Optical sensor/actuator communication system with common control site independently responding to inputs from sensors and controlling associated actuators
First Claim
1. An optical communications system comprising:
- a head-end station;
an optical fibre network; and
a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators, each actuator being local to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of sensors, the sensors and actuators being arranged to communicate data via the network at a plurality of different wavelengths characteristic of different respective sensors and actuators;
the head-end station including;
an optical source;
means for outputting an optical signal from the source onto the network;
means for detecting narrowband components of the optical signal modulated by the sensors and returned via the network to the head-end station;
optical modulator means for selectively modulating different narrowband optical signals and means for outputting the resulting modulated signals onto the network for transmission to the actuators; and
control means responsive to incoming data carried by the detected narrowband components and arranged to output outgoing data to the optical modulator means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical communication system includes a head-end station, an optical fibre network and a number or sensors and actuators connected via the network to the head-end station. The head-end station includes one or more broadband sources and is arranged to output a broadband signal onto the network. The sensors modulate the broadband signal received from the head-end station and return narrowband components of the signal via the network to the head-end. There the different narrowband components are detected, for example using a demultiplexer and the resulting signals processed by control electronics. The head-end station also includes an optical circuit arranged to split a signal from a broadband source into different narrowband components. Electro-optic modulators (FOM) modulate the different narrowband components and the resulting narrowband signals are output onto the fibre network and transmitted to the actuators. The electro-optic modulators (FOM) are operated by the control electronics.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical communications system comprising:
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a head-end station; an optical fibre network; and a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators, each actuator being local to and associated with a respective one of the plurality of sensors, the sensors and actuators being arranged to communicate data via the network at a plurality of different wavelengths characteristic of different respective sensors and actuators; the head-end station including; an optical source; means for outputting an optical signal from the source onto the network; means for detecting narrowband components of the optical signal modulated by the sensors and returned via the network to the head-end station; optical modulator means for selectively modulating different narrowband optical signals and means for outputting the resulting modulated signals onto the network for transmission to the actuators; and control means responsive to incoming data carried by the detected narrowband components and arranged to output outgoing data to the optical modulator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A head-end station for use in an optical communications system, the head-end station comprising:
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an optical source; means for outputting an optical signal from the source onto an optical fibre network; means for detecting narrowband components of the optical signal modulated by sensors and returned via the network; optical modulator means for selectively modulating different narrowband optical signals and means for outputting the resulting modulated signals onto the network for transmission to activators; and control means responsive to incoming data carried by the detected narrowband components and arranged to output outgoing data to the optical modulator means. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An optical communications system comprising:
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a head-end station; an optical fibre network; and a plurality of sensors arranged to communicate data via the network; the head-end station including means for outputting an optical signal onto the network and means for detecting narrowband optical signals returned from the sensors; branches of the network extending to respective sensors including fibre overlay modulators arranged to modulate an optical signal in the branch in accordance with the output of the corresponding sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification