Fiber optic telecommunications card with security detection

• US 20030007215A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oyster Optics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Oyster Optics, Inc. (Oyster Optics, LLC)
• Inventors: Snawerdt, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/071 using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07955 Monitoring or measuring power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/85 Protection from unauthorised access, e.g. eavesdrop protection

Abstract

A transceiver card for a telecommunications box for transmitting data over a first optical fiber and receiving data over a second optical fiber. The card has transmitter for transmitting data over the first optical fiber, the transmitter having a laser and a modulator, a fiber output optically connected to the laser for connecting the first optical fiber to the card, a fiber input for connecting the second optical fiber to the card, a receiver optically connected to the fiber input for receiving data from the second optical fiber, and an OTDR optically connected between the transmitter and the fiber output or between the receiver and the fiber input. An energy level detector is also provided between the receiver and the fiber input.

Claims

1. A transceiver card for a telecommunications box for transmitting data over a first optical fiber and receiving data over a second optical fiber, the card comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting data over the first optical fiber, the transmitter having a laser and a modulator;

a fiber output optically connected to the laser for connecting the first optical fiber to the card;

a fiber input for connecting the second optical fiber to the card;

a receiver optically connected to the fiber input for receiving data from the second optical fiber; and

an OTDR optically connected between the transmitter and the fiber output or between the receiver and the fiber input.

2. The card as recited in claim 1 further comprising a backplane, the OTDR being fastened to the backplane.

3. The card as recited in claim 1 further comprising an energy level detector optically connected between the receiver and the fiber input.

4. The card as recited in claim 3 wherein the OTDR is optically connected between the receiver and the fiber input.

5. The card as recited in claim 1 wherein the OTDR is optically connected between the receiver and the fiber input.

6. The card as recited in claim 1 further comprising a faceplate having a fiber tap signal device, the faceplate holding the fiber input and fiber output.

7. The card as recited in claim 3 wherein the energy level detector includes a plurality of thresholds.

8. The card as recited in claim 3 wherein the energy level detector is analog.

9. The card as recited in claim 8 wherein the energy level detector includes an amplifier.

10. The card as recited in claim 8 wherein the energy level detector includes an OR gate.

12. A method for providing a continually-operating OTDR to an existing multiplexor box including the steps of:

removing an existing transceiver card; and

replacing the existing tranceiver card with the transceiver card of claim 1.

11. A transceiver card for a telecommunications box for transmitting data over a first optical fiber and receiving data over a second optical fiber, the card comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting data over the first optical fiber, the transmitter having a laser and a modulator;

a fiber output optically connected to the laser for connecting the first optical fiber to the card;

a fiber input for connecting the second optical fiber to the card;

a receiver optically connected to the fiber input for receiving data from the second optical fiber; and

an energy level detector optically connected between the receiver and the fiber input.

13. A method for manufacturing an optical transceiver card for transmitting data over at least one data transmitting optical fiber, the card having a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a transmitter on a printed circuit board,

placing a receiver on a printed circuit board; and

placing an OTDR on the printed circuit board.