Optimized guided wave communication system
First Claim
1. A guided wave communication system or network associated with a plurality of users, the system or network comprising:
- a guiding means (16) including a first end for propagating signal waves introduced into the first end thereof; and
a plurality of directional couplers (17) disposed in a spaced apart relationship along the guiding means, each coupler (a) being separately associated with at least one user of the system or network, and (b) being arranged with a separate coupling coefficient for coupling out from the signal power arriving at the coupler in the guiding means only a minimal signal power level which is necessary to provide a signal with a predetermined bit error rate to the at least one user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an optimized guided wave microwave or lightwave communication system or network wherein a plurality of directional couplers (14, 17) (a) are disposed along a bus-like wave guiding means (13, 16), and (b) include separate coupling coefficients which are optimized. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guided wave communication system or network including, for example, a head-end unit (15) which is coupled to one end of a bus-like wave guiding means. Separate directional couplers are disposed along the wave guiding means to couple lightwave or microwave signals either (a) into the bus-like wave guiding means (13) from separate transmitters (11), or (b) from a bus-like wave guiding means (16) to separate receivers (12). The directional couplers disposed along a guiding means each include a separate coupling coefficient which is optimized to only couple enough of the lightwave or microwave energy onto or from the associated guiding means so that either (a) the head-end unit receives a minimal signal power level from each transmitter or (b) the receivers receive a minimal signal power level from the head-end unit, respectively, to provide a predetermined bit error rate regardless of their distance from the head-end unit along the associated wave guiding means.
234 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A guided wave communication system or network associated with a plurality of users, the system or network comprising:
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a guiding means (16) including a first end for propagating signal waves introduced into the first end thereof; and a plurality of directional couplers (17) disposed in a spaced apart relationship along the guiding means, each coupler (a) being separately associated with at least one user of the system or network, and (b) being arranged with a separate coupling coefficient for coupling out from the signal power arriving at the coupler in the guiding means only a minimal signal power level which is necessary to provide a signal with a predetermined bit error rate to the at least one user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A guided wave communication system or network associated with a plurality of users, the system or network comprising:
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a guiding means (13) including a first end for propagating signal waves from the plurality of users to the first end thereof; and a plurality of directional couplers (14) disposed in a spaced apart relationship along the guiding means, each coupler (a) being separately associated with at least one of the plurality of users, and (b) being arranged with a separate coupling coefficient for coupling a separate selected portion of the power of a signal transmitted by the associated at least one user into the guiding means such that a predetermined signal power level is delivered to the first end of the guiding means which is only of a minimal power level to provide a predetermined bit error rate from each of the plurality of users regardless of the number of couplers disposed between a user'"'"'s associated coupler and the first end of the guiding means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification