Abstract: A receiver includes wavelength demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received WDM light into light signals at respective central frequencies thereof, delay interferometer for converting a light signal output from wavelength demultiplexer into an intensity signal, and light detector for converting an output signal from delay interferometer into an electric signal. The interval between interferential frequencies of delay interferometer is 2/(2n+1) times the interval between the central frequencies of the WDM light. Logic inverting circuit outputs the output signal from the light detector while non-inverting or inverting the logic level thereof depending on the received central frequency.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive an optical signal transmitted from an optical transmitting apparatus; a detector configured to detect a predetermined pattern signal included in the optical signal; a calculator configured to calculate, based on a waveform of the predetermined pattern signal, an amount of dispersion of the predetermined pattern signal; and a compensator configured to compensate for dispersion according to the amount of dispersion.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a phase error is estimated in a series of digital symbols of a phase-modulated signal, where the signal is subject to a non-linear phase shift error due to transmission of the signal through an optical fiber. A phase correction of an instant digital symbol that succeeds the series of digital symbols is estimated, where the estimated phase correction is based on the estimated phase errors in the series of digital symbols. The estimated phase correction of the instant digital symbol is limited to a maximum absolute value, and the estimated phase correction is applied to the instant digital symbol of the signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional optical signal traffic-directing and amplification module which is used in a method for simultaneous real-time status monitoring and troubleshooting of a high-capacity single-fiber hybrid passive optical network that is based on wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques.

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: A system and method implementing dual stage carrier phase estimation (CPE) in a coherent receiver for an optical fiber communication system. In the first stage, a feed-forward CPE is implemented to make an initial carrier phase estimation of a training sequence. The initial carrier phase estimation is coupled to the second stage which implements a decision-feedback CPE. After a training period, accurate bit decision for system traffic can be achieved using the decision-feedback CPE.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus that includes multiple optically communicative components positioned optically in series. Some of the optically communicative components may be optical fiber segments of perhaps different types. The optical channel represented by the series of optically communicative components and approximates a transfer function of an optical channel of a longer optical fiber. Accordingly, rather than deal with a lengthy optical fiber, an apparatus having a shorter optical channel may be used instead. The construction of the optical communicative components may be calculating an input transfer function. The construction would include an ordering of discrete optically communicative components that, when placed optically in series, simulates an estimation of a particular transfer function. Testing may then occur by actually passing an optical signal through the series construction of optically communicative components, rather than through the longer optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical transmission systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the spectral efficiency which may be achievable in an optical transmission network and for adapting the parameters of the transmission network to the achievable spectral efficiency. A method and system for controlling an optical transmission system comprising a first and a second optical transmission channel is described. The first optical transmission channel is affected by the second optical transmission channel. The method comprises the steps of measuring the inverse signal-to-noise ratio of the first channel for a plurality of input power levels used by the first and second channel; determining a contribution of the second channel to the inverse signal-to-noise ratio; and determining the input power to the second channel, such that an overall throughput of the first and second channel is maximized.

Abstract: The distributed Raman amplifier monitors an OSNR of each channel in a WDM light which has been propagated through a transmission path to be Raman amplified, and thereafter, is amplified by an optical amplifier in an optical repeating node; judges whether a monitor value of the OSNR is larger or smaller than a previously set target value thereof; and feedback controls a driving state of a pumping light source which supplies a Raman pumping light to the transmission path, based on the judgment result. The optical communication system comprises the above distributed Raman amplifier in each repeating span thereof, and performs a pumping light control of the distributed Raman amplifier corresponding to the repeating span selected based on the OSNR in each distributed Raman amplifier and the monitor result of span loss. As a result, it becomes possible to effectively improve the OSNR of each channel in the WDM light, and also, to reduce the power consumption.

Abstract: A method for determining a value of chromatic dispersion compensation in an optical network including a plurality of nodes connected by at least one transmission line, the plurality of nodes including a plurality of dispersion compensators, the optical network including a plurality of wavelength paths between the optional nodes, the method includes determining a compensation value of the dispersion compensators in the optical network by the computer, the compensation value selecting that an error between the object value of the residual chromatic dispersion in accordance with of the first end node of the first path and the permissible value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the first end node of the first path is least, and the value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the first end is in the permissible value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the second end node of the second path.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a communication system includes a transmission apparatus with a coding section that generates multi-level-coded signals and transmits the multi-level-coded signals; and a deskew signal generation section that generates and transmits a deskew signal related to the multi-level-coded signals. The communication system also includes a receiving apparatus with a decoding section that decodes the multi-level-coded signals to generate decoded signals, and a deskew processing section that performs deskew processing for compensating skew among the decoded signals of the multiple channels. The deskew signal generation section generates the deskew signal that has been framed by extracting a part of the data from each of the channels of the input signals, adding framing data for enabling a receiving apparatus to recognize which channel the extracted data has been extracted from, and performing rate conversion.

Abstract: A plurality of inductors are connected in series between a load resistor and a first transistor, and a plurality of second transistors provided in parallel are connected to the plurality of inductors.

Abstract: A timing signal distribution system includes an optical frequency stabilized laser signal amplitude modulated at an rf frequency. A transmitter box transmits a first portion of the laser signal and receive a modified optical signal, and outputs a second portion of the laser signal and a portion of the modified optical signal. A first optical fiber carries the first laser signal portion and the modified optical signal, and a second optical fiber carries the second portion of the laser signal and the returned modified optical signal. A receiver box receives the first laser signal portion, shifts the frequency of the first laser signal portion outputs the modified optical signal, and outputs an electrical signal on the basis of the laser signal. A detector at the end of the second optical fiber outputs a signal based on the modified optical signal. An optical delay sensing circuit outputs a data signal based on the detected modified optical signal.

Abstract: A demodulator includes: a splitter that branches a differential phase shift keying optical signal into a first branched optical signal passing through a first optical path and a second branched optical signal passing through a second optical path; a multiplexer that multiplexes the first branched optical signal having passed through the first optical path and the second branched optical signal having passed through the second optical path and makes interference between the first branched optical signal and the second branched optical signal; and a double refraction medium that reduces difference between phase differences between each polarized wave between the first branched optical signal and the second branched optical signal multiplexed by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A method for reducing cross-phase modulation in an optical signal includes receiving an optical signal comprising a plurality of channels, wherein the information being communicated in a first set of one or more of the channels is modulated using one or more single-polarization modulation techniques and wherein the information being communicated in a second set of one or more of the channels is modulated using one or more dual-polarization modulation techniques. The method also includes splitting the optical signal into at least a first copy of the optical signal and a second copy of the optical signal and terminating the second set of channels in the first copy. Furthermore, the method includes applying a differential group delay to the second copy, the differential group delay introducing a walk-off between symbols communicated in a first polarization component of the second set of channels and the symbols of a second polarization component of the second set of channels.

Abstract: A method is provide for optically transferring data between a transmitter and a receiver employs a color coding method based on a plurality of elementary colors for encoding and transferring the data. Each elementary color is transmitted by one optical radiation source each on the transmitter side, and is received on the receiver side by one optical radiation receiver each. A control loop is formed between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein calibration messages are sent by the transmitter to the receiver, and wherein compensation information is determined by means of comparing at least one channel property of at least one received calibration message to a corresponding channel property of at least one previously transmitted calibration message, and wherein an adjustment of at least one transmitting parameter is made in the transmitter on the basis of the compensation information.

Abstract: In a representative embodiment, a multipath channel and an optical subcarrier modulation scheme are designed in concert to cause different modulated subcarriers of the optical communication signal to become substantially uncorrelated over the aggregate signal bandwidth. Provided that the employed FEC code has sufficient error-correcting capability for average channel conditions, breakdowns in the operation of the FEC decoder and the corresponding system outages can substantially be avoided.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes logic to communicate using optical channels set outside a fiber zero dispersion zone, and having channel spacing that decreases with increasing distance from the fiber zero dispersion zone.

Abstract: A method for the polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) on polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) coherent systems employing an adaptive crossing FDE which advantageously produces CD compensation, PMD compensation and PolDeMux within one functional block of a digital signal processor (DSP).

Abstract: A signal detection method used in an optical receiver apparatus detects the variation of an optical input level from the presence or absence of a clock signal and appropriately controls a dispersion compensator, thereby enabling the presence or absence of an input signal to be correctly determined. The signal detection method includes: detecting the level of input light of an optical amplifier, storing the level of the detected input light, comparing the level of the stored previous input light with the level of current input light, detecting the level variation of the input light by the comparison to detect the state change of the presence or absence of an optical signal, performing a dispersion compensation on the input light, and extracting a clock from an optical input. When the level variation of the input light is detected, the presence or absence of the optical signal of the input light is determined from the presence or absence of the clock signal.

Abstract: A device and method for adjusting the chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission system includes an optical element having a temperature-dependent chromatic dispersion. The device and method further include a device for adjusting a temperature or a temperature distribution of at least one region of the optical element for providing a predefined chromatic dispersion of the optical element. Therefore, the chromatic dispersion of the optical element may be regulated along an optical transmission path.

Abstract: A method of testing a dual-polarization optical transmitter comprising a pair of polarization transmitters for respectively generating first and second polarization signals, and a polarization combiner for generating an optical signal composed of the first and second polarization signals with respective orthogonal polarization vectors. Each of the polarization transmitters is controlled to transmit respective polarization optical signals having predetermined characteristics. An output of the dual-polarization optical transmitter is tapped to obtain a first tap signal representative of the first polarization signal, and a second tap signal representative of the second polarization signal. A relative angle between respective polarization vectors of the tap signals is controlled, and the first and second tap signals combined to generate a combined light. A power level of the combined light is detected, and processed to obtain information about the performance of the dual polarization transmitter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, devices and methods for managing skew within a polarized multi-channel optical transport system. In a DP-QPSK system, skew between polarized channels is compensated within the transport system by adding latency to at least one of the polarized channels. The amount of added latency may depend on various factors including the skew tolerance of the transport system and the amount of skew across the channels without compensation. This latency may be added optically or electrically, and at various locations on a channel signal path within a transport node, such as a terminal transmitter or receiver. Additionally, various embodiments of the invention provide for novel methods of inserting frame alignment bit sequences within the transport frame overhead so that alignment and skew compensation may be more efficiently and accurately performed at the transport receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to improve the signal-to-noise ratio performance in receivers configured to receive differential data signals. According to various embodiments of the invention, a received differential signal is processed to consider both forward-looking and backward-looking error components to improve SNR performance, and ultimately the reach of the optical line system. Additional processing is provided to further enhance noise tolerance related to chromatic dispersion.

Abstract: Compensation for in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) timing skew and offset in an optical signal may be achieved based on the correlation between derivatives of I and Q samples in the optical signal. The magnitude of the correlation between derivatives is measured to determine the presence of skew. Correlation between derivatives may be coupled with frequency offset information and/or with trials having additional positive and negative skew to determine presence of skew. Correlations are determined according to pre-defined time periods to provide for continued tracking and compensation for timing skew that may result from, for example, thermal drift.

Abstract: In an optical transmission system including a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx connected via a fiber link F, where the receiver Rx is adapted to utilize Forward Error Correction (FEC) on received signals, a polarization scrambler is provided at the transmitter Tx to scramble the polarization state of a transmitted signal, a polarization delay line is provided at the receiver Rx for controlling the polarization mode dispersion induced distortion of a received signal, a feedback unit is provided at the receiver Rx for providing a feedback signal based on at least part of the received signal, and at least one polarization controller interconnects the fiber link F and the polarization delay line. The polarization controller is operable based on the feedback signal to mitigate the polarization mode dispersion of the signal.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises transmitting an optical signal via the optical line, measuring a relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal near a clock frequency (or half of that frequency) while varying a polarization of the optical signal between a first state of polarization and a second state of polarization, and using the relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal to determine and correct the DGD of the optical line. Another method comprises splitting an optical signal traveling through the optical line into a first and second portions having a first and second principal states of polarization of the optical line, converting the first and second portions into a first and second electrical signals, delaying the second electrical signal to create a delayed electrical signal that compensates for a DGD of the optical line, and combining the delayed electrical signal with the first electrical signal to produce a fixed output electrical signal.

Abstract: A transmitter reduces or minimizes pulse narrowing. In one approach, an optical transmitter is designed to transmit data over an optical fiber at a specified data rate using on-off keying. The transmitter includes a pre-converter electrical channel and a limiting E/O converter. The pre-converter electrical channel produces a pre-converter signal that drives the limiting E/O converter. The pre-converter electrical channel is designed to reduce pulse narrowing in the pre-converter signal. In one implementation, the pre-converter electrical channel includes a pre-emphasis filter that is designed to minimize pulse width shrinkage.

Abstract: An optical receiver includes: a first generator to generate, from an optical signal to which a reference signal is inserted, a first digital signal representing a signal component of a first partial band including the reference signal, using a first local oscillation light of a first frequency; a second generator to generate, from the optical signal, a second digital signal representing a signal component of a second partial band including the reference signal, using a second local oscillation light of a second frequency being different from the first frequency; a frequency compensator to adjust a frequency of the signal component of the first partial band and a frequency of the signal component of the second partial band according to a frequency of the reference signal; and a combiner to combine the first and second partial bands adjusted by the frequency compensator.

Abstract: A light emitting device, a light receiving device and a data transmission system and a data transmission method using the same are provided. The data transmission system includes the light emitting device and the light receiving device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting unit and a control circuit, and the light receiving device includes an image capture unit, a recognition unit and a decoding unit. The control circuit controls the light emitting unit to sequentially display a plurality of pattern images in a plurality of frame times to form a spatiotemporal pattern image according to setting data corresponding to a temporal domain and a spatial domain. The image capture unit captures the spatiotemporal pattern image. The recognition unit recognizes the spatiotemporal pattern image to output recognized data. The decoding unit decodes the recognized data to output decoded data.

Abstract: An optical transmission apparatus for suppressing deterioration of transmission quality due to XPM in a wavelength division multiplexing optical communication system in which an intensity modulation optical signal and a phase modulation optical signal exist in a mixed form. The apparatus has an intensity inversion signal light output section which outputs light having an intensity pattern obtained by inverting intensity changes of the intensity modulation optical signal near a wavelength of the intensity modulation optical signal in arrangement on wavelength axis of optical wavelengths that can be multiplexed as a wavelength division multiplexed signal as intensity inversion signal light, and a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output unit which wavelength-division-multiplexes the intensity modulation optical signal, the phase modulation optical signal and light from the intensity inversion signal light output section and outputs a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal.

Abstract: An optical communications system includes an optical transmitter that generates a modulated optical signal at an output. The modulated optical signal propagates through an optical link where the dispersion of the optical link is imprinted onto an optical spectrum of the modulated optical signal. A demodulator receives the modulated optical signal and filters at least a portion of the optical spectrum with the imprinted dispersion of the optical link, thereby mitigating effects of dispersion in the modulated optical signal and generating a demodulated optical signal at an output. An optical detector generates an electrical data signal from the demodulated optical signal.

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: System, apparatus and method of optical communication are provided for performing digital compensation of the self-phase modulation (SPM) effect experienced by a polarization-division multiplexed (PDM) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM) signal in fiber transmission by compensating a complex digital waveform representing one orthogonal polarization component of the optical PDM-OFDM signal based on both digital waveforms representing two orthogonal polarization components of the PDM-OFDM signal. The compensation of the digital waveform may be further based on an anticipated mean total nonlinear phase shift experienced by the signal during fiber transmission due to SPM. The compensation may be divided into pre-compensation at the PDM-OFDM transmitter and post-compensation at the PDM-OFDM receiver.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which an optical network may include an optical-electrical converter module within an OEO (Optical Electrical Optical) reach extension system (OEO RE system), the OEO RE system having an OEO port and including a downstream frame regeneration block; and a downstream control data extraction block including a GPON operating parameter extraction module (GOPEM), wherein the GOPEM is operable to extract at least one OEO-port operating parameter from data frames arriving at the GOPEM module.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, devices and a system for recovering the corrupted subcarrier at the local oscillator (LO) frequency in coherent optical OFDM transmission. The method includes performing advanced coding on a data signal to obtain an encoded signal; performing high order modulation on the encoded signal to obtain a high-order-modulated signal; performing OFDM modulation on the high-order-modulated signal to obtain an electrical OFDM signal; and performing up-conversion on the electrical OFDM signal to obtain an optical OFDM signal to be output.

Abstract: An optical signal processing device includes a waveform width widening unit configured to widen a waveform width of an optical signal; and an optical limiter circuit, to which the optical signal the waveform width of which is widened is input, configured to suppress an intensity of the optical signal in a region where an input intensity and an output intensity are not proportional.

Abstract: An optical wavelength multiplexing system includes transmission-side and reception-side optical wavelength multiplexers, and terminal devices, which are connected to each other by optical fiber cables. Optical wavelength converters in the transmission-side optical wavelength multiplexers are connected to ports respectively. The optical wavelength converter converts an input optical signal into an arbitrary preset wavelength to generate a converted optical signal. The port has a predetermined wavelength preset therein. Each optical power level of input converted optical signals is compared with each optical power level of optical signals of respective wavelengths set in the ports. When a difference is detected in the comparison result, it is determined that an optical wavelength converter is incorrectly connected to the port.

Abstract: A visible light communication system and method for transmitting and receiving an information symbol in a visible light communication system for a Color Code Modulation (CCM) scheme using a chromaticity diagram. The method includes determining a first coordinates value corresponding to an information symbol to be transmitted on the chromaticity diagram; determining a first color ratio corresponding to the first coordinates value; determining a second coordinates value corresponding to a compensation symbol for compensating for the first color ratio into a color white and determining a second color ratio corresponding to the second coordinates value; and emitting a visible ray corresponding to each of the first color ratio and second color ratio. The first and second coordinates values are located on a line on the chromaticity diagram.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises transmitting an optical signal via the optical line, measuring a relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal near a clock frequency (or half of that frequency) while varying a polarization of the optical signal between a first state of polarization and a second state of polarization, and using the relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal to determine and correct the DGD of the optical line. Another method comprises splitting an optical signal traveling through the optical line into a first and second portions having a first and second principal states of polarization of the optical line, converting the first and second portions into a first and second electrical signals, delaying the second electrical signal to create a delayed electrical signal that compensates for a DGD of the optical line, and combining the delayed electrical signal with the first electrical signal to produce a fixed output electrical signal.

Abstract: In an optical network design apparatus, a constraint setter sets a first constraint that one of alternative values given beforehand is selected as the dispersion compensation amount of each node, sets a first margin value that assumes a nonnegative value, sets a second constraint that the first margin value is equal to or greater than the difference between the residual dispersion and the lower bound of an allowable range, sets a second margin value that assumes a nonnegative value, and sets a third constraint that the second margin value is equal to or greater than the difference between the upper bound of the allowable range and the residual dispersion. A calculation controller generates an objective function including the first, second and third constraints and including a summation of the first and second margin values for all paths, and derives a solution that minimizes the objective function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of tuning a signal received from a first network terminal at a second network terminal is disclosed. The method may include receiving the signal at the second network terminal. The signal may be operating at a first wavelength. The method may also include determining a port used to receive the signal at the second network terminal, and identifying a predetermined port wavelength used as a basis to shift the first wavelength to the predetermined port wavelength for subsequent signals received. The method may also include transmitting the predetermined port wavelength information to the first network terminal to inform the first network terminal to tune subsequent signals to the desired wavelength for the port.

Abstract: A communication system includes a transmission path through which an optical signal is propagated; and dispersion slope imparting sections provided on a transmitting side and a receiving side of the transmission path, the dispersion slope imparting sections imparting different dispersion and dispersion slope characteristics in accordance with a wavelength band of the optical signal, wherein the dispersion and dispersion slope characteristics imparted by the dispersion slope imparting section on the transmitting side is different from those on the receiving side.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a system for realizing data transmission extension in a passive optical network (PON) are provided. Between a burst-mode clock and data recovery (BCDR) module and an electrical-optical (E/O) amplification module, the device includes a delimiter matching module and a preamble buffering and compensating module. The delimiter matching module is adapted to receive a data frame sent by the BCDR module and determine a location of a delimiter in the data frame. An optical-electrical (O/E) amplification module performs O/E conversion, amplification, and shaping on the data frame. The BCDR module then performs clock and data recovery processing on the data frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical receiver, and particularly, to an optical receiver by which a DQPSK-modulated optical signal is demodulated to a multilevel phase-modulated signal.

Abstract: Dispersion compensation is provided in an optical transmission system. An optical line couples first and second transceivers, and a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the optical line are spaced throughout the optical line with variable span distances. A plurality of dispersion compensation modules include a coarse granularity fiber, a connector, and a fine granularity fiber. A memory is associated with the dispersion compensators to provide information related to the value of the dispersion compensation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a scheme for transmitting a composed optical signal 12b through an optical fiber arrangement 40. The transmitted composed optical signal 12b comprises one or several sidebands Sb1, Sbn each substantially centered around a subcarrier f1, fn, and an attenuated carrier signal ftb attenuated such that the composed optical signal 12b is not linearly detectable by means of optical direct detection. The transmitted composed optical signal 12b is received and the power of the attenuated carrier signal ftb is amplified so as to create an amplified composed optical signal 12a?; that is linearly detectable by means of optical direct detection.

Abstract: A method and a device provide signal processing. The method contains the steps of separating a pilot signal from an analog signal, reducing or compensating a noise based on a local oscillator laser by demodulating the pilot signal, processing the demodulated pilot signal, and combining the processed demodulated pilot signal with the analog signal. Furthermore, a method for signal processing at a transmitter, according devices and a communication system are described.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an FSK demodulator which can be used in the optical information and telecommunications and the like, and which can appropriately demodulate an FSK signal by compensating a delay of an optical FSK modulated signal due to dispersion and the like of an optical fiber. The above-mentioned problem is solved by a frequency shift keying (FSK) demodulator (1) composed of a branching filter (2) for branching an optical signal according to wavelengths thereof; a delay adjusting apparatus (3) for adjusting a delay time of two lights branched by the branching filter; a first photodetector (4) for detecting one optical signal branched by the branching filter; a second photodetector (5) for detecting a remaining optical signal branched by the branching filter; and a means (6) for calculating a difference between an output signal of the first photodetector and an output signal of the second photodetector.

Abstract: A computer including: a casing, at least a portion of which contains a potting material acting as an optical waveguide material; a transmitter for transmitting a pulse based signal at least partially through the potting material acting as the optical waveguide material; and a receiver for receiving the pulse based signal after one or more reflections of the pulse based signal from interior surfaces of the casing; the pulse based signal having a pulse rate configured such that a subsequent pulse doesn't interfere with reflections from an immediately previous pulse.