Abstract: A monitoring and troubleshooting system to determine whether or not an antenna that is used for receiving wireless weak signals, like base station for cellular wireless communication, is operational. The antenna status condition is signaled over the Fiber Optic (FO) link without interfering the signal during normal operation. When a fault is detected the status at the FO receiver is determined. Then, an indication using special signaling allows a service technician to distinguish if the status fault is antenna failure or antenna disconnect. The present invention will also allow a service technician to determine if there is a FO link failure by use of light intensity monitoring. The present invention also includes a method of monitoring the status of a radio frequency antenna with the apparatus as discussed above.

Abstract: A monitoring and troubleshooting system to determine whether or not an antenna that is used for receiving wireless weak signals, like base station for cellular wireless communication, is operational. The antenna status condition is signaled over the Fiber Optic (FO) link without interfering the signal during normal operation. When a fault is detected the status at the FO receiver is determined. Then, an indication using special signaling allows a service technician to distinguish if the status fault is antenna failure or antenna disconnect. The present invention will also allow a service technician to determine if there is a FO link failure by use of light intensity monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method that identifies and localizes fiber breaks or faults automatically, utilizing a fiber optic data transceiver that has ?OTDR functionality. The transceiver of the present invention is a single wavelength bi-directional transceiver that during normal operation sends and receives optical data streams in the same wavelength window using any protocol and reports the distance to the fault or multiple faults nearly instantaneously when the transfer of data is disrupted, without the need to have fiber lines dedicated for this purpose or physically connect and reconnect each fiber line to check for faults and eliminates the need to map out the distance to the remote transceiver.

Abstract: A computer system composed of a storage and control unit including components for receiving and processing input data signals and components for producing output signals based on the input data signals; an input/output unit including components for generating input signals and output components for providing a display based on output signals; and a wireless link between the units for conducting data signals from the components for generating input signals to the components for receiving and processing input signals and for conducting output signals from the components for producing output signals to the output components.

Abstract: A computer system composed of a storage and control unit including components for receiving and processing input data signals and components for producing output signals based on the input data signals; an input/output unit including components for generating input signals and output components for providing a display based on output signals; and a wireless link between the units for conducting data signals from the components for generating input signals to the components for receiving and processing input signals and for conducting output signals from the components for producing output signals to the output components.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver adapted for use in an optical fiber data transmission system is capable of detecting reflection problems in fiber optic links and providing information related to the distance to the point of reflection. The fiber optic transceiver contains a fiber interface, a receiver, a transmitter, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the transmitter to modulate the laser power to transmit impulse test data and the transceiver includes circuitry and microcode to detect reflection due to fiber connection problems. This enables trouble shooting during installation and/or reconfiguring the connection automatically, in response to a connection problem, and provides a physical layer link.

Abstract: An optical networking unit includes a plurality of optical components mounted on a substrate composed of a material transparent to radiation in a frequency range. At least one of the optical components is secured to the substrate by a curable bonding material of a type curable in response to exposure to radiation in said frequency range. One optical component preferably comprises an optical fiber secured to an optical fiber holder holding the optical fiber and secured to the substrate. An active optical component is optically aligned with the optical fiber and is secured to an active optical component holder holding the active optical component and secured to the substrate.

Abstract: A passive optical network which is capable of full duplex digital transmission at high data rates and which also provides analog broadcast transmission is disclosed. A central station provides analog broadcast transmission at a first wavelength of light and full duplex digital transmission using second and third wavelengths of light. Optical networking units, electrically or wirelessly coupled to end users in the network, are optically coupled to the central station via passive optical network nodes. The optical networking units resolve the two broadcast streams from the central station employing compact optics configured on a transparent substrate and provide burst mode digital transmission up stream to the central station on a time division multiple access basis.

Abstract: A hybrid optical and electrical module is disclosed. The hybrid optical and electrical module includes an optical fiber and an active optical component module configured in a fixed relation to the fiber. The active optical component module includes a substrate, an active optical component mounted on the substrate in a configuration to optically couple to the fiber, and an electrical circuit on the substrate electrically coupled to the active optical component. The electrical circuit includes at least one integrated circuit. The active optical component module includes external electrical leads extending through the substrate to connect with external circuitry.

Abstract: An optical module comprising a flexible circuit board adapted for mounting the optical module onto a printed circuit board (PCB). The flexible circuit board includes circuitry to effectively match impedances between the optical module components and the electrical circuitry on the PCB mounted close to the active component. The flexible circuit board may also include circuit components to filter the power supply voltage and provide a ground layer to reduce ground loop currents. In separate embodiments, the flex board can be mounted to the PCB at different relative vertical locations. Also disclosed are multiple circuits appropriate for different optical modules that include: laser diodes, avalanche photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes with a transimpedance amplifier, PIN photodiodes, and other optical components in various combinations.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver adapted for use in an optical fiber data transmission system is capable of detecting fiber connection problems and providing visual or other indications of a problem. The fiber optic transceiver contains a fiber interface, a receiver, a transmitter, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the transmitter to modulate the laser power to transmit test data and the transceiver includes circuitry and microcode to detect fiber connection problems, including reflection and cross connections. This enables trouble shooting during installation and/or reconfiguring the connection automatically, in response to a connection problem, and provides a physical layer link.

Abstract: A computer system composed of a storage and control unit including components for receiving and processing input data signals and components for producing output signals based on the input data signals; an input/output unit including components for generating input signals and output components for providing a display based on output signals; and a wireless link between the units for conducting data signals from the components for generating input signals to the components for receiving and processing input signals and for conducting output signals from the components for producing output signals to the output components.

Abstract: A passive optical network which is capable of full duplex digital transmission at high data rates and which also provides analog broadcast transmission is disclosed. A central station provides analog broadcast transmission at a first wavelength of light and full duplex digital transmission using second and third wavelengths of light. Optical networking units, electrically or wirelessly coupled to end users in the network, are optically coupled to the central station via passive optical network nodes. The optical networking units resolve the two broadcast streams from the central station employing compact optics configured on a transparent substrate and provide burst mode digital transmission up stream to the central station on a time division multiple access basis.

Abstract: An optical transceiver adapted for use in an optical fiber data transmission system which is capable of efficiently detecting burst mode data transmission from multiple transmitters despite phase differences between data bursts is disclosed. The transceiver operating in a receive mode employs a front end which receives modulated light signals and converts the signals to modulated electrical signals and provides a digital signal. A back end, coupled to the front end, receives the digital signal and a clock signal and outputs data derived from the digital signal and phase aligned to the clock. The back end comprises a clock and data phase aligning circuit which derives plural phase shifted digital signals from the input digital signal and selects one of the phase shifted digital signals as an output. This provides output data which is phase aligned to the clock. High speed phase alignment is provided allowing accurate phase alignment on a burst to burst basis.

Abstract: A computer system composed of a storage and control unit including components for receiving and processing input data signals and components for producing output signals based on the input data signals; an input/output unit including components for generating input signals and output components for providing a display based on output signals; and a wireless link between the units for conducting data signals from the components for generating input signals to the components for receiving and processing input signals and for conducting output signals from the components for producing output signals to the output components.

Abstract: An optical networking unit includes a plurality of optical components mounted on a substrate composed of a material transparent to radiation in a frequency range. At least one of the optical components is secured to the substrate by a curable bonding material of a type curable in response to exposure to radiation in said frequency range. One optical component preferably comprises an optical fiber secured to an optical fiber holder holding the optical fiber and secured to the substrate. An active optical component is optically aligned with the optical fiber and is secured to an active optical component holder holding the active optical component and secured to the substrate.

Abstract: A fiber optic transmitter and/or transceiver adapted for use in an optical fiber data transmission system which is capable of transmitting data at high data rates in burst mode is disclosed. An analog dual loop automatic power control circuit samples monitored laser power peak and valley levels and uses them for modulation and bias laser driver control. These levels compensate for variations in laser power due to temperature variations or other factors. The sampled peak and valley levels are held between bursts in an analog level memory and are reestablished on a burst by burst basis. The optical transmitter or transceiver is further capable of operating in both burst and continuous modes.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver operable in a continuous or burst mode is disclosed. The transceiver operating in a receive mode receives modulated light signals and converts the signals to modulated electrical signals. The modulated electrical signals are provided with a front end level control on a bit by bit basis to adjust the signals to a substantially constant reference level. The receiver front end detects also differentiates the signal to provide a signal corresponding to transitions in the incoming modulated electrical signal. The differentiated signal with stable reference level is provided to a quantizer. The quantizer employs the differentiated signal to extract a digital signal which may be accurately used for data and clock signal extraction.

Abstract: A medication dispensing and monitoring system includes an acknowledge-back pager, a carriage communicating with the pager, and a medication unit dispensing stored medication. The pager receives prescriptions and transmits messages back to a physician or health care organization. Prescriptions received by the pager are stored and processed by a pager processor. The pager processor communicates with a carriage controller via a series of electrical contacts. At a prescribed time, a motor in the carriage causes the medication unit to dispense the prescribed medication. Numerous medication units may be assembled to accommodate different forms of medication.

Abstract: A medication dispensing and monitoring system includes an acknowledge-back pager, a carriage communicating with the pager, and a medication unit dispensing stored medication. The pager receives prescriptions and transmits messages back to a physician or health care organization. Prescriptions received by the pager are stored and processed by a pager processor. The pager processor communicates with a carriage controller via a series of electrical contacts. At a prescribed time, a motor in the carriage causes the medication unit to dispense the prescribed medication. Numerous medication units may be assembled to accommodate different forms of medication.