Optical signal distribution network and method of converting independent optical/electrical signals

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of directing each one of said independent optical signals into a corresponding channel of a set of channels that collectively form an optical signal distribution network.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises directing a beam from a narrow-band light-emitting device into said guiding structure.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises directing a beam from a laser diode into said guiding structure.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises directing a beam from a light-emitting diode (LED) into said guiding structure.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises directing said measured amount of optical power directly into a channel waveguide that functions as said guiding structure.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises directing said measured amount of optical power by means of an optical fiber into a channel waveguide that functions as said guiding structure.

Claim 9

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of extracting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power from said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations along said predetermined path through said guiding structure comprises applying said independent electrical signals to electrode structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations, said independent electrical signals producing electro-optic effects in said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations, said electro-optic effects causing said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled into corresponding channels of said optical signal distribution network.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein said electro-optic effects produced in said guiding structure cause each one of said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled in complementary amounts into a corresponding pair of channel structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure at each corresponding one of said sequential locations along said predetermined path through said guiding structure.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of converting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power extracted from said guiding structure into said set of independent optical signals comprises using one channel structure in each pair of channel structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure at each corresponding sequential location along said predetermined path through said guiding structure as said corresponding channel of said set of channels that collectively form said optical signal distribution network.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein the step of converting said set of independent electrical signals into said set of corresponding independent optical signals comprises: a) directing a measured amount of optical power from said single source into a guiding structure for propagation along a predetermined path through said guiding structure; b) extracting specified portions of said measured amount of optical power from said guiding structure at corresponding sequential locations along said predetermined path, each of said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power being related to a corresponding one of said set of independent electrical signals; and c) converting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power extracted from said guiding structure into said set of corresponding independent optical signals.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of extracting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power from said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations along said predetermined path through said guiding structure comprises applying said independent electrical signals to electrode structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations, said electrical signals producing electro-optic effects in said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations, said electro-optic effects causing said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled into corresponding channels forming said optical signal distribution network.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising means for directing each one of said independent optical signals into a corresponding channel of a set of channels that collectively form an optical signal distribution network.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises means for directing a laser beam into said guiding structure.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises means for directing a beam from a light-emitting diode (LED) into said guiding structure.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises means for directing said measured amount of optical power directly from said source into a channel waveguide that functions as said guiding structure.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for directing said measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure comprises optical fiber means for directing said measured amount of optical power from said source into a channel waveguide that functions as said guiding structure.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for extracting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power from said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations along said predetermined path through said guiding structure comprises: a) a set of pairs of optical channel structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure, each pair of said optical channel structures being disposed adjacent said guiding structure at a corresponding one of said sequential locations along said predetermined path; b) a set of electrode structures positioned adjacent said guiding structure at a corresponding one of said sequential locations along said predetermined path; and c) means for applying each one of said independent electrical signals to a corresponding one of said electrode structures, said independent electrical signals producing electro-optic effects in said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations, said electro-optic effects causing said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled into said corresponding pairs of channel structures.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said optical channel structures have resonance properties such that said electro-optic effects produced in said guiding structure at said corresponding sequential locations cause the specified portion of said measured amount of optical power that is coupled into the corresponding pair of channel structures at each sequential location to pass in complementary amounts into the channel structures comprising said

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for converting said set of independent electrical signals into said set of corresponding independent optical signals comprises: a) a guiding structure for propagating optical power; b) means for directing a measured amount of optical power from said single source into said guiding structure for propagation along a predetermined path through said guiding structure; c) means for extracting specified portions of said measured amount of optical power from said guiding structure at corresponding sequential locations along said predetermined path, each of said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power being related to a corresponding one of said set of independent electrical signals; and d) means for converting said specified portions of said measured amount of optical power extracted from said guiding structure into said set of corresponding independent optical signals.

Claim 28

An optical railtap device for simultaneously extracting a specified portion of a measured amount of optical power from a specified location along a predetermined path through an optical rail waveguide made of an electro-optic material and impressing information contained in an electrical signal onto said specified portion of said measured amount of optical power, said optical railtap device comprising: a) an optical channel structure positionable adjacent said optical rail waveguide at said specified location; b) an electrode structure positionable adjacent said optical rail waveguide at said specified location; and c) means for applying said electrical signal to said electrode structure so that said electrical signal produces an electro-optic effect at said specified location in said optical rail waveguide, said electro-optic effect causing said specified portion of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled from said optical rail waveguide into said optical channel structure at said specified location, said measured amount of optical power coupled into said optical channel structure having a waveform that substantially reproduces said information contained in said electrical signal.

Claim 29

An optical railtap device for simultaneously extracting a specified portion of a measured amount of optical power from a specified location along a predetermined path through an optical rail waveguide made of an electro-optic material and impressing information contained in an electrical signal onto said specified portion of said measured amount of optical power, said optical railtap device comprising: a) an optical channel structure positionable adjacent said optical rail waveguide at said specified location; b) an electrode structure positionable adjacent said optical rail waveguide at said specified location; and c) means for applying said electrical signal to said electrode structure so that said electrical signal produces an electro-optic effect at said specified location in said optical rail waveguide, said electro-optic effect causing said specified portion of said measured amount of optical power to be coupled from said optical rail waveguide into said optical channel structure at said specified location, said measured amount of optical power coupled into said optical channel structure having a waveform that substantially reproduces said information contained in said electrical signal.

Claim 30

The optical railtap device of claim 24 wherein said optical channel structure comprises a pair of optical waveguide segments, said optical waveguide segments having resonance properties such that said electro-optic effect produced at said specified location in said optical rail waveguide causes said specified portion of said measured amount of optical power that is coupled into said pair of optical waveguide segments to pass in complementary amounts into said optical waveguide segments.