US4775971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical communication system
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1986-03-27
•
Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2006-03-27
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a bidirectional optical communication system which is capable of sharing a single light source, located at a central communication point, among a large plurality of users. Additionally, the system, as defined in accordance with the present invention, requires only one single mode fiber between each user and the central location to support its bidirectional communication. The system of the present invention also has the capabilities to control the signal power sent to each subscriber, send more than one signal to each subscriber (voice and/or data and video), and switch to a back-up light source upon failure of the primary light source.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest E. Bergmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2587; H04B10/27; H04B10/272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication between a central location and a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said optical transmission system comprising a central location structure including adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; a plurality of M modulating means, responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave outputs and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location; and each remote location of said plurality of N remote locations comprises detection means for recovering the associated modulating signal of the associated central location information source from said output transmission signal; and modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from a remote location information source for remodulating said output transmission signal to form said return information signal transmitted to said central location over said associated optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication between a central location and a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said optical transmission system comprising a central location structure including adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; a plurality of M modulating means, responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave outputs and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location; and each remote location of said plurality of N remote locations comprises detection means for recovering the associated modulating signal of the associated central location information source from said output transmission signal; and modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from a remote location information source for remodulating said output transmission signal to form said return information signal transmitted to said central location over said associated optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the central location further comprises at least one additional shared light source and switching means capable of coupling said at least one additional shared light source to the adjustable power dividing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional shared light source is a spare light source and the switching means is capable of coupling said second light source to the adjustable power dividing means upon failure of the first shared light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional shared light source operates at a different wavelength than the first shared light source and both light sources are utilized simultaneously to transmit separate information signals to the plurality of remote locations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at at least one additional shared light source comprises a plurality of separate light sources, each operating at a different wavelength.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional shared light source comprises a spare light source operating at the same wavelength as the first shared light source and a plurality of additional light sources operating at different wavelengths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical communication system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the central location adjustable power dividing means comprises at least one integrated optical power divider including a plurality of optical waveguides formed on an optical substrate, one waveguide responsive to the first shared light source, said plurality of waveguides disposed in a manner to form a plurality of output carrier light waves, each light wave of an adjustable power fraction of the input power from said first shared light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 7 wherein the at least one integrated optical power divider is a passive power divider for providing a constant power division throughout the plurality of waveguides such that each output carrier light wave comprises a constant power fraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 7 wherein the least one integrated optical power divider includes an active power divider capable of constantly changing the power fractions associated with the plurality of output carrier waves, said active power divider further comprises a plurality of electrode arrays disposed over a major surface of said optical substrate in relation to the plurality of optical waveguides, said plurality of electrode arrays capable of being connected to a plurality of external control signals, wherein said control signals affect the refactive index of said optical substrate in the vicinity of said plurality of electrode arrays so as to control the degree of coupling among the plurality of waveguides and thus modify the power fraction associated with the plurality of output carrier light waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 7 wherein the at least one integrated optical power divider includes a second waveguide capable of receiving the carrier output from the at least one additional shared light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 7 wherein the optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 7 wherein the optical waveguides comprise titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one modulating means of the central location plurality of modulating means comprises an optically integrated modulating means formed on an optical substrate including a plurality of optical waveguides diffused into a top major surface of said optical substrate, one waveguide of said plurality of optical waveguides responsive to the carrier light wave output of an associated power dividing means; and a plurality of electrode arrays formed on said top major surface, said plurality of electrode arrays responsive to the plurality of modulating signals produced by the associated plurality of external information sources, said signals capable of modulating the refractive index of said optical substrate in the vicinity of said electrode arrays so as to form the plurality of output transmission signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 13 wherein the integrated modulating means optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 13 wherein the plurality of optical waveguides comprises titanium diffused into the top major surface of the optical substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the central location plurality of N return signal recovery means comprises at least one optically integrated return signal recovery means formed on an optical substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 16 wherein the at least one optically integrated return signal recovery means comprises at least one optical waveguide diffused into a top major surface of the optical substrate, said at least one waveguide capable of receiving a separate one of the plurality of N return information signals transmitted from the plurality of N remote locations to the central communication location; and at least one optical detector associated in an one-to-one relationship with said at least one optical waveguide for recovering the information from said return information signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 17 wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 16 wherein the optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical communication system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein at least one remote location of the plurality of N remote locations is an optically integrated remote location entirely formed on an optical substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 20 wherein the detection means of the at least one optically integrated remote location comprises a first waveguide diffused into a top major surface of the optical substrate capable of receiving the transmitted output signal sent by the central location over the associated optical fiber; photodetection means for recovering the information present in said transmitted output signal; and reflecting means for redirecting said transmitted output signal present in said first waveguide into at least said photodetection means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 21 wherein the first waveguide comprises titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 22 wherein the reflecting means comprises a second waveguide disposed in the optical substrate and coupled to the photodetection means; and mirroring means disposed in conjunction with said optical substrate for reflecting the signal present along the first waveguide into at least said second waveguide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 23 wherein the mirroring means is a dichroic mirror capable of reflecting a first information signal into the photodetection means and transmitting a second information signal into a second photodetection means when both the shared first light source and the second shared light source are utilized by the central location.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 23 wherein the first and second waveguides comprise titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 21 wherein the detection means optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 20 wherein the modulation means of the at least one optically integrated remote location comprises an electrode array disposed over a top major surface of the optical substrate responsive to the return modulation signal from the remote location external information source for modulating the refractive index of the optical substrate in the vicinity of said electrode array to form the return information signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first shared light source comprises a laser.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the first shared light source and the at least one additional shared light source comprise laser light sources.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first shared light source comprises an edge-emitting light emitting diode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the first shared light source and the at least one additional shared light source comprise second edge-emitting light emitting diodes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical communication system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the central location plurality of N return signal recovery means and at least one remote location detection means comprise p-i-n photodiodes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical communication system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the central location plurality of N return signal recovery means and at least one remote location detection means comprise avalanche photodiodes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical communication system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of N transmitted signals comprises a first polarity and the plurality of N return signals comprises a second polarity orthogonal to said first polarity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 34 wherein the first polarity is transverse magnetic (TM) and the second polarity is transverse electric (TE).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 34 wherein the first polarity is tranverse electric (TE) and the second polarity is transverse magnetic (TM).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
178 words
A central location of an optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication with a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said central location comprising adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; a plurality of M modulating means responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave output signals of said power dividing means and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
178 words
A central location of an optical communication system for providing bidirectional communication with a plurality of N remote locations operable with a single shared light source located at said central location and a single optical fiber between said central location and each remote location, said central location comprising adjustable power dividing means responsive to said single shared light source for providing a plurality of M output carrier light waves, each carrier light wave of a power level determined by the adjustment; a plurality of M modulating means responsive to both said plurality of M carrier light wave output signals of said power dividing means and a plurality of N modulating signals from a plurality of N information sources, for generating a plurality of N output transmission signals to be transmitted to said plurality of N remote locations over said associated optical fibers; and a plurality of N return signal recovery means, each return signal recovery means responsive to a separate one of the return information signals transmitted from said plurality of N remote locations to said central location.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 37 wherein said central location further comprises at least one additional shared light source and switching means capable of coupling the second shared light source to the adjustable power dividing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
53 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the at least one additional shared light source is a spare light source and the switching means is capable of coupling said spare light source to the adjustable power dividing means upon failure of the first shared light source.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the at least one additional shared light source operates at a different wavelength than the first shared light source and both light sources are utilized simultaneously to transmit separate information signals.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the at least one additional shared light source comprises a plurality of separate light sources, each operating at a different wavelength.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical communication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the at least one additional shared light source comprises a spare light source operating at the same wavelength as the first shared light source and a plurality of additional light sources operating at different wavelengths.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
84 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claims 37 or 38 wherein the adjustable power dividing means comprises at least one integrated optical power divider including a plurality of optical waveguides formed on an optical substrate, one waveguide responsive to the first shared light source, said plurality of waveguides disposed in a manner to form a plurality of output carrier light waves, each light wave of an adjustable power fraction of the input power from said first shared light source.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
55 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 43 wherein the at least one integrated optical power divider is a passive power divider for providing a constant power division throughout the plurality of waveguides such that each output carrier light wave comprises a constant power fraction as a function of time.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
133 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 43 wherein the at least one integrated optical power divider is an active power divider capable of constantly changing the power fractions associated with the plurality of output carrier saves, said active power divider further comprising a plurality of electrode areas disposed over a major surface of the optical substrate in relation to the plurality of waveguides, said plurality of electrode arrays capable of being connected to a plurality of control signals, wherein said control signals affect the refractive index of said optical substrate in the vicinity of said plurality of electrode arrays so as to control the degree of coupling among the plurality of waveguides and thus modify the power fraction associated with the plurality of output carrier light waves.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 43 wherein the at least one integrated optical power divider includes a second waveguide capable of receiving the carrier output from the at least one additional shared light source.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 43 wherein the optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
25 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 43 wherein the plurality of waveguides comprise titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
136 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 37 wherein at least one modulating means of the plurality of M modulating means comprises an optically integrated modulating means formed on an optical substrate including a plurality of optical waveguides diffused into a top major surface of said optical substrate, one waveguide of said plurality of optical waveguides responsive to the carrier light wave output of an associated power dividing means; and a plurality of electrode arrays formed on said top major surface, said plurality of electrode arrays responsive to the plurality of modulating signals produced by the associated plurality of external information sources, said signals capable of modulating the refractive index of said optical substrate in the vicinity of said electrode arrays so as to form the plurality of output transmission signals.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 49 wherein the integrated modulating means optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 49 wherein the plurality of optical waveguides comprises titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
118 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 37 wherein at least one return signal recovery means of the plurality of N return signal recovery means comprises an optically integrated return signal recovery means formed on an optical substrate comprising at least one optical waveguide diffused into a top major surface of said optical substrate, said at least one optical waveguide capable of receiving a separate one of the plurality of N return information signals transmitted from the plurality of N remote locations to said central location; and at least one optical detector associated in a one-to-one relationship with said at least one optical waveguide for recovering the information from said return information signal.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 52 wherein the optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 52 wherein the at least one optical detector comprises titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 52 wherein the at least one optical detector comprises a p-i-n photodiode.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 52 wherein the at least one optical detector comprises an avalanche photodiode.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
22 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 37 wherein the first shared light source comprises a laser.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 37 wherein the first shared light source comprises an edge-emitting light emitting diode.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
32 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the first shared light source and the at least one additional shared light source comprise light sources laser.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
33 words
A central location of an optical commuication system as defined in claim 38 wherein the first shared light source and the at least one additional shared light source comprise edge-emitting light emitting diodes.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
43 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claims 37 or 38 wherein the plurality of N transmission output signals comprise a first polarity and the plurality of N return signals comprise a second polarity opposite to said first polarity.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
29 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 61 wherein the first polarity is transverse magnetic (TM) and the second polarity is transverse electric (TE).
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
A central location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 61 wherein the first polarity is transverse electric (TE) and the second polarity is transverse magnetic (TM).
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
97 words
A remote location of an optical communication system capable of receiving information from and transmitting information to a central location over a single optical fiber, operable with a single light source located at said central location and shared among a plurality of remote locations, said remote locations comprising detection means for recovering an information signal from a central location transmitted signal; and modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from an information source for remodulating said central location transmitted signal to form a return information signal transmitted over said single optical fiber to said central location.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
97 words
A remote location of an optical communication system capable of receiving information from and transmitting information to a central location over a single optical fiber, operable with a single light source located at said central location and shared among a plurality of remote locations, said remote locations comprising detection means for recovering an information signal from a central location transmitted signal; and modulation means responsive to a return modulation signal from an information source for remodulating said central location transmitted signal to form a return information signal transmitted over said single optical fiber to said central location.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 64 wherein said remote location comprises an optically integrated structure formed entirely on an optical substrate.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
74 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 65 wherein the optically integrated structure comprises a first waveguide diffused into a top major surface of the optical substrate capable of receiving the central location transmitted signal; first photodetection means for recovering the information present in said central location transmitted signal; and reflecting means for redirecting said transmitted signal present in said first waveguide into at least said first photodetection means.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
59 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 66 wherein the reflecting means comprises a second waveguide diffused in the top major surface of the optical substrate and coupled to the first photodetection means; and mirroring means disposed in conjunction with said optical substrate for reflecting the central location transmitting signal into said second waveguide.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
58 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 67 wherein the reflecting means further comprises second photodetection means for recovering the information present in a second transmitted signal; and dichroic mirroring means capable of reflecting a first transmitted signal into the first photodetection means and said second transmitted signal into said second photodetection means.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
64 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 65 wherein the modulating means comprises an electrode array disposed over a top major surface of the optical substrate responsive to a return modulation signal from the external information source for modulating the refractive index of said optical substrate in the vicinity of said electrode array to from the return information signal.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 65 wherein the optical substrate comprises lithium niobate.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 67 wherein the first waveguide comprises titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remote location of an optical communication system as defined in claim 67 wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide comprise titanium diffused into the optical substrate.
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