Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical network including a bridge for selectively transferring information from an optical channel carried on a first WDM optical waveguide to at least two optical channels on a second WDM optical waveguide. The first and second optical waveguides carry WDM optical signals each having plural optical channels. A bridge is interposed between the first and second optical waveguides which includes an optical add-drop multiplexer optically communicating with each waveguide. At least one optical channel having first and second data bits streams is dropped from the first waveguide. The first and second data bit streams are respectively encoded on two different optical channels which are then added to the second optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical network including a bridge for selectively transferring information from an optical channel carried on a first WDM optical waveguide to at least two optical channels on a second WDM optical waveguide. The first and second optical waveguides carry WDM optical signals each having plural optical channels. A bridge is interposed between the first and second optical waveguides which includes an optical add-drop multiplexer optically communicating with each waveguide. At least one optical channel having first and second data bits streams is dropped from the first waveguide. The first and second data bit streams are respectively encoded on two different optical channels which are then added to the second optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible WDM optical communication system in which each optical channel of the WDM optical communication signal can simultaneously accept multiple data formats. In one embodiment, the WDM optical system includes an optical waveguide having an optical add-drop multiplexer to selectively add and/or drop one or more optical channels to/from the WDM signal carried on the waveguide. A first source of data imparts information onto a first optical channel in a packet format while a second source of data imparts information onto the first optical channel in a time division multiplexed format. Other data sources having other data formats may also be included. An optical network interface electrically communicates with the data sources, placing the data from these sources onto the first optical channel which is generated from an optical source such as a laser. An optical path carries the optical channel from the optical source to the optical add-drop multiplexer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bidirectional optical network including a bridge for selectively transferring information from an optical channel carried on a first bidirectional WDM optical waveguide to at least two optical channels on a second bidirectional WDM optical waveguide. The first and second bidirectional optical waveguides each carry two counter-propagating WDM optical signals each having plural channels. A bridge is interposed between the first and second bidirectional optical waveguides which includes an optical add-drop multiplexer optically communicating with each bidirectional waveguide. At least one optical channel having first and second data bits streams is dropped from the first bidirectional waveguide. The first and second data bit streams are respectively encoded on two different optical channels which are then added to the second bidirectional optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible WDM optical communication system in which each optical channel of the WDM optical communication signal can simultaneously accept multiple data formats. In one embodiment, the WDM optical system includes an optical waveguide having an optical add-drop multiplexer to selectively add and/or drop one or more optical channels to/from the WDM signal carried on the waveguide. A first source of data imparts information onto a first optical channel in a packet format while a second source of data imparts information onto the first optical channel in a time division multiplexed format. Other data sources having other data formats may also be included. An optical network interface electrically communicates with the data sources, placing the data from these sources onto the first optical channel which is generated from an optical source such as a laser. An optical path carries the optical channel from the optical source to the optical add-drop multiplexer.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting timing errors and for selecting the correct clock edge for mid-point data sampling, includes a rising edge sampling device for sampling an input data signal at a rising edge of an input clock and generating a first interim data signal. A falling edge sampling device samples the input data signal at a falling edge of the input clock and generates a second interim data signal. An error signal generation devise, arranged in each of the rising edge and falling edge sampling devices, generates an error signal if designated setup time and hold time requirements are not met. The error signal is one of an error-rise or error-fall signal. A state machine receives the first and second interim signals and the error signal. The state machine automatically outputs the first interim data signal to a logic device if the error-fall signal is detected, and outputs the second interim data signal to the logic device if the error-rise signal is detected.