Smart single fiber optic transceiver
OwnerMeir Barturinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber optic transceiver adapted for use in an optical fiber data transmission system is capable of detecting fiber connection problems and providing visual or other indications of a problem. The fiber optic transceiver contains a fiber interface, a receiver, a transmitter, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the transmitter to modulate the laser power to transmit test data and the transceiver includes circuitry and microcode to detect fiber connection problems, including reflection and cross connections. This enables trouble shooting during installation and/or reconfiguring the connection automatically, in response to a connection problem, and provides a physical layer link.
Claims30
An optical transceiver, comprising:
- a transmitter comprising a laser diode and a laser driver providing a drive signal to the laser diode;
- a receiver comprising a photodiode and signal recovery circuitry;
- and
- a microcontroller coupled to the transmitter and receiver and providing a modulated power control signal to the laser driver during a test mode to transmit test data and monitoring received signals to detect connection problems.
A fiber optic communication network, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- a first transceiver coupled to the optical fiber and comprising a transmitter including a laser diode and a laser driver providing a drive signal to the laser diode, a receiver including a photodiode and signal recovery circuitry, and a microcontroller coupled to the transmitter and receiver and providing a modulated power control signal to the laser driver during a test mode to transmit test data and monitoring received signals to detect connection problems;
- and
- a second transceiver coupled to the optical fiber and comprising a transmitter including a laser diode and a laser driver providing a drive signal to the laser diode, a receiver including a photodiode and signal recovery circuitry, and a microcontroller coupled to the transmitter and receiver and providing a modulated power control signal to the laser driver to provide test data in response to received test data from said first transceiver.
A method for fault detection in a fiber optic network, comprising:
- transmitting a test signal by modulating a laser transmitter using a test transmission mode which is different than a data transmission mode during normal operating conditions;
- and
- detecting any received signals modulated using said test transmission mode within a predetermined time period after said transmitting.
A method for determining a connection state of a fiber optic network, comprising:
- connecting a local fiber optic transceiver to a fiber optic network comprising at least one optical fiber and at least one remote transceiver;
- initiating a test mode wherein the local fiber optic transceiver transmits optical test signals employing a transmission mode which is different than for transmission of user data during normal operation;
- detecting any received signals modulated using said test transmission mode;
- identifying at least one connection state of the local fiber optic transceiver in the network based on said transmitting of test signals and said detecting of received signals;
- and
- providing an indication of the connection state to a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.