Light-guide communication system with image intensifier repeater elements

Claim 1

A system for distance transmission of plural signals having information content, comprising: first means for converting said signals into a plurality of intensity modulated light beams each corresponding to a signal channel; light guide means including a plurality of fiber optic light waveguides, at least one of which is connected to receive and conduct a corresponding one of said intensity modulated light beams of a corresponding signal channel; second means responsive to said light guide means for discretely converting each of said modulated light beams into corresponding amplitude modulated electrical signals; and third means including at least one image intensifier having an input and an output and being inserted at a point along the length of said light guide means, said light guide means being interrupted by insertion of said intensifier in series, said third means thereby operating to receive a mosaic of light patterns at said input comprising the light output of each fiber of said light guide at said insertion point to produce a corresponding intensified mosaic of light patterns at said output and to apply said output light patterns discretely to corresponding discrete fibers of said light guide continuing from said output of said image intensifier.

Claim 2

A system for distance transmission of plural signals having information content, comprising: first means for converting said signals into a plurality of intensity modulated light beams each corresponding to a signal channel; light guide means including a plurality of fiber optic light waveguides, at least one of which is connected to receive and conduct a corresponding one of said intensity modulated light beams of a corresponding signal channel; second means responsive to said light guide means for discretely converting each of said modulated light beams into corresponding amplitude modulated electrical signals; and third means including at least one image intensifier having an input and an output and being inserted at a point along the length of said light guide means, said light guide means being interrupted by insertion of said intensifier in series, said third means thereby operating to receive a mosaic of light patterns at said input comprising the light output of each fiber of said light guide at said insertion point to produce a corresponding intensified mosaic of light patterns at said output and to apply said output light patterns discretely to corresponding discrete fibers of said light guide continuing from said output of said image intensifier.

Claim 3

A system for cable transmission of amplitude modulated electrical signals of broad spectral content from a transmitting location to a relatively remote receiving location, comprising: first means at said transmitting location for separating the spectrum of said signals into a plurality of N frequency increments each containing a predetermined fraction of said spectrum, said first means having N discrete outputs, one corresponding to each of said increments; second means at said transmitting location comprising N heterodyne conversion channels responsive to said N discrete first means outputs on a one-for-one basis, and N discrete outputs, said conversion channels each including a corresponding source of local oscillator signal of a frequency such that said N discrete outputs each contain signals representative of a corresponding one of said frequency increments and all of said outputs of said second means are in substantially the same frequency band; third means at said transmitting location comprising N first transducers responsive to said N second means outputs on a one-for-one basis, said first transducers being adapted for converting an amplitude modulated electrical signal to a corresponding intensity modulated light beam; a fiber-optic cable comprising N light conductors connected on a one-for-one basis to said N transducers of said third means; at least one image intensifier having light input and output surfaces inserted in series with said light conductors, between said transmitting location and said receiving location, each of said conductors having a connection to corresponding areas of said input and output surfaces; fourth means comprising N second transducers connected to said N light conductors at said receiving location on a one-for-one basis, said second transducers being adapted for converting said intensity modulated light beams to corresponding amplitude modulated electrical signals, said second transducers further having N corresponding outputs thereby to substantially reproducE the outputs of said second means; and fifth means comprising N heterodyne up-converters responsive to the N outputs of said fourth means on a one-for-one basis, said up-converters each including a corresponding source of local oscillator signal of a frequency such that said fourth means outputs corresponding to said frequency increments are restored to their respective frequency positions within the input to said first means, thereby to substantially reproduce said amplitude modulated signal of broad spectral content.

Claim 4

A system for cable transmission of amplitude modulated electrical signals of broad spectral content from a transmitting location to a relatively remote receiving location, comprising: first means at said transmitting location for separating the spectrum of said signals into a plurality of N frequency increments each containing a predetermined fraction of said spectrum, said first means having N discrete outputs, one corresponding to each of said increments; second means at said transmitting location comprising N heterodyne conversion channels responsive to said N discrete first means outputs on a one-for-one basis, and N discrete outputs, said conversion channels each including a corresponding source of local oscillator signal of a frequency such that said N discrete outputs each contain signals representative of a corresponding one of said frequency increments and all of said outputs of said second means are in substantially the same frequency band; third means at said transmitting location comprising N first transducers responsive to said N second means outputs on a one-for-one basis, said first transducers being adapted for converting an amplitude modulated electrical signal to a corresponding intensity modulated light beam; a fiber-optic cable comprising N light conductors connected on a one-for-one basis to said N transducers of said third means; at least one image intensifier having light input and output surfaces inserted in series with said light conductors, between said transmitting location and said receiving location, each of said conductors having a connection to corresponding areas of said input and output surfaces; fourth means comprising N second transducers connected to said N light conductors at said receiving location on a one-for-one basis, said second transducers being adapted for converting said intensity modulated light beams to corresponding amplitude modulated electrical signals, said second transducers further having N corresponding outputs thereby to substantially reproducE the outputs of said second means; and fifth means comprising N heterodyne up-converters responsive to the N outputs of said fourth means on a one-for-one basis, said up-converters each including a corresponding source of local oscillator signal of a frequency such that said fourth means outputs corresponding to said frequency increments are restored to their respective frequency positions within the input to said first means, thereby to substantially reproduce said amplitude modulated signal of broad spectral content.