US 12,285,783 B2
Monitoring air pressure and flow in a fiber cleaning device
Gordon MacKay, Seattle, WA (US); Kevin Cassady, Monroe, WA (US); Peter Kriofske, Seattle, WA (US); William Shawn Rosenau, Everett, WA (US); and Brad Basler, Everett, WA (US)
Assigned to VIAVI Solutions Inc., Chandler, AZ (US)
Filed by VIAVI Solutions Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/884,557.
Prior Publication US 2021/0370359 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B08B 5/02 (2006.01); B08B 3/08 (2006.01); B08B 5/04 (2006.01); B08B 13/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/08 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC B08B 5/02 (2013.01) [B08B 3/08 (2013.01); B08B 5/04 (2013.01); B08B 13/00 (2013.01); G01N 15/0826 (2013.01); G02B 6/3866 (2013.01); B08B 2240/02 (2013.01); G01N 2015/084 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber, a first pressure signal from a first particular pressure sensor of a plurality of pressure sensors,
wherein the device includes a pneumatic circuit comprising:
a pressure supply port for receiving an input air flow,
a pressure output port for providing an output air flow for cleaning the end face of the optical fiber,
a plurality of circuit components, comprising:
an input air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure supply port,
a pressure regulator configured to receive the input air flow from the input air filter and regulate a pressure of the input air flow, and
an output air filter configured to receive the input air flow from the pressure regulator, and
a plurality of pressure sensors, comprising:
a first pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, the pressure supply port and a first side of the input air filter,
a second pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the input air filter, opposite of the first side of the input air filter, and a first side of the pressure regulator,
a third pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the pressure regulator opposite, opposite of the first side of the pressure regulator, and a first side of the output air filter, and
a fourth pressure sensor connected to, and positioned between, a second side of the output air filter, opposite of the first side of the output air filter, and the pressure output port;
receiving, by the device, a second pressure signal from a second particular pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors;
determining, by the device and based on the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal, whether a pressure difference across a particular circuit component, of the plurality of circuit components, satisfies a threshold; and
performing, by the device and based on whether the pressure difference across the particular circuit component satisfies the threshold, one or more actions associated with correcting a problem associated with the device,
wherein performing the one or more actions comprises:
causing one or more valves in the pneumatic circuit to close,
causing the one or more valves to open, or
causing the pressure regulator in the pneumatic circuit to be adjusted.