US 2021/0083770 A1 · Port Replicator

Abstract

A method of combining optical signals from a plurality of optical fibers into a single optical signal includes receiving, at corresponding optical-signal receivers optically coupled to corresponding trunk fibers, respective optical signals. The method further includes determining, by the corresponding optical-signal receivers, when each respective optical signal is received. When the respective optical signal is received, the method includes performing the following steps: converting, by the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the respective optical signal to a corresponding electrical signal; transmitting, by the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the corresponding electrical signal to a corresponding input channel of an electrical-multiplexing device; and configuring the electrical-multiplexing device to select the corresponding input channel. Configuring the electrical-multiplexing device to select the corresponding input channel causes the electrical-multiplexing device to transmit the corresponding electrical signal to an electro-optical converter configured to convert the corresponding electrical signal back to the respective optical signal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving, at corresponding optical-signal receivers optically coupled to corresponding trunk fibers, respective optical signals;
for each corresponding optical-signal receiver:
determining, by the corresponding optical-signal receiver, when the respective optical signal is received;
responsive to determining when the respective optical signal is received, delivering, by a bust-mode limiting amplifier of the corresponding optical-signal receiver, a reset signal to a signal-conditioning circuit, causing the signal-conditioning circuit to reset a trans-impedance amplifier of the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the signal-conditioning circuit comprising a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA);
converting, by the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the respective optical signal to a corresponding electrical signal;
transmitting, by the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the corresponding electrical signal to a corresponding input channel of an electrical-multiplexing device;
and
configuring the electrical-multiplexing device to select the corresponding input channel, causing the electrical-multiplexing device to transmit the corresponding electrical signal to an electro-optical converter configured to convert the corresponding electrical signal back to the respective optical signal.

5 more elements

An optical-electrical-optical converter comprising:

an electrical-multiplexing device comprising one or more input channels;
and
optical-signal receivers optically coupled to corresponding trunk fibers, each optical-signal receiver configured to:
receive a respective optical signal from the corresponding trunk fiber;
determine when the respective optical signal is received;
responsive to determining when the respective optical signal is received, deliver, by a bust-mode limiting amplifier of the corresponding optical-signal receiver, a reset signal to a signal-conditioning circuit, causing the signal-conditioning circuit to reset a trans-impedance amplifier of the corresponding optical-signal receiver, the signal-conditioning circuit comprising a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),
convert the respective optical signal to a corresponding electrical signal;
transmit the corresponding electrical signal to a corresponding input channel of the electrical-multiplexing device;
and
configure the electrical-multiplexing device to select the corresponding input channel, causing the electrical-multiplexing device to transmit the corresponding electrical signal to an electro-optical converter configured to convert the corresponding electrical signal back to the respective optical signal.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Port Replicator

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Port Replicator

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Abstract

Claims20