US 12,449,468 B2
Enhanced resolution time-domain reflectometry
Samuel R. Connor, Apex, NC (US); Matteo Cocchini, New York, NY (US); Matthew Doyle, Chatfield, MN (US); and Stuart Brett Benefield, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/341,047.
Prior Publication US 2024/0426893 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. G01R 31/11 (2006.01); G01R 31/08 (2020.01)
CPC G01R 31/11 (2013.01) [G01R 31/085 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for performing enhanced resolution time-domain reflectometry, comprising:
obtaining a plurality of waveforms, wherein each of the plurality of waveforms are obtained by:
transmitting a first pulse on a transmission line;
transmitting a second pulse on the transmission line, where the second pulse is transmitted after the first pulse by a delay; and
capturing and measuring reflections of the transmitted pulses, wherein the delay corresponding to each of the plurality of waveforms is different;
identifying a discontinuity of the transmission line based at least in part on the plurality of waveforms;
based on a determination that the transmission line includes the discontinuity:
calculating third derivative curves for each of the plurality of waveforms; and
calculating a length of the discontinuity of the transmission line based at least in part on the third derivative curves; and
creating a notification indicating a location and the length of the discontinuity of the transmission line, wherein calculating the length of the discontinuity of the transmission line includes identifying a third derivative curve from the third derivative curves that has a minimum peak-to-peak amplitude in the location of the discontinuity, wherein the length of the discontinuity is calculated based on an associated delay of the identified third derivative curve.