Abstract: An optical transmission device for interconnecting an optical full duplex transmission line and a half duplex transmission line. When a start bit of a data block of an electrical signal received from the half duplex transmission line is detected, a maintaining signal to maintain the same transmission direction is generated during which the data block can be transmitted. An optical signal is received from the optical full duplex transmission line and converted into an electrical signal. Similarly, a maintaining signal to maintain the same transmission direction is generated. In response to either one of the two maintaining signals, passage or stopping of signals by a driver for sending out an electrical signal to the half duplex transmission line and a receiver for receiving an electrical signal from the half duplex-transmission line are controlled. Possible interference of data is prevented and the transmission direction is changed over in this manner.