Abstract: A communication link for communicating data between a first opto-electronic equipment capable of providing an optical signal and a second opto-electronic equipment capable of receiving the optical signal is described. The communication link includes a first optical channel and a second channel. The first optical channel is preferably a high-speed optical channel for conveying information requiring high-speed connection and the second channel is preferably a slow channel providing, for example a low-power monitoring function. An opto-mechanical device for providing a communication link, including a first opto-electronic equipment for providing an optical signal, a second opto-electronic equipment for receiving the optical signal, a first optical channel and a second channel is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of infrared devices (ICDs) is provided herein. A remote controller is used to generate an optical signal for controlling a plurality of ICDs. The optical signal generated by the remote controller is converted into an electrical signal by an infrared repeater device. An implementation of such a system includes a rotary mechanical switch to direct the electrical signal generated by the infrared repeater device to a light emitting diode (LED) located near one of the plurality of ICDs. The LED converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and re-transmits the optical signal to the one of the plurality of ICDs. The system allows controlling the plurality of ICDs located in a remote location without having the user commute closer to such ICDs.

Abstract: An integrated device transmits and/or receives information by means of millimetric waves (wavelength 1 mm-10 mm), frequencies of 30 to 300 Ghz. The device has an optoelectronic integrated circuit that interfaces with an antenna able to transmit and/or receive millimeter wave signals. The device forms a transceiver module to be used in a wireless or mobile radio local area network. The transmitter circuit is constituted by a laser in passive mode-locking. The receiver circuit is constituted by an antenna, a photodiode, and a laser identical to that of the transmitter. The photodiode, by means of appropriate bias, performs a dual function of optical and electrical mixer. In particular, the first function converts to electrical frequency the optical beat signal between two modes generated by the laser, the second function allows the received signal to be brought back to base band, thereby allowing the extraction of the modulating signal from the weak signal received through the antenna.

Abstract: An optical signal distribution network including a semiconductor substrate including a waveguide formed therein to carry an optical signal; and a plurality of detectors within the waveguide and serially arranged along its length, each of the detectors being capable of detecting the optical signal passing through it and sufficiently transparent to the optical signal to enable the optical signal to reach and be detected by all of the plurality of detectors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a network hub having an active optical encoder where the network hub is to generate a plurality of addressed optical data signals, each having a common carrier wavelength and a different address corresponding to a network node coupled to the network hub. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A robust and redundant status link is established by a first multi-channel optoelectronic device with a second multi-channel optoelectronic device in a multi-channel communication link. Transmitter bias currents are effectively modulated with a status link modulation signal representative of status data and subsequently modulated with primary data modulation signals. The resulting signals are transformed into optical signals and transmitted over the link as main communication links combined with a status link. At the second device, the optical signals are received and converted to electrical signals. The receipt of the optical signals creates multiple receiver bias currents, which may be monitored to detect the status link modulation signal. The second device may adjust various operating parameters in response to the information conveyed by the status link.

Abstract: A transmitter formed of two or more light-emitting sections such as LEDs, which are physically arranged in a predetermined manner, is disposed in the real world object, and each light-emitting section transmits data by flashing at a flashing pattern representing the transmission data of a predetermined bit length. A receiver, on the other hand, includes a photoreceiving section formed from a two-dimensional photoreceiving surface, decodes the transmission data on the basis of the photoreceived flashing pattern, and recognizes the spatial information of an object on the basis of the flashing position on the two-dimensional photoreceiving surface. Therefore, information, such as an ID, can be obtained from the object in the real world, and also, the spatial position of the object can be recognized at the same time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, apt to generate and process optical codes at least one wavelength, comprising P inputs s, with 1?s?P, and P?1, and N outputs k, with 1?k?N and N?1, characterized in that it is apt to simultaneously generate and process Nc?2, made of C chips with time interval ?, with C?2, characterized in that the transfer function Tsk(f) from the input s to the output k satisfies the following formula: where: Fv is a transfer function of an optical filter, for v=0, 1 . . . , V?1, av is a constant value, for v=0, 1, . . . , V?1 Ssk is an integer number (Ssk?Z), Nk is a constant value, for k=2, . . . N, and V is a positive integer number with 1?V?log2N. The invention further relates to a set of optical codes, apt to be generated, in particular, by such optical device, and to networks and apparatus comprising such optical device.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus that receives an optical signal by selecting any one of a plurality of provided optical signal transmission paths through protection control is configured to include a plurality of optical signal outputting sections that output the optical signals transmitted through said optical signal transmission paths respectively as optical signals having wavelengths that are different from each other, a wavelength selective optical switch capable of selectively outputting light of a wavelength corresponding to any one of the optical signals coming from the optical signal outputting sections on the basis of the frequency of a controlling frequency signal, and an optical switch controlling section that supplies said controlling frequency signal to the wavelength selective optical switch so as to output the optical signal coming from the optical signal transmission path side that is selected by said protection control among the optical signals coming from the optical signal outputting sections.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is disclosed that classifies digital broadcast channel data according to virtual channel connection (VCC) before transmission. In the optical transmission network, an optical signal receiver converts an optical signal from an optical line terminal (OLT) into an ATM cell that is classified according to the VCC. A VCC-based ATM cell classifier detects header information and a payload part from the classified ATM cell of each VCC. PID analyzers receive a payload part of an ATM cell corresponding to one VCC from the VCC-based ATM cell classifier, extract PID of each broadcast channel from digital broadcast channel data included in the payload part, and output specific broadcast channel data in the broadcast channel data included in the payload part. A switch receives broadcast channel data output from the PID analyzers and switches the received broadcast channel data to a broadcast channel desired by each subscriber.

Abstract: The extended range of optical data communication is enabled through the use of intermediary relay stations spaced fairly far apart. IRDA communicatiOn, as is well known, uses very short duration optical pulses to send data up to 1 Mbit/sec; this has the concomitant effect of minimizing LED duty cycle and preventing excessive heating. The invention uses a number of integrated pulses to represent a single bit instead of utilizing a one-to-one correspondence between pulses and bits. Processing software causes the transmitter to “stutter” or repetitively emanate the identical pulse representing a bit of information. Sufficient photons are thereby gathered at a receiver to reach a predetermined threshold. A tradeoff of the data transmission frequency in this invention is that as signal intensity drops by a factor of 100 when distance increases by a factor of 10 yielding a distance/intensity ratio of 1/10.

Abstract: A position of a first module (12a) with respect to an optical fiber (11) is determined in accordance with a receiving efficiency at the first module (12a) with respect to light emitted from the optical fiber (11). Power of light coupled into the optical fiber (11) from the first module (12a) is set in accordance with a value of a far-end reflectivity on a side of the first module (12a) in the position so as to satisfy a predetermined formula. By giving priority to determining a condition that significantly influences an improvement of an eye opening ratio, it is possible to manufacture an optical communication system at a low cost and with more freedom in manufacturing. Thus provided is a method of manufacturing an optical communication system, the method allowing for manufacturing an optical communication system at a low cost and with more freedom in manufacturing.

Abstract: An optical transfer device for transferring optical signals from a moveable part to a stationary part through an optical transfer medium in order to minimize distortions of the optical signal and increase the effective bandwidth of the signal transit path by minimizing and/or maintaining equal alternate optical signal transit paths from the transmitter to the receiver.

Abstract: A WDM optical source, in adopting a spectrum-sliced method, advantageously needs neither an optical source with specific generation wavelength nor a wavelength-stabilizing circuit for stabilizing wavelength. Affording high power and a very narrow line width, the WDM optical source can provide a broadcasting service without signal distortion by a chromatic dispersion effect and also avoids the expense of an amplifier and/or external modulator, thereby relieving subscribers of the economical burden. The practical use of WDM-PON and of WDM-PON using an inventive WDM optical source can therefore be brought to fruition and broadcasting service can be provided economically.

Abstract: A device including: at least two electronic/electrical components; and a casing, the casing having at least a portion thereof acting as a communication bus for connecting the at least two electronic/electrical components.

Abstract: An optical communications system includes a receiver subsystem with at least two heterodyne receivers. The receiver subsystem receives a composite optical signal having two or more subbands of information and corresponding tones. An optical splitter splits the composite optical signal into optical signals. Each optical signal includes a subband(s) and corresponding tone. Each heterodyne receiver receives an optical signal. The receiver includes a heterodyne detector coupled to a signal extractor. The heterodyne detector mixes the optical signal with an optical local oscillator to produce an electrical signal which includes a frequency down-shifted version of the subband and the tone of the optical signal. The signal extractor mixes the frequency down-shifted subband with the frequency down-shifted tone to produce a frequency component containing the information.

Abstract: A passive optical network employs wavelength-dependent routing, and terminals that transmit request packets (requesting a data transmission slot) in a common signalling time slot. Different delays are then applied to packets on different wavelength channels, allowing a number of request packets to be processed in sequence by a single optical receiver at the network controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications backbone interface between at least three members of a communications network for a space vehicle. In the invention, the interface combines various signals received at inlets, which signals may be analog, digital, and optical, coming from two members, and produces a multiplexed optical signal for delivery to a member of the vehicle, such as a piece of equipment. The invention also provides to a communications terminal interface, a communications network having such interfaces, and an optical fiber harness.

Abstract: Cost-reduction in an optical communication unit is achieved by using spectrum-sliced modulated broadband light for transmitting upstream signals, instead of using laser light. An optical communication system includes at least one pair of optical communication units that each has a bi-directional network interface in which physical bit rates of transmission signals and reception signals are identical, an optical transmitter, and an optical receiver, and that performs bi-directional transmissions via at least one optical fiber. One optical communication unit includes a physical bit rate down-converter that lowers the physical bit rate of transmission signals from the bi-directional network interface and outputs to the optical transmitter, and the other optical communication unit includes a physical bit rate up-converter that raises the physical bit rate of signals received by the optical receiver and outputs to the bi-directional network interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for free-space optical communication. The apparatus includes a first board with a plurality of optoelectronic converter components mounted on the first board. The apparatus additionally includes at least one optics element optically aligned with at least one of the optoelectronic converter components, where the optics element is configured to pass light directly between free-space and the plurality of optoelectronic converter components, and electronics coupled to at least one of the plurality of optoelectronic converter component. In one embodiment, communication is achieved by providing electric signals to a plurality of lasers that are mounted on a first board, generating a plurality of optical signals with the plurality of lasers and directing the plurality of optical signals into free-space with a plurality of optics elements.

Abstract: The WDM receiver includes a wavelength demultiplexer, a detector array and a signal extractor. The wavelength demultiplexer receives an n-channel optical input signal and transmits the n-channel optical input signal to m optical outputs. Each of the optical outputs receives a wavelength band centered at a different wavelength. The wavelength bands have a center-to-center wavelength spacing of ???. The detector array is composed of m detector elements coupled to the wavelength demultiplexer. Each of the detector elements generates a detection signal in response to light received from one of the optical outputs of the wavelength demultiplexer. The signal extractor receives the detection signals from the detector array and converts the detection signals to an n-channel receiver output signal, each channel of which corresponds to a different one of the n channels of the optical input signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching optical signals, comprising a first group of port cards adapted to receive input optical signals to be switched by the apparatus and a second group of port cards adapted to provide switched optical signals to an entity external to the apparatus. Each of the port cards in the first group includes a plurality of optical transmitter elements operative to produce respective optical beams from the input optical signals, as well as a transmit beam steering element array operative to orient the optical beams into respective transmit directions. Each of the port cards in the second group includes a plurality of optical receive elements operative to detect the presence of respective optical beams received from the port cards in the first group and produce respective ones of the switched optical signals therefrom. Application of beam steering at the port cards in the first group permits the apparatus to be more compact and allows for greater manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: The optical receiver comprises an optical input path, a light detector array, an optical converging element and an information signal generator. The light detector array includes light detectors and a light-sensitive surface. Each light detector generates an electrical signal in response to light. The optical converging element is located to focus an optical input signal received via the optical input path to form a spot on the light-sensitive surface of the light detector array. The spot has an area less than the area of the light-sensitive surface but greater than the area of one of the light detectors. The information signal generator generates an electrical information signal from at least one of the electrical signals. In an embodiment, the information signal generator includes a summer that sums the electrical signals generated by the light detectors to generate the electrical information signal.

Abstract: A fiber optic system for communicating between a central office and a downstream station is described. The central office has a TX unit, an RX unit and a continuous wave (“CW”) laser. Each station has an RX unit and a tunable filter coupling the RX unit to the central office. During downstream transmission, the station's tunable filter is tuned to the central office TX wavelength so that the signal transmitted by the central office will pass through the filter and be received by the station's RX unit. During upstream transmission, the station's tunable filter is selectively tuned to a wavelength different than the CW laser wavelength, allowing selective reflection of light from the CW laser back to the central office. The tunable filter can thus be used to modulate the reflected light to effectively create an upstream transmission from the downstream station to the central office.

Abstract: A re-generator of an optical clock signal has at least a mode-locked semiconductor laser outputting a re-generated optical clock signal from at least one end face of the mode-locked semiconductor laser, with inputted light signals having different polarized wave states respectively at both end faces of the mode-locked semiconductor laser; wherein the re-generator has a light splitter to split the light signal into two kinds of elements with respective polarized waves different by a right angle, and to emit one of the elements split from the light signal, to one of both end faces of the mode-locked semiconductor laser; and a rotator to input the other elements split from the light signal, to rotate the other elements by a right angle, and to lead the rotated element to the other end face of the mode-locked semiconductor laser.

Abstract: An optical network has an optical splitter connected to (1) a working optical subscriber unit (OSU) of a working circuit via a working optical fiber, (2) a protection OSU of a protection circuit via a protection optical fiber, and (3) one or more optical network terminals (ONTs). The present invention enables fast protection switching from the working OSU to the protection OSU. In one embodiment, the arrival times of corresponding upstream ranging reply PLOAM cells are measured at both the working and protection OSUs during ranging operations of the working OSU. In another embodiment, a cell delineation procedure is initiated at the protection OSU during normal, non-ranging operations of the working OSU to enable the protection OSU to correctly delineate upstream cells and the arrival times of corresponding upstream cells are then measured at both the working and protection OSUs.

Abstract: An optical transmission device for providing stable communication with a partner device by reducing errors in optical axis misalignment. Such errors are caused by uneven distribution of the light intensity in a received light beam resulting from atmospheric microscopic fluctuations. A cross pattern filter having at least two cross patterns is used at a partner transmission device side with respect to an incident direction detecting means, and arranged so that a cross pattern generated on the position detecting photodetector by the cross pattern filter and parting lines for dividing a position detecting photodetector do not overlap with each other, but intersect with each other.

Abstract: Devices for providing optical signal transmissions between a transmitter unit and a receiving unit which is mobile relative to the transmitter unit. The units are optically coupled to each other via an optical transfer medium, and thus improve transmission quality by eliminating, or greatly reducing interferences that affect the transmission quality.

Abstract: A method for protecting a phase lock loop (PLL) in an optical system is disclosed. The disclosed method will determine whether the currently reading data is erroneous and then maintain the frequency currently locked by the PLL circuit when the waveform lengths of the EFM signal in a detecting window contain at least one waveform length longer than 11T and at least one waveform length shorter than 3T. Otherwise, the PLL circuit will adjust the locked frequency according to the waveform length of the detected EFM signal so that the system clock frequency can be adjusted based on the locked one. In addition, when the optical system seeks tracks for reading required data under a constant angular velocity (CAV) modulation mode, the PLL circuit will increase the locked frequency gradually as the pick-up head moves towards the outer tracks of the optical disc, and decrease the locked frequency gradually as the pick-up head moves towards the inner tracks of the optical disc.