×

Sub-sea fiber optic cable location apparatus with a plurality of transponder means

  • US 4,956,550 A
  • Filed: 01/13/1989
  • Issued: 09/11/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a sub-sea optical fiber system having a main optical fiber cable, an apparatus used in searching for location of the cable, comprising:

  • (a) means, disposed at a plurality of predetermined locations on said main optical fiber cable, each for tapping off a small portion of a light signal carried by said main optical fiber cable; and

    (b) a plurality of transponder means, each for radiating a signal, each being disposed on said main optical fiber cable at respective ones of said predetermined locations and each including(i) means for converting the tapped off small portion of the light signal into an electrical signal for activating said transponder means, and(ii) means, responsive to said electrical signal, for controlling the radiation of the signal from said transponder means, said control means being activated only upon receipt of a predetermined coded instruction in said tapped portion of the light signal whereby, of the plurality of transponder means disposed on said main optical fiber cable, only selected ones of the plurality of transponder means in a region of the cable being searched need be activated.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×