Integrated optical transmitter and receiver module

• US 6,366,724 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited), IMZ Fertigungs-Und Vertriebsgesellschaft Fur Dentale Technologie mbH
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Jennings, Mark Richard, Leone, Frank Salvatore, Pimpinella, Richard Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US09/432,057
• Time in Patent Office: 885 Days
• Field of Search: 385/48, 372/38, 372/27, 372/6, 372/20, 359/110
• US Class Current: 385/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/00 Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication

Abstract

The present invention is a module for use in an optical fiber administration system, or a dedicated system. The module contains both an optical transmitter and an optical monitor, wherein the module transmits a test signal over a fiber optic network and receives back that same signal through a different fiber in the fiber optic network. By both sending and receiving the test signal, the integrity of different paths in the optical fiber network can be determined in a space efficient manner. The module contains a microprocessor. The microprocessor reads data regarding the test signal as it is transmitted and that same test signal as it is received. This data may be read to an external shelf controller. The shelf controller utilizes the data from the microprocessor in the analysis of fiber optic loop conditions as well as the laser itself.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a laser for providing an optical output signal that is transmitted through an optical output port;

a first optical monitor for monitoring said optical output signal;

a second optical monitor for monitoring an incoming optical signal received through an optical input port; and

a microprocessor connected to both said first optical monitor and said second optical monitor.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further including a backface monitor circuit for monitoring said output signal produced from said laser, said backface monitor circuit being coupled to said microprocessor.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further including an optical tap for tapping a portion of said optical output signal as said optical output signal travels from said laser to said optical output port.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said tap couples said portion of said optical output signal to said first optical monitor.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first optical monitor produces a first analog electrical signal that corresponds to said optical output signal, and said second optical monitor produces a second analog electrical signal that corresponds to the incoming optical signal.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, further including logarithmic amplifiers, coupled to said first optical monitor and said second optical monitor for linearizing said first analog electrical signal and said second analog electrical signal, respectively.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, further including analog-to-digital converters, coupled to said logarithmic amplifiers and said microprocessor, wherein said analog-to-digital converters convert said first analog electrical signal and said second analog electrical signals into digital signals that are read by said microprocessor.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, further including an electrical connector port, wherein said electrical connector port is coupled to said microprocessor.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, further including manual controls wherein said manual controls are coupled directly to said electrical connector port.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein output power levels of said laser are adjustable as selected by said microprocessor.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further including a multiplexer circuit coupled to said microprocessor for selecting one of a number of inputs to control the output of said laser.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said microprocessor and one input of said multiplexer for controlling output power levels of said laser.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said inputs are selected from the group comprising test signal generator, digital to analog converter, full power indicator and external input.

14. The assembly of claim 1, further including a memory element for storing identity parameters, wherein said transmitter module outputs said identity parameters upon being powered.

15. In a fiber administration system having a plurality of different modules, a combined transmission and monitoring module comprising:

a laser for producing an optical signal that is emitted out of an optical output port;

a first optical detector that detects an optical signal received through an optical input port; and

a microprocessor that monitors said optical signal produced by said laser and the optical signal detected by said first optical detector.

16. The module according to claim 15, further including an optical monitor for monitoring said optical signal produced by said laser.

17. The module according to claim 16, wherein said microprocessor adjusts said laser in response to said optical signal detected by said optical monitor.

18. The module according to claim 17, further including an optical tap for tapping a portion of said optical signal as it travels from said laser to said optical output port.

19. The module according to claim 18, wherein said tap couples said portion of said optical signal to said optical monitor.

20. The module according to claim 16, wherein said optical monitor produces a first analog electrical signal and a second optical monitor produces a second analog electrical signal in response to the optical signal received through said optical input port.

21. The module according to claim 20, further including logarithmic amplifiers, coupled to said optical monitor and said second optical monitor for linearizing said first analog electrical signal and said second analog electrical signal, respectively.

22. The module according to claim 21, further including analog-to-digital converters, coupled to said logarithmic amplifiers and said microprocessor, wherein said analog-to-digital converters convert said first analog electrical signal and said second analog electrical signals into digital signals that are read by said microprocessor.

23. The module of claim 15, wherein output power levels of said laser are adjustable as selected by said microprocessor, further including a multiplexer circuit coupled to said microprocessor for selecting one of a number of inputs to control the output of said laser.

24. The module of claim 23, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said microprocessor and one input of said multiplexer for controlling output power levels of said laser.

25. The module of claim 23, wherein said inputs are selected from the group comprising test signal generator, digital to analog converter, full power indicator and external input.

26. The module of claim 15, further including a memory element for storing identity parameters, wherein said module outputs said identity parameters upon being powered.

27. The module of claim 15, wherein said module communicates with a systems controller of said fiber administration system.

28. A fiber administration system for an optical fiber network, comprising:

at least one optical transmitter, wherein each optical transmitter is optical coupled to one end of a loop optical fiber pathway in the optical fiber network, and wherein said optical transmitter transmits an optical test signal into said looped optical fiber pathway of the optical fiber network;

at least one optical monitor, wherein each optical monitor is optically coupled to an opposite end of said looped optical fiber pathway and wherein said optical monitor detects said optical test signal after said optical test signal has passed through said looped optical fiber pathway, and

circuitry for monitoring both said optical transmitter and said optical monitor.

29. The system according to claim 28, further including a shelf controller coupled to said monitoring circuitry.

30. An assembly comprising:

an optical signal source for providing an optical output signal that is transmitted through an optical output port;

monitoring circuitry for monitoring said optical output signal and an incoming optical signal through an optical input port; and

circuitry connected to said monitoring circuitry and responsive to said optical output signal and said optical input signal.