EP0103467A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic data distributor
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1983-09-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic data distribution system for transferring data between a plurality of terminals (72, 74, 76, 78). Each terminal is connected to a dedicated portion of separate fiber optical material (111a, 111b, 111c, 111d) and may be uniquely addressed by encoding the optical signal with a distinct address code. Optical signals may be supplied from a central processing unit (67) to one or more terminals (72, 74, 76, 78). Alternatively, an optical signal may be supplied by a terminal (72, 74, 76, 78) and transmitted to another terminal (72, 74, 76, 78), or the central processing unit (67).
Inventors
- 👤 Steven A. Newton
- 👤 John E. Bowers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2826; G02B6/283; G02B6/2861; G02B6/293; G02B6/29331; G02B6/29332; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4215; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2589; H04B10/25891; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A fiber optic data distribution system for transferring data between a plurality of terminals, comprising: a first array of portions of a single continuous fiber (50); means (67) for applying an optical signal to said first array; a second array of elements (111) for tapping optical signals from said first array, said second array including a plurality of portions of separate fiber optical material (llla,lllb,llc,llld), each of said portions being connected to at least one terminal (72,74,76,78) ; and means (70,71) for holding said first array of portions of continuous fiber in alignment of said second array so that light propagating in either of said first and second arrays is coupled to the other of said first and second arrays.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A fiber optic data distribution system for transferring data between a plurality of terminals, comprising: a first array of portions of a single continuous fiber (50); means (67) for applying an optical signal to said first array; a second array of elements (111) for tapping optical signals from said first array, said second array including a plurality of portions of separate fiber optical material (llla,lllb,llc,llld), each of said portions being connected to at least one terminal (72,74,76,78) ; and means (70,71) for holding said first array of portions of continuous fiber in alignment of said second array so that light propagating in either of said first and second arrays is coupled to the other of said first and second arrays.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said terminal (72,74,76,78) is adapted to receive an optical signal communicated to said by one of said portions of separate fiber optical material (111a.111b,11c,111d).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said terminal (72,74,76,78) further includes means for deriving information from said optical signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said terminal ( 72, 74, 76, 78) is adapted to apply an optical signal to said portion of separate fiber optic material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
36 words
The system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein light propagated in said first array (50) is coupled to each of said portions of separate fiber optical material (llla,lllb,llc,llld) in said second array.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
42 words
The system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said single continuous fiber is serially connected to an optical signal processing unit (67), said processing unit being adapted to supply an optical signal to said single continuous fiber (50).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said optical signal processing unit (67) is further adapted to permit optical signals coupled to a portion of said single continuous fiber (50) to pass through said processing unit (67) and be communicated to the remaining portions of said single continuous fiber (50).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
19 words
The system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said optical signal includes an address code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said address code identifies one of said plurality of terminals (72,74,76,78) and said optical processing unit (67).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said terminals (72,74,76,78) are adapted to selectively extract information from said optical signal in response to a particular address code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said optical processing unit (67) is adapted to apply an address code to an optical signal indicative of the intended destination terminal (72,74,76,78) of said optical signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of distributing optical signals propagating in an optical fiber, in accordance with the destination of the signal, comprising the steps of: forming a first array of portions of a single continuous optical fiber (50); forming a second array of portions of a plurality of separate optical fibers (llla,lllb,llc,llld); connecting each of said separate optical fibers to a separate terminal (72,74,76,78). holding the first and second arrays in alignment so that evanescent field coupling (70,71) couples light from each of the first and second arrays to the other of said first and second arrays; and supplying an optical signal to the first array (50) for distribution to each of the plurality of separate fibers in the second array (111a,111b,11c,111d) by means of evanescent field coupling (70, 71) supplying an address code to said optical signal, said address code being adapted to identify at least one particular terminal ( 72, 74, 76, 78); and receiving said optical signal at said terminal (72,74,76,78) identified by said address code, said identified terminal being adapted to extract information from said signal upon recognition of the identifying address code.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of distributing optical signals propagating in an optical fiber, in accordance with the destination of the signal, comprising the steps of: forming a first array of portions of a single continuous optical fiber (50); forming a second array of portions of a plurality of separate optical fibers (llla,lllb,llc,llld); connecting each of said separate optical fibers to a separate terminal (72,74,76,78). holding the first and second arrays in alignment so that evanescent field coupling (70,71) couples light from each of the first and second arrays to the other of said first and second arrays; and supplying an optical signal to the first array (50) for distribution to each of the plurality of separate fibers in the second array (111a,111b,11c,111d) by means of evanescent field coupling (70, 71) supplying an address code to said optical signal, said address code being adapted to identify at least one particular terminal ( 72, 74, 76, 78); and receiving said optical signal at said terminal (72,74,76,78) identified by said address code, said identified terminal being adapted to extract information from said signal upon recognition of the identifying address code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of distributing optical signals according to Claim 9 further comprising the step of polishing the first and second arrays to remove a part of cladding (102) from the first and second arrays.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of distributing optical signals. according to Claim 10, further comprising the steps of: supplying optical signal to fibers selected from said plurality of separate fibers (111a,111b,11C,111d); and coupling optical signals from each of the selected fibers (llla,lllb,llc,llld) to the single continuous fiber (50).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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