US4946244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic distribution system and method of using same
Assignee: Pacific Bell Corp
•
Filing: 1989-03-13
•
Granted: 1990-08-07
•
Expires: 2009-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a fiber optic distribution network between a central office and a group of users generally in a localized area. The apparatus utilizes a continuous optical fiber primary loop in communication with the central office and passing in the vicinity of each user. Each user is connected to an optical fiber in the primary loop in a manner which provides protection against breaks in the primary loop. Embodiments of the apparatus in which a plurality of users are connected to a single optical are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Schembri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/27; H04B10/275; H04B10/2755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A fiber optic distribution system for providing communication access between a central office and a plurality of users generally in a localized area, said fiber optic distribution system comprising: an optical fiber primary loop including one or more optical fibers, said primary loop leaving said central office, passing in the vicinity of each user of said plurality of users, and returning to said central office, and at least one or more patch means arranged in said primary loop for coupling a selected user with the central office through said primary loop, each said patch means including means for interrupting an optical fiber in said primary loop to create first and second optical fiber segments, each said optical fiber segment providing a bi-directional communication path between said user and said central office, each said patch means including first light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a first predetermined wavelength to said central office on said first optical fiber segment and first light detecting means for receiving light signals of a second predetermined wavelength from said central office on said first optical fiber segment, said first and second wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same first and second wavelength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A fiber optic distribution system for providing communication access between a central office and a plurality of users generally in a localized area, said fiber optic distribution system comprising: an optical fiber primary loop including one or more optical fibers, said primary loop leaving said central office, passing in the vicinity of each user of said plurality of users, and returning to said central office, and at least one or more patch means arranged in said primary loop for coupling a selected user with the central office through said primary loop, each said patch means including means for interrupting an optical fiber in said primary loop to create first and second optical fiber segments, each said optical fiber segment providing a bi-directional communication path between said user and said central office, each said patch means including first light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a first predetermined wavelength to said central office on said first optical fiber segment and first light detecting means for receiving light signals of a second predetermined wavelength from said central office on said first optical fiber segment, said first and second wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same first and second wavelength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 1 wherein each said patch means further comprises second light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a third predetermined wavelength to said central office on said second optical fiber segment and second light detecting means for receiving light signals of a fourth predetermined wavelength from said central office on said second optical fiber segment, said third and fourth wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same third and fourth wavelength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 2 wherein said first wavelength is the same as said third wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 3 wherein said second wavelength is the same as said fourth wavelength.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 2 wherein said patch means further comprises control mean, said control means comprising: means for receiving electrical signals from a said user and for coupling said received signals to said first and second light transmitting means; means for transmitting electrical signals received on a selected one of said first or second light detecting means to said user; error detecting means for detecting transmission errors on the said optical fiber segment on which said selected detector detects light signals, said error detecting means including means for causing said selected one of said first and second light detecting means to be changed to the other of said first and second light detecting means when a said transmission error is detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 5 wherein said patch means further comprises means for maintaining continuity between said first and second optical fiber segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The fiber optic distribution system of claim 1 wherein different portions of said optical fiber primary loop are substantially spaced apart to reduce the probability that an event leading to an interruption in said optical fiber primary loop will result in said optical fiber primary loop being interrupted in more than one place.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for providing communication access between a central office and a plurality of users generally in a localized area, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical fiber primary loop including one or more optical fibers, said primary loop leaving said central office, passing in the vicinity of each user of said plurality of users, and returning to said central office, and interrupting an optical fiber in said primary loop by the insertion of at least one or more patch means therein to create first and second optical fiber segments, each said optical fiber segment providing a bi-directional communication path between said user and said central office, said patch means including first light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a first predetermined wavelength to said central office on said first optical fiber segment and first light detecting means for receiving light signals of a second predetermined wavelength from said central office on said first optical fiber segment, said first and second wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same first and second wavelength.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for providing communication access between a central office and a plurality of users generally in a localized area, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical fiber primary loop including one or more optical fibers, said primary loop leaving said central office, passing in the vicinity of each user of said plurality of users, and returning to said central office, and interrupting an optical fiber in said primary loop by the insertion of at least one or more patch means therein to create first and second optical fiber segments, each said optical fiber segment providing a bi-directional communication path between said user and said central office, said patch means including first light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a first predetermined wavelength to said central office on said first optical fiber segment and first light detecting means for receiving light signals of a second predetermined wavelength from said central office on said first optical fiber segment, said first and second wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same first and second wavelength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said patch means further comprises second light transmitting means for transmitting light signals of a third predetermined wavelength to said central office on said second optical fiber segment and second light detecting means for receiving light signals of a fourth predetermined wavelength from said central office on said second optical fiber segment, said third and fourth wavelengths being chosen such that no two said patch means coupled to the same optical fiber utilize the same third and fourth wavelength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said first wavelength is the same as said third wavelength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said second wavelength is the same as said fourth wavelength.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said patch means further comprises control means, said control means comprising: means for receiving electrical signals from a said user and for coupling said received signals to said first and second light transmitting means; means for transmitting electrical signals received on a selected one of said first or second light detecting means to said user; error detecting means for detecting transmission errors on the said optical fiber segment on which said selected detector detects light signals, said error detecting means including means for causing said selected one of said first and second light detecting means to be changed to the other of said first and second light detecting means when a said transmission error is detected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said patch means further comprises means for maintaining continuity between said first and second optical fiber segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 8 wherein different portions of said optical fiber primary loop are substantially spaced apart to reduce the probability that an event leading to an interruption in said optical fiber primary loop will result in said optical fiber primary loop being interrupted in more than one place.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4186380A
Cited
JPS58117738A
Cited
US4501021A
Cited
US4727601A
Cited
US4686667A
Cited
US4871225A
Cited
US4834481A
Cited
US4704713A
Cited
US4833668A
Cited
US4841519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |