Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an optical transceiver module having a diagnostic communications link, wherein the link is configured to access diagnostic and other data contained within the transceiver controller via a backdoor interface. Controller data, including operational parameter values and module setup values, is accessible while the transceiver operates in conjunction with an external host and may be retrieved, and sometimes modified, in real time without interrupting normal transceiver operation or suspending the transmission of data over optical fibers. The data is accessed with an external user device via a backdoor interface on the outside of the transceiver module.

Abstract: A data transport card comprising an interface to receive high speed data streams from at least one client, and a pluggable conversion module which converts said data streams into optical data signals and couples these optical data signals into at least one wavelength division multiplexing channel for transport of said optical data signals via an optical fiber.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the optical transport system has an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, and one or more phase-sensitive amplifiers (PSAs) disposed within an optical link that connects the optical transmitter and receiver. The optical transmitter employs a first nonlinear optical process to generate a two-carrier signal in a manner that makes this signal suitable for phase-sensitive amplification. The PSAs employ a second nonlinear optical process to optically amplify the two-carrier signal in a phase-sensitive manner to counteract the attenuation imposed onto the two-carrier signal by lossy components of the optical link. The optical receiver employs a third nonlinear optical process in a manner that enables the receiver to beneficially use redundancies in the two-carrier signal, e.g., for an SNR gain.

Abstract: The light transmitting and receiving module includes a light outputting section; alight receiver which receives input light and which outputs an electric signal having an intensity corresponding to a light intensity of the input light; a first variably attenuation controller which variably attenuates the light output from the light outputting section; a second variably attenuation controller which variably attenuates the input light to the light receiver; a first switch which selectively switches a path through which the light from the first variably attenuation controller is output between a light transmitting path and an alternative path different from the light transmitting path; and a second switch which selectively switches light to be output to the second variably attenuation controller between light from an external entity and the light through the alternative path of the first switch.

Abstract: A photonic-cable assembly includes a power source cable connector (“PSCC”) coupled to a power receive cable connector (“PRCC”) via a fiber cable. The PSCC electrically connects to a first electronic device and houses a photonic power source and an optical data transmitter. The fiber cable includes an optical transmit data path coupled to the optical data transmitter, an optical power path coupled to the photonic power source, and an optical feedback path coupled to provide feedback control to the photonic power source. The PRCC electrically connects to a second electronic device and houses an optical data receiver coupled to the optical transmit data path, a feedback controller coupled to the optical feedback path to control the photonic power source, and a photonic power converter coupled to the optical power path to convert photonic energy received over the optical power path to electrical energy to power components of the PRCC.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing multi-channel optical signal wavelengths includes the following steps. A first detecting signal is stacked on a plurality of driving signals in sequence. A plurality of optical signals generated after being driven by the plurality of driving signals is combined into one optical total signal. A wavelength detection is performed on the optical total signal. A second detecting signal with a frequency band the same as that of the first detecting signal is extracted from the signals obtained after the wavelength detection. The wavelength of the optical signal in the corresponding channel among the multiple channels is controlled according to the second detecting signal. A device for stabilizing multi-channel optical signal wavelengths is also provided. Using the above method or device, the multi-channel optical signal wavelengths can be stabilized, which requires less elements, and has a simple circuit structure, a high integration level, and a low cost.

Abstract: A colorless optical transceiver and an optical communication system including the same are disclosed herein. A controlling unit of the colorless optical transceiver forms a control current based on intensity of an external-injection light provided from an external light source. A light source driving unit coupled to the controlling unit forms a driving current based on the control current. An internal light source is coupled to the light source driving unit, the internal light source being configured to receive the external-injection light and the driving current and to convert the driving current into a colorless sending light, wherein a wavelength of the colorless sending light is locked by that of the external-injection light. The light output from the internal light source is controlled based on intensity of external-injection light calculated by using optical loss, which varies according to the distances between optical devices and connection state.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation device includes: an optical branching unit to branch an optical signal to be received; a first dispersion compensator to perform dispersion compensation on one part of the optical signal branched by the optical branching unit with a variable compensation amount; a second dispersion compensator to perform dispersion compensation on another part of the optical signal branched by the optical branching unit; a monitoring unit to monitor the communication quality of an output optical signal of the second dispersion compensator; and a controlling unit to determine the direction of variation in chromatic dispersion of the optical signal based on the direction of variation in communication quality monitored by the monitoring unit and control the compensation amount of the first dispersion compensator based on the result of the determination.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for visually indicating the remaining life of a small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module. The total number of optical light pulse signals processed by an SFP are compared to a predetermined lifecycle number of signals that can be processed before the SFP enters a failed operating state. The remaining life of the SFP is calculated. A first display visually indicates that the total number of processed signals has not exceeded the lifecycle number of signals. A second display located on the SFP enclosure visually indicates the SFP has reached the end of its lifecycle.

Abstract: A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a wavelength-tunable optical transmitter including: a semiconductor substrate (101); a wavelength-tunable light source that is formed on the semiconductor substrate (101) and includes at least a first reflector (102) of a wavelength-tunable type and a gain region (104); a semiconductor optical modulator formed on the semiconductor substrate (101); a first semiconductor optical waveguide (105c) that is formed on the semiconductor substrate (101) and smoothly connected to the wavelength-tunable light source; a second semiconductor optical waveguide (105d) that is formed on the semiconductor substrate and smoothly connected to the semiconductor optical modulator; a waveguide coupling region (108) in which the first and second semiconductor optical waveguides are collinearly coupled with a length LC that is not equal to m/2 (m: integer) times a complete coupling length LC0; and a second reflector (113) formed at an end of the waveguide coupling region (108).

Abstract: A decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) can be operated at higher frequencies when parallelization and pre-computation techniques are employed. Disclosed herein is a DFE design that operates at frequencies above 10 GHz, making it feasible to employ decision feedback equalization in optical transceiver modules. An adaptation technique is also disclosed to maximize communications reliability. The adaptation module can be treated as a straightforward extension of the pre-computation unit. At least some method embodiments include, in each time interval: sampling a signal that is partially compensated by a feedback signal; comparing the sampled signal to a set of thresholds to determine multiple speculative decisions; selecting and outputting one of the speculative decisions based on preceding decisions; and updating a counter if the sampled signal falls within a window proximate to a given threshold. Once a predetermined interval has elapsed, the value accumulated by the counter is used to adjust the given threshold.

Abstract: One embodiment includes communications module having a release slide and a boot. The release slide includes a main body, a plurality of arms, and a plurality of coupling structures. The arms extend from a first end of the main body. The coupling structures extend from a second end of the main body opposite the first end. The boot is disposed over the coupling structures of the release slide and defines a cavity configured to slidably receive a communications cable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device to convert a time varying optical pattern emitted by a display into a digital data signal. More specifically the invention allows a handheld security token to convert a time-varying light intensity pattern emitted by a source such as a computer screen into a digital signal including a sequence of coded data symbols. The invention is based on the insight that the intensity of light emitted by regions of said source can be easily sampled by a simple low-cost processor if appropriate A/D conversion hardware converts the incident light into an electrical signal which is time varying, whereby the base frequency of this electrical signal is a function of the light intensity. Intensity levels used for channel coding and symbol clock can be recovered from the signal by the receiver.

Abstract: An optical communication module which uses a single optical fiber to enable bidirectional communication or multiplexing communication is provided.

Abstract: A communication network access device is adapted for duplex communication and provides transmit and receive signal paths. A controllable socket is coupled to the transmit and receive signal paths and linked to a control interface for activating/deactivating the control interface. A pluggable module is coupled to the transmit and receive signal paths via the controllable socket in an activated status and to a transmission path carrying uni-directional signals. The module includes a first optical device and a splitter in the transmission path and is coupled to a second optical device via the splitter. The second optical device responds to a portion of uni-directional signals provided by the splitter for placing the communication access device in a link up condition for uni-directional signals provided by the first optical device to the transmission path serving an optical local area network.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector release mechanism for releasing a transceiver module in a cage permanently mounted on a PCB is disclosed. The release mechanism includes a bail rotating a U-shaped flange through a two stage travel path to urge the bail forward in a slide path on the transceiver module. The release mechanism includes a boss disposed on one of the bail and the arm assembly and a dimple disposed on another of the bail and the arm assembly to secure the bail in a locked position. As the bail moves forward from the locked position, wedge elements at the end of arms extending rearward may contact locking tabs on the cage, forcing the locking tabs outward. As the locking tabs are forced outward, the shoulders of the transceiver module are released, and the transceiver module is free to slide out of the cage.

Abstract: A processor can determine a relative position within a room of a person wearing a force-on-force device based exclusively upon sensed optical signals detected by optical sensors connected to the force-on-force device. Each of the sensed optical signals is geographically focused within a spatially constrained zone. Each sensed optical signal can further include digitally encoded data indicating an optical source that emitted the sensed optical signal and a spatially constrained zone of the sensed optical signal. The relative position can be determined based on determining a grid within the room within which the person is located. The grid can be defined by overlapping ones of the spatially constrained zones of the sensed optical signals.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector release mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism may be used to release a transceiver module housed in a cage that is permanently mounted on a printed circuit board. The release mechanism may include a cam mounted bail that rotates a U-shaped flange through a two stage travel path to urge the bail forward in a slide path on the transceiver module. As the bail begins to move forward, wedge elements at the end of a pair of slide arms extending rearward from the bail may contact locking tabs on the cage, forcing the locking tabs outward. As the locking tabs are forced outward, the shoulders of the transceiver module are released, and the transceiver module is free to slide out of the cage as the operator pulls on the bail.

Abstract: An optical transceiver calibration system and manufacturing method to fabricate a dual closed loop control transceiver are provided. The calibration system and method includes measuring an operating temperature and determining operational parameters based upon the operating temperature. The operational parameters may include, for example, a target power for transmitting a digital one, a target power for transmitting a digital zero, a modulation current, and a bias current. A bias may be added to the temperature to account for the difference between the temperature at the temperature sensor and the optical equipment. The operational parameters are preferably calculated independently of each other and are used as initial values during operating modes and allow the control loop to converge more quickly. The optics data is may be scanned electronically via bar code or some other electronic format prior to test. The software residing on the module then calibrates and configures the transceiver.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing a burst mode optical receiver capable of maintaining a stable gain profile in response to a burst signal. The optical receiver has a photodiode in balanced circuit configuration with a separate RF amplifier stage connected to each terminal of the photodiode. The two RF amplifier stages are coupled to biasing voltage sources that are inverted in comparison to the terminal connections and that, in some examples, each contain a field effect transistor (FET) that having a gate that is controlled in response to a sensed voltage. The burst mode optical receiver may be used in numerous applications, including optical line terminations (OLTs) in passive optical networks (PONs).

Abstract: According to one example embodiment, a form factor adapter module may include a small form factor (SFF) host connector, an X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector, and a serial to XAUI transceiver. The SFF host connector may be configured receive a small form factor pluggable (SFP or SFP+) module and to transmit and receive data according to a Serial Gigabit Media Independent Interface (SGMII) or Serializer-deserializer Framer Interface (SFI) protocol. The X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector may be configured to mate with an X2 or XENPAK edge finger socket and to transmit and receive data according to a Ten Gigabit Ethernet Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI) protocol. The serial to XAUI transceiver may be coupled to both the SFF host connector and the X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector. The serial to XAUI transceiver may be configured to convert data between the SGMII or SFI protocol and the XAUI protocol.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for an improved ROSA that has increased sensitivity for permitting greater numbers of ONTs to be connected to an optical network per defined transmission line distances. The ROSA configuration includes a digital optical module with improved performance characteristics. This digital optical module has replaced a conventional photodiode with a PIN detector that is coupled with the TIA. The resulting digital optical module containing this PIN/TIA configuration when incorporated in a ROSA provides a single ROSA solution that will meet or exceed the ITU/IEEE FTTx standards for short and long distances under substantially all operating conditions.

Abstract: A passive optical network transceiver includes an avalanche photodiode, a bias voltage generator for supplying a bias voltage to the avalanche photodiode, a temperature detector for measuring the operating temperature of the avalanche photodiode, a memory for storing one reference bias voltage and a processing circuitry to process the value of the measured operating temperature and the reference bias voltage to generate a control signal for controlling the bias voltage generator to adjust the bias voltage supplied by the said bias voltage generator.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an integrated boot and release slide having a release slide and a boot. The release slide includes a main body, a plurality of arms, and a plurality of coupling structures. The arms extend from a first end of the main body. The coupling structures extend from a second end of the main body opposite the first end. The boot is overmolded over the coupling structures of the release slide and defines a cavity configured to slidably receive a communications cable.

Abstract: A mechanism that enables an optical transceiver to configure memory on a per-segment basis. The optical transceiver includes a processing entity, system memory and a memory configuration table. The memory configuration table is comprised of configuration entries, each of which defines the configuration setting for a corresponding segment of memory. The processing entity reads the configuration entries for a particular segment of the memory. The processing entity then determines the set of one or more configuration settings for the memory segment based on the configuration entry read. This process may be repeated for multiple segments of memory.

Abstract: The optoelectronic transceiver includes an optoelectronic transmitter, an optoelectronic receiver, memory, and an interface. The memory is configured to store digital values representative of operating conditions of the optoelectronic transceiver. The interface is configured to receive from a host a request for data associated with a particular memory address, and respond to the host with a specific digital value of the digital values. The specific digital value is associated with the particular memory address received form the host. The optoelectronic transceiver may further include comparison logic configured to compare the digital values with limit values to generate flag values, wherein the flag values are stored as digital values in the memory.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for use in a parallel optical transmitter or transceiver to compensate for variations in optical crosstalk in an optical output power monitoring system that are caused by lasers being enabled and/or disabled. In particular, the method and apparatus cause adjustments to be made to the reference value of each optical channel based on determinations of whether one or more lasers of the other optical channels have been disabled or enabled. By making these adjustments, the average optical output power level of each laser of each channel can be maintained at a desired or required level even if one or more of the lasers of one or more of the other channels is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a wavelength-division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) capable of high-bandwidth transmission for optical signals by using modulation format having high spectral efficiency. The WDM-PON according to the present invention provides a larger capacity and higher bandwidth transmission economically (at lower costs) by using a modulation format where spectral efficiency (a transmission bit number per a unit band width) is high, while using a low noise part of a light source.

Abstract: A circuit controlling the gain of an amplifier in an optical transmitter used for optical communication, including a detection circuit for measuring the power of the RF input to a laser; a gain controller or controlling a gain of an amplifier, and a switch connected to the gain controller, wherein the gain controller is adapted, in response to an activation of a switch, to: (i) automatically vary gain of the amplifier, and (ii) set the gain of the amplifier at a level corresponding to a reduction in the noise and/or distortion associated with the transmitter.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a photosensor operating point.

Abstract: An optical transceiver and a method to setup the optical transceiver are disclosed, where the transceiver has a function to compensate the distortion and the dispersion due to the limited bandwidth of the electrical signal line, that of the active devices, and that of the optical fiber. The optical transceiver comprises a transmitter with an equalizer unit and a receiver also with an equalizer unit. The equalizer unit in the transmitter compensates the distortion due to the limited bandwidth of the transmission lines for the electrical signal and that of the semiconductor active device, while, the equalizer unit in the receiver compensates the dispersion due to the limited bandwidth of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical transceiver which can effectively reduce optical output jitter when an error is made during designing and manufacturing of a printed circuit board (PCB), and a method of controlling optical output jitter using the optical transceiver are provided. The optical transceiver includes a transmitter unit including an equalizing (EQ) filter which can reduce jitter of a high speed electric signal; a control circuit which controls the EQ filter; a receiver unit which receives an optical signal; and a micro-controller which controls the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.

Abstract: An optical interconnect includes a translatable optical source; an optical modulator element disposed on a circuit board and configured to receive an optical beam from the optical source; and an optical receiver disposed on a circuit board and configured to receive a modulated optical beam from the modulator element.

Abstract: An optical transceiver that includes a modification that prevents interoperability with standard transceivers, while enabling them to work in the same slots and equipment as standard transceivers, provided that they are interoperating with a similarly modified transceiver on the other end of the optical link. Ideally, the polarity of the data in both the transmit and receive direction is inverted resulting in valid data for a link when a pair of modified modules are used and invalid data when a modified module is used with a standard fiber optic transceiver. The function is otherwise transparent to the host equipment.

Abstract: Bi-directional laser communications system comprising a first transceiver and a second transceiver for establishing two optical channels there between. The first transceiver comprises a first transmitter with a pulsed high-power laser source for transmitting a pulsed beacon laser signal into a first of said optical channels. The second transceiver comprises a receiver with an optical antenna for receiving said pulsed beacon laser signal, said second transceiver and/or a receiving optic of said second transceiver being adjustable so that it can be adjusted with respect to said pulsed beacon laser signal. The second transceiver further comprises a second transmitter with a laser for transmitting a high energy laser signal into a second of said optical channels, and means for a separation of said first optical channel and said second optical channel.

Abstract: The present invention enables device downsizing by utilizing a light-emitting diode as a plurality of interfaces. A light-emitting diode 11 of a data communication unit using a light-emitting diode for data communication outputs light when a current flows therethrough. A transmission circuit 13 applies a forward bias to the light-emitting diode 11 based on transmission data. A separation circuit 14 outputs a voltage that changes according to a voltage which is generated in the light-emitting diode 11 when the transmission circuit 13 does not apply the forward bias to the light-emitting diode 11.

Abstract: According to an optical-receiving apparatus including an APD converting input light into an electric signal and a bias-voltage-control method used for the optical-receiving apparatus, a multiplication factor appropriate for the APD is predetermined and a multiplication factor used for the APD can be maintained at the level of the predetermined multiplication factor at all times according to a change in the ambient temperature of the APD so that the intensity of input light-transmitted to the APD can be monitored with accuracy. The optical-receiving apparatus further includes a bias circuit generating a bias voltage applied to the APD based on a control signal, a temperature-monitor circuit monitoring the ambient temperature, and an operating circuit that stores data on the predetermined multiplication factor and that controls the bias circuit so that the multiplication factor corresponding to the monitored temperature becomes the predetermined multiplication factor.

Abstract: An electronic system comprises an automatic power control (APC) unit, an adjustment unit, and a calibration unit. The automatic power control (APC) unit receives a first input signal and a second input signal and generates an output signal. An adjustment unit coupled to the first input terminal of the APC unit generates a voltage offset according to an adjustment signal. The calibration unit provides the adjustment signal with a series of values. The calibration unit monitors the output signal until the output signal changes states.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for reducing system penalty from polarization mode dispersion. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a receiving end of a transmission line, each signal being received on one of a plurality of channels of the transmission line and measuring a signal degradation of at least one of the channels of the transmission line. An amount of adjustment of a polarization controller is determined based on the signal degradation, the amount of adjustment being selected to reduce the polarization mode dispersion. The amount of adjustment is then transmitted to the polarization controller.

Abstract: In a receiver suitable for an optical fiber link and comprising an optical receiver unit (1), which includes a radiation-sensitive detector (4) and a signal processing circuit (6,8), and an electrical receiver unit (2), the optical receiver unit comprises a power draining circuit (16) that drains power from a pull-up stage (R1-R4; Vpu) of the electrical receiver unit and supplies power to the electrical circuit of the optical receiver unit.

Abstract: An integrated optical transceiver includes an optical receiver that produces a first electrical signal at a reception electrical interface in response to a first optical signal, an optical transmitter that emits a second optical signal in response to a second electrical signal received at a transmission electrical interface, a first optical branching device that receives the first optical signal at an reception optical interface and to direct at least a portion of the first optical signal to the optical receiver, and a second optical branching device that directs the second optical signal to an transmission optical interface. The first optical branching device directs at least a portion of the first optical signal to the second optical branching device. The second optical branching device directs the portion of the first optical signal received from the first optical branching device to the transmission optical interface.

Abstract: A transceiver unit for use at an end-location in a communications network includes a downstream monitor configured to monitor downstream optical signals that travel from a service provider to the end-location. The downstream optical signals carry downstream data for use by a device in communication with the transceiver unit. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the downstream optical signals is on a common optical fiber that carries downstream optical signals for other end locations. The transceiver unit also includes an upstream attenuator configured to attenuate upstream optical signals traveling from the end-location to the service provider. At least a portion of the optical path traveled by the upstream optical signals is on the common optical fiber. The transceiver unit also includes electronics configured to operate the upstream optical attenuator in response to output from the downstream monitor.

Abstract: An optical transmission control circuit includes: an analog input section which receives optical transmission states as an analog values; an A/D conversion section which converts the analog values into digital values; a value storage section which stores maximum value of the digital values provided by the A/D conversion section; an output register which outputs a value to a host apparatus; and a control section which controls the maximum value storage section to store the maximum value of the digital values therein and controls the output register to output the maximum value to the host apparatus.

Abstract: An operational optical transceiver configured to initiate operation in loop back mode. The optical transceiver includes transmit and receive signal paths, a memory capable of having microcode written to it, and a configurable switch array that is used to connect and disconnect the two signal paths as appropriate for a desired loop back mode. The microcode is structured to cause the optical transceiver to control the configurable switch array. This allows for analysis and diagnostics of the signal data.

Abstract: A system for providing power to remote equipment where a transmit unit having lasers transmits laser light over optical fiber to a receive unit having photovoltaic receivers. The photovoltaic receivers convert the laser light to electrical energy for the remote equipment. The receive unit also sends a feedback signal to the transmit unit which the transmit unit uses to determine whether the lasers should be enabled for full power.

Abstract: Out-of-band data communication of diagnostic and/or configuration data is performed using transceivers in a data or communication network. A light beam or other carrier is modulated with high-speed data and out-of-band diagnostic and/or configuration data to create a double modulated data signal. A physical layer signal is created that includes modulations of the double modulated signal. The physical layer signal is transmitted onto a physical link. The diagnostic and/or configuration data can be transmitted in the out-of-band signal without substantially reducing or otherwise interfering with the transmission rate of the high-speed data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for sensing which faults have occurred in a laser control system, as well as trapping and identifying the first fault occurrence. The apparatus includes an integrated circuit in which a mask register is set by means of a micro-controller or a host system to select which fault sources are to be recorded. A status bit register in which the fault indications are stored can also be interrogated by the micro-controller or a host system. A settable first fault status register determines whether every fault or only the first fault gets recorded.

Abstract: An optical transceiver performs an optical transmitting and receiving operation, and has a first memory and an external interface. The external interface receives information from a host device and writes the received information in the first memory. The external interface reads the information from the first memory in response to an external command and transfers externally the read information. The information includes at least one of an operation start date, when the optical transceiver starts the optical transmitting and receiving operation, and an operation termination dates when the optical transceiver terminates the optical transmitting and receiving operation.

Abstract: An optical transceiver for optimizing transfer characteristic of an optical interferometer and a method of optimizing transfer characteristic of an optical interferometer of an optical transceiver are provided. It is possible to improve the transmission performance of the optical transceiver by optimizing the transfer characteristic of the optical interferometer included in an optical receiver of the optical transceiver which transmits and receives an optical signal in a phase modulation scheme.

Abstract: An optical transceiver module includes an optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert a first optical signal to a first electric signal, a first amplifier configured to amplify the first electric signal, a bandwidth controller coupled to the first amplifier, configured to control the frequency response characteristics of the amplification of the first amplifier to produce a first amplified electric signal, a driver circuit configured to receive a second electric signal and to produce a second amplified electric signal in response to the second electric signal and an optical feedback signal, an electrical-to-optical converter coupled to the micro-controller and configured to convert the second amplified electrical signal to a second optical signal, and a photo diode configured to detect the second optical signal and to produce the optical feedback signal to be received by the driver circuit.