adapter further comprises:an adapter body, said adapter body being compatible for mating with the optical component to be inspected. 3. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the borescope insertion tube adapter secures the borescope insertion tube at a predetermined position within the adapter body. 4. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the predetermined position within the adapter body is within an effective focal distance for the borescope. 5. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the borescope insertion tube adapter further comprises:a protective sleeve disposed between said borescope insertion tube and said adapter body. 6. The device recited in claim 5 above, wherein the protective sleeve further comprises:a lock for securing the protective sleeve to the borescope insertion tube. 7. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the adapter body is one of SC, ST, FC, E2000, LC, LX, MU, MT component types. 8. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the adapter body cooperates with a shutter on the optical component to be inspected. 9. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the adapter body cooperates automatically actuating a shutter on the optical component to be inspected simultaneously during insertion to said optical component to be inspected. 10. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the borescope further comprises:a video camera for capturing images of a target on the optical component to be inspected. 11. The device recited in claim 6 above, wherein the borescope further comprises:a video camera for capturing images of a target on the optical component to be inspected. 12. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the borescope further comprises:a light emitter for illuminating a target on the optical component to be inspected. 13. The device recited in claim 11 above, wherein the borescope further comprises:a monitor for displaying images of the target on the optical component to be inspected. 14. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the adapter body is configured such that said borescope insertion tube adapter is maneuverable while mated with the optical component to be inspected, whereby the position of the optical lens is adjustable. 15. The device recited in claim 2 above, wherein the optical component to be inspected is one of a MU, MT, LC and LX type configured on a high density optical port. 16. The device recited in claim 2 above, the adapter body having an exterior body dimension and the optical component to be inspected having an interior component dimension, wherein an annular space is formed between the adapter body and the optical component, a magnitude of said annular space being approximately equivalent to the difference between the exterior body dimension and the interior component dimension. 17. The device recited in claim 16 above, the magnitude of said annular space being sufficient for manipulating the adapter body within the optical component, thereby redirecting a viewing axis onto multiple targets. 18. The device recited in claim 17 above, wherein the optical component is a matrix adapter and the target portion and the second target portion are first and second optical fibers in a plurality of optical fibers connected to said matrix adapter. 19. A method for implementing a borescope for visually inspecting optical component, said borescope having a borescope insertion tube coupled to an adapter body and an optical lens received therein, said optical lens for viewing a target portion on an optical component comprising:engaging the adapter body to the optical component with the target portion to be inspected; andvisualizing the target portion of said optical component through said borescope. 20. The method recited in claim 19 above, wherein engaging the borescope insertion tube adapter to the optical component further comprises coupling the borescope insertion tube adapter to the optical component. 21. The method recited in claim 20 above, wherein prior to inserting the borescope insertion tube adapter into the optical component, the method further comprises:securing the adapter body to the borescope insertion tube at a predetermined position within the adapter body; andsecuring the borescope insertion tube at a predetermined position within the adapter body. 22. The method recited in claim 20 above, wherein the predetermined position within the adapter body is within an effective focal distance for the borescope. 23. The method recited in claim 20 above further comprises:disposing a protective sleeve between said borescope insertion tube and said adapter body. 24. The method recited in claim 23 above further comprises:locking the protective sleeve to the borescope insertion tube. 25. The method recited in claim 20 above, wherein the adapter body is one of SC, ST, FC, E2000, LC, LX, MU, MT component types. 26. The method recited in claim 20 above, wherein coupling the borescope insertion tube adapter to the optical component further comprises:operating a shutter on the optical component to be inspected. 27. The method recited in claim 26 above, wherein operating a shutter on the optical component to be inspected further comprises:actuating a shutter on the optical component to be inspected simultaneously during insertion to said optical component to be inspected. 28. The method recited in claim 20 above further comprises:capturing images of the target portion of said optical component to be inspected. 29. The method recited in claim 24 above, wherein the borescope further comprises:a video camera for capturing images of a target on the optical component to be inspected. 30. The device recited in claim 20 above further comprises:illuminating the target portion of said optical component to be inspected. 31. The method recited in claim 29 above further comprises:viewing an image of the target portion of the optical component to be inspected. 32. The method recited in claim 20 further comprises:maneuvering the adapter body while engaged with the optical component to be inspected. 33. The method recited in claim 20 above, wherein the optical component to be inspected is one of a MU, MT, LC and LX type configured on a high density optical port. 34. The method recited in claim 19 above, the adapter body having an exterior body dimension and the optical component to be inspected having an interior component dimension, wherein an annular space is formed between the adapter body and the optical component, a magnitude of said annular space being approximately equivalent to the difference between the exterior body dimension and the interior component dimension, the method further comprising:visualizing a second target portion by manipulating the adapter body within the optical component, thereby redirecting a viewing axis onto the second target portion. 35. The method recited in claim 34 above, wherein the optical component is a matrix adapter and the target portion and the second target portion are first and second optical fibers in a plurality of optical fibers connected to said matrix adapter.