Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting transitory and repetitive light signals from a radiant energy source. The invention comprises a detector means for detecting the light signals and for providing output signals indicative of the presence thereof, first indicator means coupled to the detector means for providing a continuous indication of the initial presence of the light signals and second indicator means for providing an indication of the repetition rate of the light signals. In a particular embodiment, a video amplifier circuit is coupled to a detector circuit to provide an amplified output and a comparator circuit is coupled to the video amplifier circuit and senses the video amplifier circuit output signals above a specified level and produces standard logic level output signals. The output signals from the comparator circuit are coupled to a first indicator circuit incorporating a first light-emitting diode which provides a continuous indication of the initial presence of the light signal.

Abstract: A self-powered fiber optic interconnect system in which electrical output from data transmitting equipment is converted in a transmitter unit to optical signals in a fiber optic cable for transmission to a receiver unit for reconversion to electrical signals for data receiving equipment and a power source separate from the transmitting and receiving equipment so that the interconnect system can be completely interchangeable with an electrical copper wire interconnect system. When the data transmitting equipment is a computer with parallel data output, the transmitter unit converts the parallel output to serial data output for transmission to the receiver unit over a single fiber optic cable and the receiver unit reconverts the output to parallel data for the data receiving equipment.