Wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler, communication station, and optical transmission system

• US 20010053011A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Imajo, Yoshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062

Abstract

A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler comprises an input port which inputs a first optical signal, a first optical coupler which divides the first optical signal input from the input port into a plurality of first optical signals, a plurality of input/output ports, each of which outputs one of the plurality of first optical signals divided by the first optical coupler and inputs a second optical signal, an output port which outputs the second optical signal, and a second optical coupler, provided between the input port and the first optical coupler or between the first optical coupler and the input/output ports, which provides the first optical signal to the input/output ports and the second optical signal to the output port.

Claims

1. A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler comprising:

an input port which inputs a first optical signal;

a first optical coupler which divides said first optical signal input from said input port into a plurality of first optical signals;

a plurality of input/output ports, each of which outputs one of said plurality of first optical signals divided by said first optical coupler and inputs a second optical signal;

an output port which outputs said second optical signal; and

a second optical coupler, provided between said input port and said first optical coupler or between said first optical coupler and said input/output ports, which provides said first optical signal to said input/output ports and said second optical signal to said output port.

2. A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler as claimed in

claim 1

having a plurality of said output ports and a plurality of said second optical couplers, each of which is provided between said first optical coupler and one of said input/output ports, wherein:

each of said second optical couplers provides one of said second optical signals to one of said plurality of output ports; and

each of said plurality of output ports outputs one of said second optical signals.

3. A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said second optical coupler is provided between said input port and said first optical coupler;

said first optical coupler further multiplexes a plurality of said second optical signals and provides said second optical signal to said second optical coupler; and

said second optical coupler provides said first optical signal input from said input port to said first optical coupler and provides said second optical signal multiplexed by said first optical coupler to said output port.

4. A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler as claimed in any of claims 1 through 3, wherein said second optical coupler is a wavelength division multiplex optical coupler that selects an optical signal, a wavelength of which has a prescribed relationship with a wavelength of said second optical signal, from optical signals input to said second optical coupler and outputs said selected optical signal to said output port.

5. A wavelength division multiplex optical star coupler as claimed in any of claims 1 through 4, wherein each of said input port, said input/output port, and said output port having an optical connector adapter that mounts an optical fiber in such a way as capable of attaching and removing said optical fiber.

6. A communication station comprising:

an electro-optical converter which inputs an electric signal and converts said electric signal to a first optical signal;

a first optical coupler which divides said first optical signal into a plurality of first optical signals;

a plurality of input/output ports, each of which outputs one of said plurality of first optical signals divided by said first optical coupler and inputs a second optical signal;

an output port which outputs said second optical signal;

a second optical coupler, provided between said electro-optical converter and said first optical coupler or between said first optical coupler and said input/output ports, which provides said first optical signal to said input/output ports and said second optical signal to said output port;

an opto-electric converter which converts said second optical signal output from said output port to a second electric signal; and

an electric signal output terminal which outputs said second electric signal.

7. A communication station as claimed in

claim 6

having:

a plurality of said output ports,

a plurality of said second optical couplers, each of which is provided between said first optical coupler and one of said input/output ports,

a plurality of said opto-electric converters, each of which is provided for one of a plurality of said output ports, and

an electric signal multiplexer which multiplexes a plurality of said second electric signals output from a plurality of said opto-electric converters and outputs said multiplexed second electric signal to said electric signal output terminal, wherein;

each of said second optical couplers provides one of said second optical signals to one of said plurality of output ports;

each of said plurality of output ports outputs one of said second optical signals; and

each of said plurality of opto-electric converters converts one of said second optical signals to said second electric signal.

8. A communication station as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein said second optical coupler is provided between said electro-optical converter and said first optical coupler;

said first optical coupler further multiplexes a plurality of said second optical signals and provides said second optical signal to said second optical coupler; and

said second optical coupler provides said first optical signal input from said electro-optical converter to said first optical coupler and provides said second optical signal multiplexed by said first optical coupler to said output port.

9. A communication station as claimed in any of claims 6 through 8, wherein said second optical coupler is a wavelength division multiplex optical coupler that selects an optical signal, which has a wavelength having a prescribed relationship with wavelength of said second optical signal, from optical signals input to said second optical coupler and outputs said selected optical signal to said output port.

10. A communication station as claimed in any of claims 6 through 9, wherein each of said input/output port and said output port having an optical connector adapter that mounts an optical fiber in such a way as capable of attaching and removing said optical fiber.

11. An optical transmission system comprising:

a main unit which inputs a first electric signal and outputs a plurality of first optical signals, and inputs a second optical signal and outputs a second electric signal;

a plurality of sub units, each of which inputs one of said plurality of first optical signals from said main unit and outputs a third electric signal, and inputs a fourth electric signal and provides said second optical signal to said main unit; and

a plurality of optical fibers, each of which connects said main unit and said plurality of sub units,

wherein said main unit has;

an electro-optical converter which inputs said first electric signal and converts said first electric signal to a first optical signal;

a first optical coupler which divides said first optical signal into a plurality of first optical signals;

a plurality of input/output ports, each of which outputs one of said plurality of first optical signals divided by said first optical coupler to one of said sub units through one of said optical fibers and inputs said second optical signal from one of said sub units through one of said optical fibers;

an output port which outputs said second optical signal;

a second optical coupler, provided between said electro-optical converter and said first optical coupler or between said first optical coupler and said input/output ports, which provides said first optical signal to said input/output ports and said second optical signal to said output port;

an opto-electric converter which converts said second optical signal output from said output port to a second electric signal; and

an electric signal output terminal which outputs said second electric signal.

12. An optical transmission system as claimed in

claim 11

having:

a plurality of said output ports,

a plurality of said second optical couplers, each of which is provided between said first optical coupler and one of said input/output ports,

a plurality of said opto-electric converters, each of which is provided for one of a plurality of said output ports, and

a electric signal multiplexer which multiplexes a plurality of said second electric signals output from a plurality of said opto-electric converters and outputs said multiplexed second electric signal to said electric signal output terminal, wherein;

each of said second optical couplers provides one of said second optical signals to one of said plurality of output ports;

each of said plurality of output ports outputs one of said second optical signals; and

each of said opto-electric converters converts one of said second optical signals to said second electric signal.

13. An optical transmission system as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein said second optical coupler is provided between said electro-optical converter and said first optical coupler;

said first optical coupler further multiplexes a plurality of said second optical signals and provides said second optical signal to said second optical coupler; and

said second optical coupler provides said first optical signal input from said electro-optical converter to said first optical coupler and provides said second optical signal multiplexed by said first optical coupler to said output port.

14. An optical transmission system as claimed in any of claims 11 through 13, wherein said second optical coupler is a wavelength division multiplex optical coupler that selects a optical signal, a wavelength of which has a prescribed relationship with a wavelength of said second optical signal, from optical signals input to said second optical coupler and outputs said selected optical signal to said output port.

15. An optical transmission system as claimed in any of claims 11 through 14, wherein said sub unit has:

a sub unit input/output terminal which inputs said first optical signal from said main unit through said optical fiber;

an opto-electric converter which inputs said first optical signal and converts said first optical signal to said third electric signal;

an antenna which outputs said third electric signal and inputs said fourth electric signal;

an electro-optical converter which converts said fourth electric signal to said second optical signal; and

a wavelength division multiplex optical coupler which provides said first optical signal to said opto-electric converter and said second optical signal to said sub unit input/output terminal.

16. An optical transmission system as claimed in any of claims 11 through 15, wherein each of said input/output port and said output port having an optical connector adapter that mounts an optical fiber in such a way as capable of attaching and removing said optical fiber.