Optical communication network

• US 5,684,899 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ota, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/766,931
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 385/24, 385/46, 385/37, 385/14, 385/49, 385/89, 359/127-131
• US Class Current: 385/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12164 Multiplexing; Demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

In an optical communication network in which a plural number of nodes are connected to each bidirectional broadcasting bus, and a node communicates with another using the packets, or an optical communication network in which a plural number of nodes are connected to a bidirectional broadcasting bus, and a node communicates with another using the packets, each node comprises carrier sensing means for sensing a carrier on the broadcasting bus, and jamming detecting means for detecting a jamming state of received signals.

Claims

1. A wavelength multiplexing transceiver for wavelength multiplexing in an optical communication network comprising:

first and second slab waveguides;

a first optical waveguide for supplying an output light from said first slab waveguide to an input/output optical fiber;

a second optical waveguide for supplying an incident light from said input/output optical fiber to said second slab waveguide;

a optical coupler for branching an optical path of said input/output optical fiber to said first and second optical waveguides;

a laser array optically coupled to one end of said first slab waveguide, to the other end of which said optical coupler is coupled; and

a light receiving element array optically couple to one end of said second slab waveguide, to the other end of which said optical coupler is coupled,

said first and second slab waveguides, first optical waveguide, second optical waveguide, and optical coupler being commonly formed on a substrate.

2. A wavelength multiplexing transceiver comprising:

a first group of optical waveguides for coupling a laser array and a first slab waveguide type wavelength multiplexer;

a first optical coupler for coupling said first slab waveguide type wavelength multiplexer, an output waveguide, and at least one of said first group of optical waveguides;

a second optical coupler for coupling said output waveguide, an input waveguide, and an input/output optical fiber, type wavelength multiplexer; and

a light receiving element array optically coupled to said second slab waveguide type wavelength multiplexer.

3. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 2 wherein said first and second slab waveguide type wavelength multiplexers and said first and second optical couplers are formed commonly on a substrate.

4. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 3 wherein said substrate comprises first and second thin layers in which optical waveguides connected to different waveguide type wavelength multiplexers are respectively formed.

5. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 4 wherein said laser array and light receiving element array are integrally formed on said substrate.

6. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 2 wherein said first and second slab waveguide type wavelength multiplexers are arranged in directions opposite to each other.

7. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 2, wherein at least one optical amplifier is provided to the optical path between said second optical coupler and said light receiving element array.

8. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 2, further comprising a reflecting device coupled to an end of said first slab waveguide opposite said first group of optical waveguides.

9. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 8, wherein said reflecting device is a Fresnel reflecting mirror.

10. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 8, wherein said reflecting device includes concave gratings.

11. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 10, wherein said concave gratings are saw-tooth gratings arranged in a concave shape.

12. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 2, further comprising a reflecting device coupled to an end of said second slab waveguide opposite said input waveguide.

13. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 10, wherein said reflecting device is a Fresnel reflecting mirror.

14. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 10, wherein said reflecting device includes concave gratings.

15. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 12, wherein said concave gratings are saw-tooth gratings arranged in a concave shape.

16. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 4, wherein said input/output optical fiber is multimode, and said first and said second thin layers are plastic thin films.

17. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 3, wherein said substrate is a semiconductor material.

18. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 6, further comprising a first reflecting device coupled to an end of said first slab waveguide and a second reflecting device coupled to an end of said second slab waveguide opposite said first reflecting device.

19. The wavelength multiplexing transceiver according to claim 3, wherein a cross-section of said substrate is shaped like a trapezoid.