Optical communication system
First Claim
1. An optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication between a central location and a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said optical transmission system comprisinga central location structure includingadjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment;
- a plurality of M modulating means, responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave outputs and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and
a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location; and
each remote location of said plurality of N remote locations comprisesdetection means for recovering the associated modulating signal of the associated central location information source from said output transmission signal; and
modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from a remote location information source for remodulating said output transmission signal to form said return information signal transmitted to said central location over said associated optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a bidirectional optical communication system which is capable of sharing a single light source, located at a central communication point, among a large plurality of users. Additionally, the system, as defined in accordance with the present invention, requires only one single mode fiber between each user and the central location to support its bidirectional communication. The system of the present invention also has the capabilities to control the signal power sent to each subscriber, send more than one signal to each subscriber (voice and/or data and video), and switch to a back-up light source upon failure of the primary light source.
70 Citations
72 Claims
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1. An optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication between a central location and a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said optical transmission system comprising
a central location structure including adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; -
a plurality of M modulating means, responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave outputs and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location; and each remote location of said plurality of N remote locations comprises detection means for recovering the associated modulating signal of the associated central location information source from said output transmission signal; and modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from a remote location information source for remodulating said output transmission signal to form said return information signal transmitted to said central location over said associated optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A central location of an optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication with a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said central location comprising
adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; -
a plurality of M modulating means responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave output signals of said power dividing means and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A remote location of an optical communication system capable of receiving information from and transmitting information to a central location over a single optical fiber, operable with a single light source located at said central location and shared among a plurality of remote locations, said remote locations comprising
detection means for recovering an information signal from a central location transmitted signal; - and
modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from an information source for remodulating said central location transmitted signal to form a return information signal transmitted over said single optical fiber to said central location. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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Specification