Optical communication system and remote sensor interrogation
First Claim
1. A sensing and communication system comprising:
- an optical receiver for receiving downstream optical signals and for converting the downstream optical signals to downstream electrical signals;
an optical transducer for impressing information in an upstream data signal onto upstream optical signals;
at least one sensor responsive to an external stimulus for providing sensor information signals, said external stimulus being unrelated to functional operation of the system; and
a processor for receiving the downstream electrical signals and for establishing communication channels to at least one communication terminal providing communication information signals, and to the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one terminal and the at least one sensor provide the communication information signals and the sensor information signals, respectively, to the processor which forwards the information signals to the optical transducer as the upstream data signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing system including an optical receiver for receiving downstream optical signals and for converting the downstream optical signals to downstream electrical signals. An optical transducer impresses information in an upstream data signal onto upstream optical signals. At least one sensor responsive to an external stimulus provides sensor information signals. A processor receives the downstream electrical signals and establishes communication channels to at least one communication terminal providing communication information signals, and to the at least one sensor. The at least one terminal and the at least one sensor provide the communication and sensor information signals, respectively, to the processor which forwards the information signals to the optical transducer as the upstream data signal.
60 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A sensing and communication system comprising:
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an optical receiver for receiving downstream optical signals and for converting the downstream optical signals to downstream electrical signals; an optical transducer for impressing information in an upstream data signal onto upstream optical signals; at least one sensor responsive to an external stimulus for providing sensor information signals, said external stimulus being unrelated to functional operation of the system; and a processor for receiving the downstream electrical signals and for establishing communication channels to at least one communication terminal providing communication information signals, and to the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one terminal and the at least one sensor provide the communication information signals and the sensor information signals, respectively, to the processor which forwards the information signals to the optical transducer as the upstream data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sensing system comprising:
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an optical coupler for receiving at least a portion of a downstream optical signal and for providing a downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and a downstream communication information signal; a communication device for receiving the downstream communication information signal and for providing an upstream communication information signal; at least one sensor responsive to an external stimulus for providing sensor information signals; an optical signal modification device for receiving the downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and for modifying at least a portion of it to provide an upstream sensed signal in response to the sensor information signals; and an upstream optical coupler for combining the upstream communication information signal and the upstream sensed signal into a composite upstream optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A sensing system comprising:
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an optical coupler for receiving at least a portion of a downstream optical signal and for providing a downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and a downstream communication information signal; a communication device for receiving the downstream communication information signal and for providing an upstream communication information signal; an optical signal modification device for receiving the downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and for modifying at least a portion of it to provide an upstream sensed signal in response to an external stimulus; and an upstream optical coupler for combining the upstream communication information signal and the upstream sensed signal to form a composite upstream optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An optical reporting technique comprising the steps of:
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receiving downstream optical signals and converting them to downstream electrical signals; providing sensor information signals from a sensor responsive to an external stimulus; receiving the downstream electrical signals and establishing communication channels to at least one communication terminal that provides communication information signals, and establishing a communication channel with the sensor; and providing the communication information signals and the sensor information signals as an upstream data signal to be impressed onto an upstream optical signal.
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35. An optical reporting technique comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least a portion of a downstream optical signal and providing a downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and downstream communication information signal; receiving the downstream communication information signal and providing an upstream communication information signal; providing a sensor information signal in response to an external stimulus; modifying the downstream optical sensor interrogation signal in response to the sensor information signal to provide an upstream sensed signal; and combining the upstream communication information signal and the upstream sensed signal.
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36. An optical reporting technique comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least a portion of a downstream optical signal and providing a downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and a downstream communication information signal; receiving the downstream communication information and providing an upstream communication information signal; receiving the downstream optical sensor interrogation signal and modifying at least a portion of it to provide an upstream sensed signal in response to an external stimulus; and combining the communication information signal and the upstream sensed signal.
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Specification