Single wavelength bidirectional optical fiber communication link
First Claim
1. A bidirectional communication link comprising:
- an optical fiber having a first and a second end;
first means for launching a first optical carrier of a first wavelength onto said fiber at said first end thereof, said first launching means including means for impressing a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum upon said first carrier;
second means for launching a second optical carrier of said first wavelength onto said fiber at said second end thereof, said second launching means including means for impressing upon said second carrier a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping said first spectrum;
first receiver means, coupled to said second end of said fiber, for extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; and
second receiver means, coupled to said first end of said fiber, for extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier.
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Abstract
A single wavelength bidirectional communication link. The bidirectional communication link (100) includes an optical fiber (160) having a first and a second end. The present invention includes a first arrangement (260) for launching a first optical carrier of a first wavelength onto the optical fiber (160) at the first end thereof. Additionally, the first launching arrangement (260) impresses a first modulating signal having a frequency confined to a first frequency spectrum upon the first carrier. The inventive communication link (100) further includes a second arrangement (270) for launching a second optical carrier of the first wavelength onto the optical fiber (160) at the second end thereof. The second launching arrangement (270) also impresses a second modulating signal having a frequency confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping the first spectrum upon the second carrier. In addition, the present invention includes a first receiver (540), coupled to the second end of the optical fiber (160), for extracting the first modulating signal from the first optical carrier. A second receiver (480), coupled to the first end of the optical fiber (160), extracts the second modulating signal from the second optical carrier.
31 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A bidirectional communication link comprising:
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an optical fiber having a first and a second end; first means for launching a first optical carrier of a first wavelength onto said fiber at said first end thereof, said first launching means including means for impressing a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum upon said first carrier; second means for launching a second optical carrier of said first wavelength onto said fiber at said second end thereof, said second launching means including means for impressing upon said second carrier a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping said first spectrum; first receiver means, coupled to said second end of said fiber, for extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; and second receiver means, coupled to said first end of said fiber, for extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A bidirectional communication link comprising:
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an optical fiber having a first and a second end; first transmitter means for generating a first optical carrier of a first wavelength; first modulator means for modulating said first optical carrier with a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum; second transmitter means for generating a second optical carrier at said first wavelength; second modulator means for modulating said second optical carrier with a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping said first frequency spectrum; first receiver means for extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; second receiver means for extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier; first coupling means for coupling said first transmitter means and said second receiver means to said first end of said optical fiber; and second coupling means for coupling said second transmitter means and said first receiver means to said second end of said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. In a system including a vehicle, a control station, and an optical fiber therebetween, a bidirectional communication link comprising:
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bobbin means for coupling a first end of said optical fiber to said vehicle; first means, included within said vehicle, for launching a first optical carrier of a first wavelength onto said fiber, said first launching means including means for impressing a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum upon said first carrier; second means, included within said control station, for launching a second optical carrier of said first wavelength onto said fiber at a second end thereof, said second launching means including means for impressing upon said second carrier a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping said first spectrum; first receiver means, included within said vehicle, for extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; and second receiver means, included within said control station, for extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier.
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7. In a system including a vehicle, a control station, and an optical fiber therebetween, a bidirectional communication link comprising:
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bobbin means for coupling a first end of said optical fiber to said vehicle; first transmitter means, included within said vehicle, for generating a first optical carrier of a first wavelength; first modulator means for modulating said first optical carrier with a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum; second transmitter means, included within said control station, for generating a second optical carrier at said first wavelength; second modulator means for modulating said second optical carrier with a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum not overlapping said first frequency spectrum; first receiver means, included within said control station, for extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; second receiver means, included within said vehicle, for extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier; first coupling means for coupling said first transmitter means and said second receiver means to said bobbin means; and second coupling means for coupling said second transmitter means and said first receiver means to a second end of said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of contemporaneously transmitting signals having optical carriers of a common wavelength along an optical fiber comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a first optical carrier of a first wavelength; b) modulating said first optical carrier with a first modulating signal confined to a first frequency spectrum; c) launching said modulated optical carrier onto said optical fiber at a first end thereof; d) generating a second optical carrier at said first wavelength; e) modulating said second optical carrier with a second modulating signal confined to a second frequency spectrum f) launching said second modulated optical carrier onto said optical fiber at a second end thereof; g) extracting said first modulating signal from said first optical carrier; h) extracting said second modulating signal from said second optical carrier. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification