The Fibolocator is an innovative device for spatially resolving and characterizing reflective events in optical fibers. Correlation Optical Time Domain Reflectometry is the principle behind it. Like standard OTDR it is based on analyzing backscatter but it uses cw laser sources.There are many different wavelength possibilities when using cw lasers, as the spectral width can also be customized. This enables the Fibolocator 80 for interrogation of Bragg Grating Fiber Sensors at the exact wavelength of a FBG or at the slope of FBG that have a somewhat wider spectral width. Other applications are for instance access surveillance and other security related applications or certain fiber sensors that make use of loss within optical fibers.
The Fibolocator 2500 is a new, high resolution option (8cm spatial resolution). It was specifically designed to determin the fiber length in QA and production with very high resolution and affordable cost. New applications in the fiber sensing business are expected.
The resolution is not limited by the measurement span for both device types and it is also possible to monitor (zoom-in) certain parts of the fiber because of the correlation principle. Technical advantages other than the high flexibility using customized test light sources can be observed in noisy fibers that may blind pulse OTDR. The use of pin-photo diodes avoides the so called „dead zone" with these type of OTDR.
The Fibolocator is an OEM-module controlled through RS-232 or USB interfaces. This allows very competetive cost and a high flexibility in the different applications of system integrators. The size is comparable to that of a hard disc drive.
For more information contact Fibotec Fiberoptics GmbH (info@fibotec.com). Further contact information and an application note is available at www.fibotec.com
