Electronically controlled optically-active device array for high-speed receiving and transmitting of fiber optic signals

A method of detecting a stream of optical data bits being transmitted as light at a predetermined frequency by a fiber optic conductor having an optical fiber area, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the stream of optical data bits in the optical fiber area;
• providing a plurality of optically-active devices arranged in a first group and a second group, the first group capable of detecting a first bit stream, the second group capable of detecting a second bit stream, the first bit steam and the second bit stream superimposed upon each other to form the stream of optical data bits being transmitted as light;
• operating a different one of said optically-active devices in said first group in the optically active state during each successive period in order to detect the first bit stream during each successive period;
• and
• operating a different one of said optically-active devices in said second group in the optically active state during each successive period in order to detect the second bit stream during each successive period so that a combination of said different one of said optically-active devices in said fist group and said different one of said optically-active devices in said second group detect the stream of optical bits being transmitted as light during each successive period and generate the detected signals corresponding to the stream of optical data bits.

A method of detecting an optical data bit stream being transmitted as light by a fiber optic conductor having an optical fiber area, the optical data bit stream having a predetermined frequency, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the optical data bit stream in the optical fiber area;
• detecting the optical data bit stream during each successive period by use of a plurality of optically-active devices controlled based on a clock signal which is synchronized with said predetermined frequency so that a different one of said plurality of optically-active devices is in an optically active state during each successive period and thereby detects the presence of light during each successive period;
• and
• generating detected signals corresponding to the detected optical bit stream.

An apparatus for transmitting an output stream of optical data bits and for receiving an incoming stream of optical data bits, the incoming stream being transmitted as light at a predetermined incoming frequency, the outgoing stream being transmitted as light at a predetermined output frequency, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of optically-active devices arranged on an integrated circuit substrate in an array, said plurality of optically-active devices capable of being positioned to receive said incoming stream, and each of said optically-active devices capable of detecting light in an optically active state and generating a detected signal corresponding thereto;
• an input control circuit that receives an input clock signal at a rate corresponding to said predetermined input frequency and generates input control signals which cause a different one of said plurality of optically-active devices to be in said optically active state during each successive period and thereby detect the presence of light during each successive period and generate said detected signals corresponding to the input stream of optical data bits;
• a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged relative to the plurality of optically-active devices, the plurality of light-emitting devices arranged on the integrated circuit substrate in an array, each of the plurality of light-emitting devices capable of transmitting light in an optically active state;
• and
• an output control circuit that receives a transmit clock signal at a rate corresponding to the predetermined output frequency of the output stream, the output control circuit transmits output control signals which cause a different one of the plurality of light-emitting devices to switch in sequence into and from the optically active state and thereby transmit light when the different one of the plurality of light-emitting devices is in the optically active state.