Optical fiber tap
First Claim
1. A method of tapping an optical fiber carrying a first optical signal therein, comprising the steps of:
- withdrawing a first part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a first location;
attenuating a second part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a second position located downstream from the first position; and
injecting a second optical signal into the fiber at a third position downstream from the first and second positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber tap which is especially useful as a node in a ring topology data processing system. The tap, which does not interrupt the physical continuity of the fiber, has an open position and a closed position. In the open position, a signal passing down the optical fiber passes through the tap without alteration. In the closed position, a signal passing down the optical fiber is extracted through a first bend which is put into the fiber by the tap; the extracted signal, or an electrical counterpart thereof, is processed and a counterpart of the extracted signal, or a new signal obtained by operating on the extracted signal, e.g. in a data processor, is injected into the fiber through a second bend which is put into the fiber by the tap.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of tapping an optical fiber carrying a first optical signal therein, comprising the steps of:
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withdrawing a first part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a first location; attenuating a second part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a second position located downstream from the first position; and injecting a second optical signal into the fiber at a third position downstream from the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for tapping an optical fiber carrying a first optical signal therein, comprising:
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means for withdrawing a first part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a first location; means for attenuating a second part of the first optical signal from the fiber at a second position located downstream from the first position; and means for injecting a second optical signal into the optical fiber at a third position located downstream from the first and second positions, the withdrawing means, attenuating means, and injecting means operating on a single optical fiber, the optical fiber comprising a glass core and a glass cladding surrounded by a buffer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A ring topology data system, comprising:
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an optical fiber disposed so as to form a ring network; a plurality of nodes attached to the networks, and each node including a tap, each tap including; means for withdrawing a first part of an original optical signal entering the node from the fiber at a first location, means for attenuating a second part the original optical signal from the fiber at a second position located downstream from the first position, and means for injecting another optical signal into the fiber at a third position located downstream from the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification