Abstract

It is necessary to obtain an accurate database about connection conditions between adjacent fibers on real time for constructing and managing the optical fiber networks with complicated branches. Recently, some fiber identification methods have been proposed. One is using optical connectors with semiconductor memory devices.¹ Another is measuring birefringence from polarization state of Rayleigh backscattered light.² In this paper, we present a new identification method that uses identification-numbered (ID-numbered) fiber devices. The ID-numbered fiber devices consist of a combination of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) having various reflection wavelengths.

© 1996 Optical Society of America