Passive optical network with analog distribution

• US 6,606,430 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optical Zonu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Optical Zonu Corporation
• Inventors: Zargari, Sean, Quinn, Kerry, Bartur, Meir, Stephenson, Jim, Ghadooshahy, Farzad, Makonnen, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US09/946,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 385/24, 385/37, 359/124, 359/125, 359/130, 359/173, 359/154, 455/6.1, 455/5.1, 455/73, 348/12.6
• US Class Current: 385/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4227 Active alignment methods, e.g. procedures and algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/077 using a supervisory or additional signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07955 Monitoring or measuring power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/504 using direct modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/564 Power control

Abstract

A passive optical network which is capable of full duplex digital transmission at high data rates and which also provides analog broadcast transmission is disclosed. A central station provides analog broadcast transmission at a first wavelength of light and full duplex digital transmission using second and third wavelengths of light. Optical networking units, electrically or wirelessly coupled to end users in the network, are optically coupled to the central station via passive optical network nodes. The optical networking units resolve the two broadcast streams from the central station employing compact optics configured on a transparent substrate and provide burst mode digital transmission up stream to the central station on a time division multiple access basis.

Claims

1. A fiber optic network, comprising:

a central station including a first optical transceiver for transmitting analog and digital signals along an optical fiber at first and second wavelengths of light, respectively, and for receiving digital optical signals in burst mode from said fiber at a third wavelength of light;

an optical networking unit coupled to an optical fiber including a second optical transceiver for transmitting digital optical signals to said central station in burst mode at said third wavelength of light and optical means for resolving the analog and digital signals from the central station, said optical means comprising optical components mounted via a radiation curable adhesive on a substrate at least a portion of which is transparent to the radiation; and

a passive optical network node, coupled to plural optical fibers and configured between said central station and said optical networking unit, for directing said wavelengths of light between said central station and said optical networking unit.

2. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 1, wherein said first wavelength of light is about 1520-1600 nm.

3. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 2, wherein said second wavelength of light is about 1440-1500 nm.

4. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 2, wherein said third wavelength of light is about 1280-1380 nm.

5. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 1, wherein said first wavelength of light is about 1580 nm.

6. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 5, wherein said second wavelength of light is about 1480-1550 nm.

7. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 5, wherein said third wavelength of light is about 1280-1380 nm.

8. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 1, wherein said analog signal comprises an amplitude modulated RF signal.

9. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 8, wherein said analog signal comprises a cable TV signal.

10. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 8, wherein said analog signal comprises a DBS signal.

11. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 1, wherein said digital signals comprise data packets.

12. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 11, wherein said digital signals comprise internet data.

13. A fiber optic network, comprising:

a central station including first optical transceiver means for transmitting analog and digital signals along an optical fiber at first and second wavelengths of light, respectively, and for receiving digital optical signals in burst mode from said fiber at a third wavelength of light;

a first optical networking unit coupled to an optical fiber including second optical transceiver means for transmitting digital optical signals to said central station in burst mode and first optical means for resolving the analog and digital signals from the central station, said optical means comprising optical components mounted via a radiation curable adhesive on a substrate at least a portion of which is transparent to the radiation;

a second optical networking unit coupled to an optical fiber including third optical transceiver means for transmitting digital optical signals to said central station in burst mode at said third wavelength of light and second optical means for resolving the analog and digital signals from the central station, said optical means comprising optical components mounted via a radiation curable adhesive on a substrate at least a portion of which is transparent to the radiation;

wherein said first and second optical networking units burst transmit said digital optical signals at said third wavelength of light on a time division multiple access basis; and

a passive optical network node, coupled to plural optical fibers and configured between said central station and said first and second optical networking units, for directing said wavelengths of light between said central station and said optical networking units.

14. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 13, wherein said first wavelength of light is about 1520-1600 nm.

15. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 14, wherein said second wavelength of light is about 1440-1500 nm.

16. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 14, wherein said third wavelength of light is about 1280-1380 nm.

17. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 13, wherein said first wavelength of light is about 1580 nm.

18. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 17, wherein said second wavelength of light is about 1480-1550 nm.

19. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 17, wherein said third wavelength of light is about 1280-1380 nm.

20. A fiber optic network as set out in claim 13, wherein said analog signal comprises an amplitude modulated RF signal.