Optical shunt device

• US 5,133,031 A
• Filed: 02/22/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Du Pont Opto Electronics Kabushiki Kaisha (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.), Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Du Pont Opto Electronics Kabushiki Kaisha (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.), Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Toyohiro, Mukohara, Shouji, Tanaka, Toshiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Frank
• Application Number:
  US07/465,230
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 455/610, 455/612, 385/42, 385/44, 359/173, 359/188, 359/195
• US Class Current: 385/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/28 having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3562 Switch of the bypass type, i.e. enabling a change of path in a network, e.g. to bypass a failed element in the network
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/271 Combination of different networks, e.g. star and ring configuration in the same network or two ring networks interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/278 Bus-type networks

Abstract

An optical shunt device in which a pair of connecting ends (22, 23) for being connected to optical communication fiber sections (11) are divided into three systems. The first of the three systems is a passing-through light conduction path (19) through which light signals in two opposite directions are allowed to pass through between the connecting ends. The second of the three systems is a receiving light conduction path (20) having a first light-receiving end (20a) and a second light-receiving end (20b) each receiving a light signal from the connecting ends (22, 23). The third light path (21) has a first light-transmitting end (21a) and a second light-transmitting end (21b) each transmitting a light signal to the connecting ends. The optical shunt device also comprises a photo-electric conversion unit (B) including a light-receiving element (13) disposed at the first and second light-receiving ends (20a, 20b) for receiving a light signal from the first light-receiving end (20a) and the second light-receiving end (20b) of the second light path (20) and converting it into an electric signal, an amplifier circuit (14) for amplifying the electric signal from the light-receiving element (13), and a light-emitting element (17) disposed at the first and second light-transmitting ends (21a, 21b) for converting the electric signal into an optical signal to supply the optical signal to the first and second light-transmitting ends.

Claims

1. An optical shunt device in which a pair of connecting ends for being connected to optical communication fiber sections are divided into three systems;

the first of said three systems being a passing-through light conduction path through which light signals in two opposite directions are allowed to pass through between said connecting ends;

the second of said three systems being a receiving light conduction path having a first light-receiving end and a second light-receiving end each receiving a light signal from said connecting ends; and

a third light system having a first light-transmitting end and a second light-transmitting end each transmitting a light signal to said connecting ends; and

a photo-electric conversion unit including;

a light-receiving element disposed at said first and second light-receiving ends for receiving a light signal from said first light-receiving end and said second light-receiving end of said second light system and converting it into an electric signal;

an amplifier circuit for amplifying the electric signal from said light-receiving element; and

a light-emitting element disposed at said first and second light-transmitting ends for converting said electric signal into an optical signal to supply said optical signal to said first and second light-transmitting ends.

2. An optical shunt device having three connecting ends including a pair of connecting ends divided into three light conduction systems, and one connecting end divided into two light conduction systems, for being connected to optical communication fiber sections;

comprising;

a passing-through light conduction path through which light signals in two opposite directions are allowed to pass through between said connecting ends divided into said three systems;

a receiving light conduction path having a first light-receiving end and a second light-receiving end each receiving a light signal from said connecting ends divided into said three systems, said receiving light conduction path also having a third light-receiving end for receiving a light signal from one of said connecting ends divided into two systems;

a transmitting light conduction path having a first light-transmitting end and a second light-transmitting end each transmitting a light signal to two of said connecting ends divided into said three systems, said transmitting light conduction path also having a third light-transmitting end for transmitting a light signal to one of said connecting ends divided into said two systems; and

an energy conversion unit including;

a light-receiving element disposed at said first, second and third light-receiving ends for receiving a light signal from said fist, second and third light-receiving ends of said receiving light conduction path and converting it into an electric signal;

an amplifier circuit for amplifying the electric signal from said light-receiving element; and

a light-emitting element disposed at said first, second and third light-transmitting ends for converting said electric signal into an optical signal to supply said optical signal to said first, second and third light-transmitting ends.

3. An optical shunt device for connecting optical fiber sections, comprisig a light path unit and a photoelectric conversion unit;

said light path unit comprising;

a pair of connecting ends adapted to be optically connected between the optical fiber sections;

a first light path extending between said connecting ends and allowing a light signal to pass through in two directions between the optical fiber sections;

a second light path having a first light-receiving end and a second light-receiving end each receiving a light signal from said connecting ends; and

a third light path having a first light-transmitting end and a second light-transmitting end each transmitting a light signal to said connecting ends; and

said photo-electric conversion unit comprising;

a light-receiving element disposed at said first and second light-receiving ends for receiving a light signal from said fist light-receiving end and said second light-receiving end of said second light path and converting it into an electric signal;

an amplifier circuit for amplifying the electric signal from said light-receiving element; and

a light-emitting element disposed at said first and second light-transmitting ends for converting said electric signal into an optical signal to supply said optical signal to said first and second light-transmitting ends.