Burst-mode analog transmitter

An optical transmitter for receiving reverse analog signals and for providing reverse optical signals in a broadband communications system, the optical transmitter comprising:

• a first converter for converting the reverse analog signals to digital signals;
• a carrier-detect circuit coupled to the first converter for detecting the presence of digital signals;
• a switch responsive to the carrier-detect circuit;
• a second converter coupled to the first converter for converting the digital signals back to reverse analog signals;
• and
• a laser coupled to the second converter for converting the reverse analog signals into reverse optical signals;
• wherein the carrier-detect circuit closes the switch when detecting the presence of digital signals and opens the switch in the absence of digital signals.

In an optical transmitter for transmitting reverse optical signals with burst-mode transmissions, a method for the transmission of burst-mode signals, comprising the steps of:

• receiving reverse electrical signals at an input port of the optical transmitter;
• detecting the presence of the reverse electrical signals with a carrier-detect circuit;
• in response to the carrier-detect circuit, converting the reverse electrical signals to reverse optical signals;
• and
• transmitting the reverse optical signals;
• wherein the reverse optical signals are only transmitted when reverse electrical signals are detected.

In a broadband communications system for transmitting combined reverse optical signals, a plurality of optical transmitters each providing reverse optical signals with burst-mode transmissions to an optical combiner, a method for combining the reverse optical signals from the plurality of optical transmitters, comprising the steps of:

• receiving reverse electrical signals at an input port of an optical transmitter;
• detecting the presence of the reverse electrical signals with a carrier-detect circuit;
• in response to the carrier-detect circuit, converting the reverse electrical signals to reverse optical signals;
• transmitting the reverse optical signals upstream;
• and
• combining the reverse optical signals from each of the plurality of optical transmitters;
• wherein each of the plurality of optical transmitters only transmit reverse optical signals when reverse electrical signals are detected.

A communications system for transmitting reverse electrical signals, the communications system comprising:

• a plurality of optical transmitters having an input port for receiving the reverse electrical signals, each of the plurality of optical transmitters comprising:
• a carrier-detect circuit coupled to the input port for detecting the presence of reverse electrical signals;
• a switch responsive to the carrier-detect circuit;
• a laser coupled to the input port for converting the reverse electrical signals into reverse optical signals;
• wherein the carrier-detect circuit closes the switch when detecting the presence of reverse electrical signals and opens the switch in the absence of reverse electrical signals;
• an optical combiner coupled to each of the plurality of optical transmitters for combining the reverse optical signals;
• an optical receiver coupled to the optical combiner for converting the reverse optical signals back to reverse electrical signals;
• and
• a headend coupled to the optical receiver for processing the reverse electrical signals.