Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A network interface unit (NIU) for interfacing an electrical device to an optical network, said NIU comprising: first and second electrical transmission lines (206,207), electro-optical converting means (101) connected to said first electrical transmission line for receiving a first electrical signal and converting the first electrical signal into a first optical signal for transmission to the optical network, optical-electro converting means (104) for (a) receiving a second optical signal from the optical network, (b) converting said second optical signal into a second electrical signal, and (c) transmitting said second electrical signal via the second electrical transmission line; and means connected to said second electrical transmission line for increasing a ratio of energy in the second electrical signal to energy in the first electrical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An NIU according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second electrical transmission lines includes: a first portion (205) and a second portion (208), where said first portions are positioned relative to each other so that an electrical signal present in the first portion of one of said electrical transmission lines is interferingly coupled to the first portion of the other of said electrical transmission lines, and said second portions are positioned relative to each other so that an electrical signal present in the second portion of one of said electrical transmission lines is substantially uncoupled to the other of said transmission lines, and wherein said means for suppressing is connected to said second portion of said second electrical transmission line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU according to claim 1 further comprising electrical converting means connected to at least one of said electrical transmission lines for converting an electrical signal from a first predetermined state to a second predetermined state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU according to claim 2 further comprising electrical converting means connected to at least one of said electrical transmission lines for converting an electrical signal from a first predetermined state to a second predetermined state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical converting means includes a modulator for receiving a signal in a predetermined first frequency band and converting the signal to a predetermined second frequency band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU as set forth in claim 4 wherein the electrical converting means includes a modulator for receiving a signal in a predetermined first frequency band and converting the signal to a predetermined second frequency band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical converting means includes an encoder for receiving the first electrical signal and encoding the first electrical signal into an encoded signal with a predetermined code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An NIU as set forth in claim 4 wherein the electrical converting means includes an encoder for receiving the first electrical signal and encoding the first electrical signal into an encoded signal with a predetermined code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An NIU according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 wherein said electro-optical converting means and said optical-electro converting means are fabricated adjacent to each other on a single Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An NIU according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 connected to an optical directional coupler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
An NIU according to claim 9 connected to an optical directional coupler.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of suppressing interference in two spatially separate channels comprising the steps of: a) converting all energy in a signal to be transmitted on a first one of the spatially separate channels into a first predetermined state, for generating a converted electrical signal, b) transmitting the converted electrical signal along the first spatially separate channel, c) increasing, in the second of the spatially separate channels, a ratio of energy in a second predetermined state which is propagating along the second of the two spatially separate channels to energy in the first predetermined state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein in step (a), the predetermined first state is achieved by shifting the energy into a predetermined first frequency band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein in step (a), the predetermined first state is achieved by encoding the electrical signal with a predetermined code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the spatially separate channels are positioned relative to each other to cause substantial coupling therebetween in a first portion of the length thereof, and are positioned relative to each other so as not to cause substantial coupling therebetween in a second portion of the length thereof.