T-Connection fiber-optic repeater

Claim 2

A fiber-optic T-connection repeater assembly for use in a multi-star fiber-optic network, comprising: a first receiving-means for receiving optical signals from a device at a first location and for generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; first transmitting means responsive to said electrical signals generated by said first receiving means for emitting optical signals to a star at a second location whenever said first receiving means receives optical signals; characterized by second receiving means for receiving optical signals from said star and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; said second transmitting means being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means for emitting optical signals to said device at said first location; and inhibiting means connected to said first receiving means for inhibiting said second transmitting means for responding to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means whenever said first receiving means receives optical signals.

Claim 3

The repeater of claim 1, wherein said first receiving means comprises an optical/electrical transducer and a waveshaping circuit, wherein said second receiving means comprises an optical/electrical transducer and a waveshaping circuit, and wherein said first and second transmitting means comprise first and second electrical/ optical transducers, respectively.

Claim 4

The repeater of claim 2, wherein said electrical/optical transducers comprise LEDs.

Claim 5

The repeater of claim 2, wherein said optical/electrical transducers comprise photodiodes, and wherein said first receiving means and said second receiving means each additionally comprise means for amplifying the outputs of said photodiodes.

Claim 6

The repeater of claim 1, wherein said second location is closer than said first location to said repeater.

Claim 7

The repeater of claim 1, wherein said second location is less than ten meters from said repeater.

Claim 8

The repeater of claim 1, further comprising third receiving means for receiving optical signals from a device at a third location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto, said first and second transmitting means additionally being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said third receiving means and emitting optical signals to said star and said device at said first location respectively whenever said third receiving means receives optical signals; and third transmitting means responsive to said electrical signals gener- s ated by said first receiving means for emitting optical signals to said device at said third location whenever said first receiving means receives optical signals, said third transmitting means additionally being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means, said inhibit means additionally being connected to said third receiving means and including means for inhibiting said third transmitting means from responding to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means whenever said first or third receiving means receives optical signals.

Claim 9

The repeater of claim 7, wherein said first, second, and third receiving means each comprise an optical/electrical transducer and a waveshaping circuit.

Claim 10

The repeater of claim 8, wherein said optical/electrical transducers are photodiodes, and wherein said first, second, and third receiving means additionally comprise means for amplifying the outputs of the photodiodes. '

Claim 11

The repeater of claim 8, wherein said first, second, and third transmitting means are LEDs.

Claim 12

The repeater of claim 8, further comprising a first gate having a first input connected to the output of said third receiving means, a second input connected to said inhibit means, and an output connected to said second transmitting means.

Claim 13

The repeater of claim 11, further comprising a second gate having a first input connected to the output of said third receiving means, a second input connected to the output of said first receiving means, and an output connected to said first transmitting means.

Claim 14

. 13. The repeater of claim 12, further comprising a third gate having a first input connected to the output of said first receiving means, a second input connected to the output of said inhibit means, and an output connected to said third transmitting means.

Claim 15

The repeater of claim 13, wherein said gates are OR-gates.

Claim 16

The repeater of claim 12, wherein said inhibit means comprises means for OR-ing the outputs of said first and third receiving means, and a fourth gate having a first input responsive to said means for OR-ing, a second input connected to the output of said second receiving means, and an output, one input of each of the first and third gates being responsive to the output of said fourth gate.

Claim 17

The repeater of claim 15, further comprising means connecting the outputs of said first and third receiving means to said means for OR-ing for stretching the outputs of said first and third receiving means.

Claim 18

The repeater of claim 7, further comprising fourth transmitting means responsive to said electrical signals generated by said first and third receiving means for emitting optical signals to an additional star at said second location whenever said first or third receiving means receives optical signals, said fourth transmitting means additionally being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means unless inhibited by said inhibit means; fourth receiving means for receiving optical signals from said additional star and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto, said first, second, and third transmitting means additionally being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said fourth receiving means; and an additional inhibit means connected to said first and third receiving means for inhibiting said first, second, and third transmitting means from responding to said electrical signals generated by said fourth receiving means when said first and third receiving means receives optical signals.

Claim 19

The repeater of claim 17, further comprising a gate having inputs connected to said third receiving means, said inhibit means, and said additional inhibit means, and having an output connected to said second transmitting means; a gate having inputs connected to said first transmitting means, said third transmitting means, and said additional inhibit means, and having an output connected to said first transmitting means; a gate having inputs connected to said first transmitting means, said third transmitting means, and said inhibit means, and having an output connected to said fourth transmitting means; and a gate having inputs connected to said first transmitting means, said inhibit means, and said additional inhibit means, and having an output connected to said third transmitting means.

Claim 20

The repeater of claim 7, further comprising fourth receiving means connected to said inhibit means for receiving optical signals from a device at a fourth location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; and fourth transmitting means responsive to said electrical signals generated by said first and third receiving means for emitting optical signals to said device at said fourth location whenever said first or third receiving means receives optical signals, said fourth receiving means additionally being responsive to said electrical signals generated by said second receiving means unless inhibited by said inhibit means.

Claim 21

The repeater of claim 19, further comprising a gate having inputs connected to said third receiving means, said fourth receiving means, and said inhibit means, and an output connected to said second transmitting means; a gate having inputs connected to said first, third, and fourth receiving means, and having an output connected to said first transmitting means; a gate having inputs connected to said first transmitting means, said fourth transmitting means, and said inhibit means, and having an output connected to said third transmitting means; and a gate having inputs connected to said first transmitting means, said third transmitting means, and said inhibit means, and having an output connected to said fourth transmitting means.

Claim 22

A T-connection fiber-optic repeater comprising: first receiving means for receiving optical signals from a device at a first location and generating optical signals corresponding thereto; second receiving means for receiving optical signals from a star at a second location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; third receiving means for receiving optical signals from a device at a third location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto;

Claim 23

A T-connection fiber-optic repeater comprising: first receiving means for receiving optical signals from a device at a first location and generating optical signals corresponding thereto; second receiving means for receiving optical signals from a star at a second location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto; third receiving means for receiving optical signals from a device at a third location and generating electrical signals corresponding thereto;