Fiber optic multiplexer and demultiplexer system

• US 5,680,239 A
• Filed: 03/14/1994
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kleinknecht Electric Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pro-Optical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Khan, Farooq, Liva, Michael, Angermund, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US08/213,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 359/135, 359/138, 359/139, 359/143, 359/144, 359/168, 359/115, 359/118
• US Class Current: 398/98
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence

Abstract

A fiber optic multiplexer and demultiplexer system uses programmable controllers to coordinate the acquisition of switch and sensor state information, to control fiber optic sources, to control fiber optic detectors, to format output, and to perform all timing functions and error correction. The system includes a multiplexer which has an input interface that presents groups of one-bit state information to a storage latch, the number of latches depends on the number of states to be transmitted. A programmable controller selects each latch, reads the state information and drives an optical source to send the information in a multiplexed format. The system also includes a demultiplexer which has a programmable controller that monitors an optical detector for an incoming optical signal. The controller decodes the signal, checks the data for errors, and sends the data to the proper output storage latch.

Claims

1. An optical multiplexer and demultiplexer system comprising:

a plurality of individual optical channels each having an optical input/output interface coupled to an optical sensor circuit via an optical fiber pair, such that each sensing circuit receives an optical signal from the optical output and provides sensing data to the associated optical input by either permitting or not permitting the return of at least a portion of the optical signal;

means for storing said sensing data;

a controller for selectively accessing said stored data and for electrically multiplexing said data into a time division multiplexed signal, said controller is electrically coupled to said sensing circuits;

light source means, responsive to said controller, for optically transmitting said multiplexed signal;

means for optically receiving said optical multiplexed signal and converting said optical multiplexed signal into an electrical signal; and

means for demultiplexing said electrical signal to provide a plurality of electrical data signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical sensor circuit comprises a single bit optical switch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said storing means comprises a plurality of storage latches and wherein said system further comprises a multiple optical circuit driver for generating said optical signal for said optical outputs, for receiving said sensing data, and for providing an output to said storing means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said light source means optically transmits said optical multiplexed signal over an optical fiber.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said time division multiplexed signal includes a series of repeating frames, each said frame having at least a start pulse, a latch address identifier, and data bits relating to the states of said optical sensor circuits.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said start pulse, said latch address identifier, and said data bits are transmitted twice for error detection.

7. An optical multiplexer and demultiplexer system comprising:

a plurality of individual optical channels each having an optical input/output interface for connection to an optical sensor circuit such that said sensor circuit provides single bit optical sensing data to the input/output interface;

means for storing said sensing data;

a controller for selectively processing said stored data and for multiplexing said data into a time division multiplexed signal;

light source means, responsive to said controller, for optically transmitting said multiplexed signal;

means for optically receiving and converting said optical multiplexed signal into an electrical signal; and

means for demultiplexing said electrical signal to provide a plurality of electrical data signals.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said sensor circuit comprises a single bit optical switch.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein each said optical input/output interface is connected to said sensor circuit via an optical fiber pair.