Remotely configurable variable ratio coupler devices and networks incorporating the same

A variable ratio coupler (VRC) device comprising:

• a housing;
• a VRC within the housing and comprising an input, a main output and a branch output;
• an actuator within the housing operable to control the VRC to vary a split ratio of the VRC;
• at least one wavelength division multiplex (WDM) filter within the housing comprising a common port, a transmit port, and a reflect port, wherein the at least one WDM filter operable to receive an optical signal at the common port and further operable to pass an optical control signal having a control wavelength at the transmit port and a filtered optical signal at the reflect port;
• and
• a controller within the housing operable to receive the optical control signal having the control wavelength provided by the at least one WDM filter and control the actuator to manipulate the VRC to have a split ratio based upon the optical control signal.

An optical network comprising a plurality of variable ratio coupler (VRC) devices and a plurality of splitters, wherein:

• each splitter comprises a splitter input and two splitter outputs;
• each VRC device comprising:
• an output, a main input, and an alternate input;
• a VRC coupled to the output, the main input and the alternate input;
• an actuator operable to control the VRC to vary a split ratio of the VRC;
• a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) filter positioned within the output and comprising a common port, a transmit port and a reflect port, the WDM filter operable to receive an optical signal at the common port and further operable to pass an optical control signal having a control wavelength at the transmit port and a filtered optical signal at the reflect port;
• and
• a controller operable to receive the optical control signal having the control wavelength from the WDM filter and control the actuator to manipulate the VRC to a split ratio corresponding with the control wavelength;
• the optical network is a branching optical network having a plurality of levels;
• the plurality of VRCs is within an individual level of the plurality of levels;
• and
• each VRC device is coupled to an individual splitter output of the two splitter outputs of a preceding splitter at the main input and an alternate route optical fiber at the alternate input.

An optical network comprising a plurality of variable ratio coupler (VRC) devices and a plurality of optical network units (ONU), wherein:

• each VRC device comprises:
• an input, a main output, and a branch output;
• a VRC coupled to the input, the main output and the branch output;
• an actuator operable to control the VRC to vary a split ratio of the VRC;
• a controller operable to receive a control signal and control the actuator to manipulate the VRC to a split ratio corresponding with the control signal;
• the input, the main output and the branch output of the plurality of VRC devices are coupled such that the plurality of VRC devices is arranged in a branching network having a plurality of levels;
• the plurality of ONUs is at a lowest level of the plurality of levels;
• and
• each ONU of the plurality of ONUs comprises an ONU VRC such that an ONU input of the ONU VRC is coupled to downstream components of the optical network toward a subscriber, a main ONU output of the ONU VRC is coupled to a preceding VRC device in the optical network, and a branch ONU output of the ONU VRC is coupled to an alternate communication path.

A variable ratio coupler (VRC) device comprising:

• a housing;
• a VRC within the housing and comprising an input, a main output and a branch output;
• an actuator within the housing operable to control the VRC to vary a split ratio of the VRC;
• a wireless communication receiver operable to receive a wireless control signal providing a split ratio;
• and
• a controller operable to receive a signal corresponding to the wireless control signal from the wireless communication receiver and control the actuator to manipulate the VRC to the split ratio corresponding with the wireless control signal.