Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic module, especially an optical transceiver module, including a casing, at least a portion of which consists of a thermally conductive material adapted to dissipate heat to the surrounding air or to a neighboring heat sink (heat dissipating portion); and a printed circuit board provided within the casing, the printed circuit board carrying at least one heat producing electronic device on a mounting surface thereof. A table-like heat dissipating element having one or more legs extending from a table top is provided on the mounting surface. The table top covers the at least one heat producing electronic device and the one or more legs contact the mounting surface in an area surrounding the at least one heat producing electronic device. An upper surface of the table top either directly or indirectly contacts an inner surface of the heat dissipating portion of the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus of operating a bidirectional optical transmission link. The optical transmission link includes a first and a second optical transceiver at a dedicated end of the optical transmission link and an optical path connecting the first and second optical transceiver. The optical transceivers apply the methods of converting an electrical digital transmit signal into an electrical PAM-n transmit signal, pre-emphasizing the electrical PAM-n transmit signal) by digital filtering and using the pre-emphasized electrical PAM-n signal2) as modulating signal for optically modulating an optical carrier signal. The optical modulation method deployed is configured to create an optical PAM-n transmit signal with a positive or negative chirp.

Abstract: A pluggable aggregation module adapted to be plugged into a network device of an optical network, said pluggable aggregation module comprising optical frontends configured to connect said pluggable aggregation module with a corresponding number of modules to exchange optical signals via optical fibres in legacy signal formats; and an electrical conversion circuit configured to convert the legacy signal formats to an internal signal format used by said network device.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems to provide adjustable bit rate optical transmission using programmable signal modulation in optical communication systems.

Abstract: A field reconfigurable muxponder for use in an optical transport system. The muxponder includes one or more tributary cards, where each tributary card is adapted to receive an optical data signal and conditions the optical data signal into an intermediate data signal constituted in accordance with a tributary interface format. In this way, the muxponder is able to aggregate optical data signals having different protocols and/or different data rates. The muxponder further includes a chassis that is adapted to receive a predefined number of tributary cards and outputs an optical system signal independently from the availability of the optical data signals from the tributary cards. The tributary cards and the chassis integrally form one line card.

Abstract: A network diagnostic system is provided for an optical transport network having a plurality of network elements. The network diagnostic system includes at least one network element having a network diagnostic operation integrated therein and operable to perform the network diagnostic operation, thereby determining a network performance characteristic associated with the optical transport network; a wayside communication subsystem interconnecting the network elements residing in the optical transport network; and a network diagnostic device in data communication with the at least one network element and operable to initiate the network diagnostic operation at the network element.

Abstract: A spokeshave providing an easily used depth of cut adjustment that is simple, effective and requires no extra tool or blade removal for adjustment. The blade of the spokeshave is mounted on two posts that project normal to the back of the blade, and the posts are received in structures adjustably positioned within the spokeshave body. Adjustment of the positions of the post-receiving structures cause the blade to move toward or away from the body.

Abstract: A method is provided for isolating faults in an optical network having a plurality of partial regenerators. The method includes: transmitting an optical signal through the optical network; determining an error rate for the optical signal at an egress point of the optical network; sequentially introducing a dither control signal into the optical signal at each of the plurality of partial regenerators; and monitoring the error rate for the optical signal at the egress point of the optical network; thereby isolating where a fault occurs in the optical network.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch is provided for routing optical data signals in an optical transport network.

Abstract: An adaptive method is provided for applying chirp to an optical signal traversing through an optical network. The adaptive method comprises: applying chirp to an optical data signal at a transmitter in the optical network; transmitting the optical data signal through the optical network, the optical data signal having error detection data embedded therein; determining an error rate for the optical data signal at an egress point of the optical network, where the error rate is based on the error detection data embedded in the optical data signal; transmitting the error rate for the optical data signal to the transmitter; and adjusting the chirp being applied to the optical data signal at the transmitter based on the error rate for the optical data signal.

Abstract: A field reconfigurable muxponder for use in an optical transport system. The muxponder includes one or more tributary cards, where each tributary card is adapted to receive an optical data signal and conditions the optical data signal into an intermediate data signal constituted in accordance with a tributary interface format. In this way, the muxponder is able to aggregate optical data signals having different protocols and/or different data rates. The muxponder further includes a chassis that is adapted to receive a predefined number of tributary cards and outputs an optical system signal independently from the availability of the optical data signals from the tributary cards. The tributary cards and the chassis integrally form one line card.

Abstract: A field reconfigurable muxponder for use in an optical transport system. The muxponder includes one or more tributary cards, where each tributary card is adapted to receive an optical data signal and conditions the optical data signal into an intermediate data signal constituted in accordance with a tributary interface format. In this way, the muxponder is able to aggregate optical data signals having different protocols and/or different data rates. The muxponder further includes a chassis that is adapted to receive a predefined number of tributary cards and outputs an optical system signal independently from the availability of the optical data signals from the tributary cards. The tributary cards and the chassis integrally form one line card.

Abstract: A network diagnostic system is provided for an optical transport network having a plurality of network elements. The network diagnostic system includes at least one network element having a network diagnostic operation integrated therein and operable to perform the network diagnostic operation, thereby determining a network performance characteristic associated with the optical transport network; a wayside communication subsystem interconnecting the network elements residing in the optical transport network; and a network diagnostic device in data communication with the at least one network element and operable to initiate the network diagnostic operation at the network element.

Abstract: A network element is provided for an optical transport network. The network element includes: an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) module integrated therein and operable to determine signal power data for an optical signal received therein; a plurality of monitor taps disposed at different locations within the network element, each monitor tap operable to divert a portion of the optical data signal traversing the optical transport network to the OSA module; and an optical switch interposed between the OSA module and each of the plurality of monitor taps, the optical switch receiving optical signals from each of the plurality of monitor taps and selectively operable to input one of the optical signals into the OSA module.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation architecture for a switch-ready optical network includes an identified, switch-ready optical network region having a maximum propagation length, a dispersion section of the region having a section length, and dispersion compensation measures operably applied to said dispersion section, wherein the dispersion compensation measures are selected based on at least one determined regional target value of regional aggregated dispersion, the section length, and the maximum propagation length.

Abstract: A bench plane jointer fence having a fence body secured to the side of any conventional ferromagnetic bench plane by two rare earth magnets mounted in the fence body and by the cooperation between a fence registration surface that bears against the sole of the plane and a repositionable stop screw. The fence is usable to facilitate planing of a workpiece edge square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface and may utilize a one-piece fence body. Planing of a workpiece edge at angles other than square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface is possible by pivoting a lower portion of the fence relative to an upper portion or, in the case of a one-piece fence body, by attachment of an auxiliary fence having a wedge-shaped cross section.

Abstract: Bench planes of different sizes having interchangeable components and an adjustable frog providing full blade support with a frog foot that extends through the plane body mouth to terminate co-planer or nearly co-planer with the sole. The rear plane handle or tote is captured between and secured soley to tines projecting from the frog that is adjustably secured to alternative sizes of plane bodies in a manner permitting forward and backward adjustment of the frog position without removing the plane blade. Superior lateral blade position control is provided by set screws in the plane body and contacting blade side edges. Adjustments in the blade cutting angle without modifying the angle at which the blade is held by the frog in the plane may be made by forming a front bevel on the front surface of the blade.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch is provided for routing optical data signals in an optical transport network.