Access multiplexers and methods for multiplexing telecommunication signals using an arrayed media converter

An access multiplexer for multiplexing telecommunication signals, comprising:

• a passive multiplexer coupled to an optical line terminal of a telecommunication network via an optical fiber, the passive multiplexer configured to demultiplex a first multiplexed optical signal from the optical fiber thereby separating the first multiplexed optical signal into optical data signals;
• and
• an arrayed media converter having a plurality of optical network units and a plurality of modulation elements coupled to conductive connections, the arrayed media converter configured to convert a plurality of the optical data signals into electrical signals, one of the optical network units having an optical receiver and a color adaptive optical transmitter, the optical receiver configured to receive and demodulate one of the optical data signals thereby recovering first data, one of the modulation elements coupled to the one optical network unit and a plurality of the conductive connections, the one modulation element configured to modulate a first plurality of electrical signals with the first data and to transmit the first plurality of electrical signals via the plurality of the conductive connections, the one modulation element configured to receive a second plurality of electrical signals and to demodulate the second plurality of electrical signals thereby recovering second data, the color adaptive optical transmitter configured to receive an optical seed signal and to modulate an optical signal with the second data, the color adaptive optical transmitter further configured to transmit, based on the optical seed signal, the modulated optical signal to the passive multiplexer at a wavelength of the optical seed signal, wherein the passive multiplexer is configured to multiplex the modulated optical signal with optical signals from the optical network units thereby providing a second multiplexed optical signal, the passive multiplexer further configured to transmit the second multiplexed optical signal to the optical line terminal via the optical fiber;
• a manager configured to manage each of the optical network units;
• and
• a plurality of power interfaces, each of the power interfaces coupled to a respective one of the conductive connections and configured to provide electrical power from the respective conductive connection to the manager, the arrayed media converter coupled to a plurality of customer premises via the conductive connections.

An arrayed media converter, comprising:

• a plurality of modulation elements situated in a housing;
• and
• a plurality of optical network units situated in the housing and configured to receive a plurality of optical data signals, wherein the plurality of optical network units and the plurality of modulation elements are configured to convert a plurality of the optical data signals into electrical signals, one of the optical network units having an optical receiver and a color adaptive optical transmitter, the optical receiver configured to receive and demodulate one of the optical data signals thereby recovering first data, one of the modulation elements coupled to the one optical network unit and a plurality of conductive connections that extend from the one modulation element to a customer premises, the one modulation element configured to modulate a first plurality of electrical signals with the first data and to transmit the first plurality of electrical signals via the plurality of conductive connections, the one modulation element configured to receive a second plurality of electrical signals and to demodulate the second plurality of electrical signals thereby recovering second data, the color adaptive optical transmitter configured to receive an optical seed signal and to modulate an optical signal with the second data, the optical transmitter further configured to transmit, based on the optical seed signal, the modulated optical signal via an optical fiber at a wavelength of the optical seed signal.

A method, comprising the steps of:

• providing an arrayed media converter, the arrayed media converter having a plurality of optical network units that are situated in a housing and a plurality of modulation elements that are situated in the housing and coupled to conductive connections, one of the optical network units having a color adaptive optical transmitter;
• receiving a first multiplexed optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to an optical line terminal of a telecommunication network;
• demultiplexing the first multiplexed optical signal via a passive multiplexer thereby separating the first multiplexed optical signal into optical data signals;
• converting a plurality of the optical data signals into electrical signals via the arrayed media converter;
• demodulating one of the optical data signals via the one optical network unit thereby recovering first data;
• modulating a first plurality of electrical signals with the first data via one of the modulation elements;
• transmitting the first plurality of electrical signals from the arrayed media converter via a plurality of the conductive connections that extend from the one modulation element to a customer premises;
• receiving a second plurality of electrical signals from the conductive connections;
• demodulating the second plurality of electrical signals via the one modulation element thereby recovering second data;
• modulating an optical signal with the second data via the color adaptive optical transmitter;
• transmitting, based on an optical seed signal, the modulated optical signal via the color adaptive optical transmitter at a wavelength of the optical seed signal;
• multiplexing the modulated optical signal with optical signals from the optical network units thereby providing a second multiplexed optical signal;
• and
• transmitting the second multiplexed optical signal to the optical line terminal via the optical fiber.

A method, comprising the steps of:

• providing an arrayed media converter, the arrayed media converter having a plurality of optical network units and a plurality of modulation elements coupled to conductive connections, one of the optical network units having a color adaptive optical transmitter, wherein the arrayed media converter has a manager for managing the optical network units;
• receiving a first multiplexed optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to an optical line terminal of a telecommunication network;
• demultiplexing the first multiplexed optical signal via a passive multiplexer thereby separating the first multiplexed optical signal into optical data signals;
• converting a plurality of the optical data signals into electrical signals via the arrayed media converter;
• demodulating one of the optical data signals via the one optical network unit thereby recovering first data;
• modulating a first plurality of electrical signals with the first data via one of the modulation elements;
• transmitting the first plurality of electrical signals from the arrayed media converter via a plurality of the conductive connections;
• receiving a second plurality of electrical signals from the conductive connections;
• demodulating the second plurality of electrical signals via the one modulation element thereby recovering second data;
• modulating an optical signal with the second data via the color adaptive optical transmitter;
• transmitting, based on an optical seed signal, the modulated optical signal via the color adaptive optical transmitter at a wavelength of the optical seed signal;
• multiplexing the modulated optical signal with optical signals from the optical network units thereby providing a second multiplexed optical signal;
• and
• transmitting the second multiplexed optical signal to the optical line terminal via the optical fiber;
• receiving electrical power from a plurality of customer premises being serviced by the arrayed media converter;
• and
• powering the manager via the electrical power such that powering of the manager is shared by each of the plurality of customer premises being serviced by the arrayed media converter.