Amplifier adapter for optical lines

Claim 2

An optical signal transmission system which includes a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters connected to a first optical fiber line for the supply of optical signals to said first optical fiber line, a second optical fiber line, an optical signal receiver, interconnecting means connected to said optical signal receiver and connected to said second optical fiber line for receiving optical signals from said second optical fiber line and supplying optical signals to said optical signal receiver and a first optical signal amplifier connected to said second optical fiber line for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber line, said amplifier having second predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, and a first adapter interconnecting said first optical fiber line with said amplifier, said adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said first line for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter by way of said first line into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said optical amplifier; and an adjustment module comprising laser piloting means connected to said converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said optical amplifier.

Claim 3

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises a photodetector optically coupled to said first line and an electrical automatic control amplifier for automatically controlling the voltage level of signals received thereby within a predetermined range, said electrical automatic control amplifier connecting said photodetector to said adjustment module.

Claim 4

An adapter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising temperature responsive, wavelength control means connected to said second optical signal laser transmitter for maintaining the wavelength of the optical signal emitted by said second transmitter at substantially a predetermined wavelength.

Claim 5

An adapter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising analog circuit input gates connected to said laser piloting means for supplying service signals thereto.

Claim 6

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a second optical amplifier and a second adapter, said second optical amplifier being connected to said second optical fiber line and said second adapter comprising a second one of said converting means connected to said second optical amplifier, a third optical signal laser transmitter, a laser piloting circuit connected to said second one of said converting means and to said third optical signal laser transmitter for converting electrical signals of said second one of said converting means to optical signals and a third optical fiber interconnecting said third optical signal laser transmitter and said optical signal receiver.

Claim 7

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second adapter comprises a low frequency filter coupled to said second one of said converting means for filtering out electrical signals at frequencies above a predetermined range and for supplying signals having frequencies in said predetermined range to service channels.

Claim 8

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a third optical signal laser transmitter and said first optical signal laser transmitter and said third optical signal laser transmitter are connected to said first optical fiber line by an optical coupler.

Claim 9

An optical signal transmission system comprising a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters, an optical signal receiver, a first optical fiber connected at one end to said first transmitter for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter, a second optical fiber, a first optical amplifier connected to one end of said second optical fiber for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber and a second optical amplifier at the other end of said second optical fiber, said first optical amplifier having predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, a first adapter interconnecting the other end of said first optical fiber and said first optical amplifier and a second adapter interconnecting said second optical amplifier and said receiver, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said other end of said first optical fiber for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said first optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said first optical amplifier; and a first adjustment module comprising first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; and said second adapter comprising: second converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said second optical amplifier for converting the optical signals received from said first optical amplifier by way of said second optical fiber into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a third optical signal laser transmitter; a laser piloting circuit connected to said second converting means and to said third optical signal laser transmitter; and a third optical fiber connected to said receiver and to said third optical signal laser transmitter for supplying optical signals to said receiver.

Claim 10

An optical signal transmission system comprising a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters, an optical signal receiver, a first optical fiber connected at one end to said first transmitter for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter, a second optical fiber, a first optical amplifier connected to one end of said second optical fiber for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber and a second optical amplifier at the other end of said second optical fiber, said first optical amplifier having predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, a first adapter interconnecting the other end of said first optical fiber and said first optical amplifier and a second adapter interconnecting said second optical amplifier and said receiver, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said other end of said first optical fiber for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said first optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said first optical amplifier; and a first adjustment module comprising first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; and said second adapter comprising: second converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said second optical amplifier for converting the optical signals received from said first optical amplifier by way of said second optical fiber into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a third optical signal laser transmitter; a laser piloting circuit connected to said second converting means and to said third optical signal laser transmitter; and a third optical fiber connected to said receiver and to said third optical signal laser transmitter for supplying optical signals to said receiver.

Claim 11

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a fourth optical signal transmitter at said one end of said first optical fiber, said first optical fiber being connected to said first transmitter and said fourth transmitter by an optical coupler.

Claim 12

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising switching means for selectively energizing said first transmitter and said fourth transmitter.

Claim 13

An optical signal transmission system comprising at least a first optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 8 and a second optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising an optical switch connected to the first transmitter of said first optical signal transmission system and to the first transmitter of said second optical signal transmission system and also connected to the first optical fiber of said first optical signal transmission system connected to the first adapter of said first optical signal transmission system and to the first optical fiber of said second optical signal transmission system connected to a first adapter of said second optical signal transmission system for selectively connecting said first transmitter of said first optical signal transmission system to said first optical fiber of said first optical signal transmission system and to said first optical fiber of said second optical signal transmission system and selectively connecting said first transmitter of said second optical signal transmission system to said first optical fiber of said second optical signal transmission system and to said first optical fiber of said first optical signal transmission system whereby in the event of failure of a first adapter in one of said first optical signal transmission system and said second optical signal transmission system, said first transmitter of said one of said first optical signal transmission system and said second optical transmission system can be connected to said first optical fiber of the other of said first optical signal transmission system and said second optical signal transmission system.

Claim 14

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 11 wherein one of said first transmitters is connected to a first optical fiber by an optical coupler.

Claim 15

An adapter group for interconnecting a first optical signal laser transmitter with an optical fiber, said adapter group comprising: converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals and having an input for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter and an output for supplying electrical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter having an input for receiving electrical signals and an output for supplying optical signals; an optical amplifier having an optical signal input connected to said output of said second optical signal laser transmitter and an optical signal output for supplying optical signals to said optical fiber; and an adjustment module comprising laser piloting means connected to said output of said converting means and to said input of said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals.

Claim 16

An adapter group for interconnecting a first optical signal laser transmitter with an optical fiber, said adapter group comprising: converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals and having an input for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter and an output for supplying electrical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter having an input for receiving electrical signals and an output for supplying optical signals; an optical amplifier having an optical signal input connected to said output of said second optical signal laser transmitter and an optical signal output for supplying optical signals to said optical fiber; and an adjustment module comprising laser piloting means connected to said output of said converting means and to said input of said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals.

Claim 17

An adapter group for interconnecting an optical fiber with an optical signal receiver, said adapter group comprising: an optical amplifier having an optical signal input for receiving optical signals from said optical fiber and an optical signal output; converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals and having an input connected to said optical signal output of said optical amplifier for receiving optical signals from said optical amplifier and an output for supplying electrical signals; an optical signal laser transmitter having an input for receiving electrical signals and an output for supplying optical signals to said receiver; and an adjustment module comprising laser piloting means connected to said output of said converting means and to said input of said transmitter for controlling said transmitter by said electrical signals.

Claim 18

An adapter group for interconnecting an optical fiber with an optical signal receiver, said adapter group comprising: an optical amplifier having an optical signal input for receiving optical signals from said optical fiber and an optical signal output; converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals and having an input connected to said optical signal output of said optical amplifier for receiving optical signals from said optical amplifier and an output for supplying electrical signals; an optical signal laser transmitter having an input for receiving electrical signals and an output for supplying optical signals to said receiver; and an adjustment module comprising laser piloting means connected to said output of said converting means and to said input of said transmitter for controlling said transmitter by said electrical signals.

Claim 19

An optical signal transmission system comprising a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters, a first optical signal receiver, a first optical fiber connected at one end to said first transmitter for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter, a second optical fiber, a first optical amplifier connected to one end of said second optical fiber for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber and a second optical amplifier at the other end of said second optical fiber, said first optical amplifier having predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, a first adapter interconnecting the other end of said first optical fiber and said first optical amplifier and a second adapter and a third optical fiber interconnecting said second optical amplifier and said receiver, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said other end of said first optical fiber for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said first optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said first optical amplifier; and a first adjustment module comprising first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; and said second adapter comprising: second converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said second optical amplifier for converting the optical signals received from said second optical amplifier into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a third optical signal laser transmitter, said third optical fiber interconnecting said third transmitter and said receiver; a second adjustment module comprising a laser piloting circuit connected to said second converting means and connected to said third optical signal laser transmitter for controlling said third transmitter by the electrical signal of said second converting means; and a second receiver at the location of said first receiver and said third transmitter connected to said third optical fiber by an optical coupler.

Claim 20

An optical signal transmission system comprising a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters, a first optical signal receiver, a first optical fiber connected at one end to said first transmitter for receiving optical signals from said first transmitter, a second optical fiber, a first optical amplifier connected to one end of said second optical fiber for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber and a second optical amplifier at the other end of said second optical fiber, said first optical amplifier having predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, a first adapter interconnecting the other end of said first optical fiber and said first optical amplifier and a second adapter and a third optical fiber interconnecting said second optical amplifier and said receiver, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said other end of said first optical fiber for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said first optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said first optical amplifier; and a first adjustment module comprising first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; and said second adapter comprising: second converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said second optical amplifier for converting the optical signals received from said second optical amplifier into electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a third optical signal laser transmitter, said third optical fiber interconnecting said third transmitter and said receiver; a second adjustment module comprising a laser piloting circuit connected to said second converting means and connected to said third optical signal laser transmitter for controlling said third transmitter by the electrical signal of said second converting means; and a second receiver at the location of said first receiver and said third transmitter connected to said third optical fiber by an optical coupler.

Claim 21

An optical signal transmission system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each said receiver has a signal output and further comprising switching means for alternately connecting the output of either receiver to a communication line.

Claim 22

An optical signal transmission system which includes a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters connected to a first optical fiber line for the supply of optical signals to said first optical fiber line, a second optical fiber line, and a first optical signal amplifier intermediate said first optical fiber line and said second optical fiber line for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber line, said amplifier having second predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, and a first adapter interconnecting said first line with said first amplifier, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said first line for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter by way of said first optical fiber line into first electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said optical amplifier; a first adjustment module comprising a first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier connected to said second optical fiber line for receiving optical signals from said second optical fiber line; an optical signal receiver having predetermined operating parameters; a second said adapter comprising a second said converting means connected to said second optical amplifier for converting optical signals received from said second optical amplifier into second electrical signals corresponding to the optical signals received from said second optical amplifier, a third optical signal laser transmitter and a second adjustment module comprising a second laser piloting means connected to said second converting means and to said third optical signal laser transmitter for controlling said third optical signal laser transmitter by said second electrical signals within said predetermined operating parameters of said optical signal receiver; and a third optical fiber line interconnecting said third optical signal transmitter and said optical signal receiver.

Claim 23

An optical signal transmission system which includes a first optical signal laser transmitter having first operating parameters connected to a first optical fiber line for the supply of optical signals to said first optical fiber line, a second optical fiber line, and a first optical signal amplifier intermediate said first optical fiber line and said second optical fiber line for supplying optical signals to said second optical fiber line, said amplifier having second predetermined operating parameters different from said first predetermined operating parameters, and a first adapter interconnecting said first line with said first amplifier, said first adapter comprising: first converting means for converting optical signals to electrical signals connected to said first line for converting the optical signals received from said first transmitter by way of said first optical fiber line into first electrical signals corresponding to said optical signals; a second optical signal laser transmitter connected to said optical amplifier for supplying optical signals to said optical amplifier; a first adjustment module comprising a first laser piloting means connected to said first converting means and to said second transmitter for controlling said second transmitter by said electrical signals within said operating parameters of said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier connected to said second optical fiber line for receiving optical signals from said second optical fiber line; an optical signal receiver having predetermined operating parameters; a second said adapter comprising a second said converting means connected to said second optical amplifier for converting optical signals received from said second optical amplifier into second electrical signals corresponding to the optical signals received from said second optical amplifier, a third optical signal laser transmitter and a second adjustment module comprising a second laser piloting means connected to said second converting means and to said third optical signal laser transmitter for controlling said third optical signal laser transmitter by said second electrical signals within said predetermined operating parameters of said optical signal receiver; and a third optical fiber line interconnecting said third optical signal transmitter and said optical signal receiver.