Optical fiber splice verification system

The splice verification system (10) of the present invention verifies the efficiency of an optical splice by measuring the scattered light escaping from the splice. Specifically, the preferred embodiment performs such scattered light measurement within a photodetection area which is substantially free of all ambient light. Furthermore, the verification system includes a reference power module (12) which, prior to creating an optical splice, measures the level of the optical signal being transmitted out of the end of an active fiber. The present invention then provides means to correlate the level gauged as a reference signal level relative to the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice. The ratio of these two measured light levels may then be used to determine whether the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice is acceptable given the particular constraints of the optical system in which the splice is employed.