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US3633035A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multiplexed optical communications system

Assignee: NEC Corp
•
Filing: 1969-11-13
•
Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1989-11-13
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Abstract

Abstract A multiplexed optical communications system comprises a plurality of fibrous light guide elements which receive respective ones of a plurality of modulated light beam sources having predetermined phase differences therebetween. The output ends of the elements are formed into a bundle which communicates with one end of a light transmission path. Means positioned at the other end of the transmission path are provided for separating the modulated signals in accord with their respective phase separations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Teiji Uchida
  • 👤 Ja Nippon Electric Co Ltd
  • 👤 Motoaki Furukawa
  • 👤 Ja Teiji Uchida
  • 👤 Ja Motoaki Furukawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 14:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2589; H04B10/25891

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 301 words
A multiplexed optical communication system comprising a plurality of coherent light beam sources for producing light beams each in the form of a light pUlse train having a substantially equal predetermined repetition rate, means disposed in the light paths of said light beam for respectively ON-OFF modulating said light pulse sources in response to pulsed information signals to be transmitted, a light transmission path for transmitting the modulated light beams, a plurality of thin fibrous converging light guide elements for optically coupling said modulating means to said light transmission path, one end of each of said light guide elements being disposed facing said modulating means in one-to-one correspondence, the other ends of each of said light guide elements being arranged in a bundle with their optical axes being substantially aligned with that of the input end portion of said transmission path, each of said light guide elements having a refractive index distribution which is greatest along its longitudinal axis and which decreases monotonically toward its surface substantially in proportion to the square of the radial distance from said axis and having a cross section much smaller than the aperture of said input end portion of said transmission path, and means for receiving the modulated light beams transmitted through said transmission path and for detecting said pulsed information signals from the received light beams separately one from another, said modulating means including means for providing a predetermined phase relationship between the light pulse trains of said light beams, the lengths of said light guide elements being different from one another to provide a different retardation to the respective light beams, thereby to produce time-division-multiplexed light pulse trains at the bundled end of said light guide elements, whereby said modulated light pulse trains travel through said transmission path in a time-division multiplexed fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 301 words
A multiplexed optical communication system comprising a plurality of coherent light beam sources for producing light beams each in the form of a light pUlse train having a substantially equal predetermined repetition rate, means disposed in the light paths of said light beam for respectively ON-OFF modulating said light pulse sources in response to pulsed information signals to be transmitted, a light transmission path for transmitting the modulated light beams, a plurality of thin fibrous converging light guide elements for optically coupling said modulating means to said light transmission path, one end of each of said light guide elements being disposed facing said modulating means in one-to-one correspondence, the other ends of each of said light guide elements being arranged in a bundle with their optical axes being substantially aligned with that of the input end portion of said transmission path, each of said light guide elements having a refractive index distribution which is greatest along its longitudinal axis and which decreases monotonically toward its surface substantially in proportion to the square of the radial distance from said axis and having a cross section much smaller than the aperture of said input end portion of said transmission path, and means for receiving the modulated light beams transmitted through said transmission path and for detecting said pulsed information signals from the received light beams separately one from another, said modulating means including means for providing a predetermined phase relationship between the light pulse trains of said light beams, the lengths of said light guide elements being different from one another to provide a different retardation to the respective light beams, thereby to produce time-division-multiplexed light pulse trains at the bundled end of said light guide elements, whereby said modulated light pulse trains travel through said transmission path in a time-division multiplexed fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The multiplexed optical communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light transmission path comprises a lens system and the atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The multiplexed optical communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light transmission path comprises a long-distance light guide element having a cross section greater than that of said fibrous light guide elements and having a refractive index distribution similar to the latter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2506672A Cited
US3434774A Cited
US3532890A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-01-03 1975-07-05 1976-01-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-01-03 1979-07-05 1980-01-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-01-03 1983-07-05 1984-01-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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