Abstract: A fault-tolerant fiber optic coupler/repeater for use in a terminal in a high speed digital, audio or video data transmission system has optical data input from one or a plurality of upstream terminals and sends optical data to one or a plurality of downstream terminals via fiber optic lines. The terminal includes one or more bypass lines and is connected to the bypass line of at least one upstream terminal. The terminal receives optical data signals from upstream terminals via a primary line and one or more bypass lines which bypass one or more of the upstream terminals. The terminal includes a logic device which analyzes the signals received by the terminal via the primary line and via the bypass line and analyzes or compares these signals to preset values. The logic device selects the signal having characteristics closest to the preset values and rejects the other signals.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant fiber optic coupler/repeater for use in a terminal in a high speed digital, audio or video data transmission system has optical data input from one or a plurality of upstream terminals and sends optical data to one or a plurality of downstream terminals via fiber optic lines. The terminal includes one or more bypass lines and is connected to the bypass line of at least one upstream terminal. The terminal receives optical data signals from upstream terminals via a primary line and one or more bypass lines which bypass one or more of the upstream terminals. The terminals includes a logic device which analyzes the signals received by the terminal via the primary line and via the bypass line and analyzes or compares these signals to preset values. The logic device selects the signal having characteristics closest to the preset values and rejects the other signals.