Fiber-optic communication apparatus capable of operating in a normal mode and a power calibration mode, and communication device used within the same

A fiber-optic communication apparatus capable of operating in a normal mode and a power calibration mode, said fiber-optic communication apparatus comprising:

• a first communication device;
• a second communication device;
• and
• an optical fiber cable interconnecting said first and second communication devices;
• said first communication device including
• a first signal generator operable to generate a first calibration signal with a first predetermined power level,
• a first multiplexer coupled to said first signal generator for receiving the first calibration signal therefrom and for further receiving a first radio frequency (RF) signal, said first multiplexer being operable to output one of the first calibration signal and the first RF signal as a first selection signal in response to a first control signal,
• a first controller coupled to said first multiplexer, and operable to generate the first control signal in accordance with a desired one of the normal mode and the power calibration mode of said fiber-optic communication apparatus, such that said first multiplexer outputs the first calibration signal as the first selection signal when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the power calibration mode, and outputs the first RF signal as the first selection signal when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the normal mode, and
• a first electro-optic converter coupled between said first multiplexer and one end of said optical fiber cable for converting the first selection signal from said first multiplexer into a first optical signal;
• said second communication device including
• a first optic-electro converter coupled to the other end of said optical fiber cable for receiving the first optical signal, which is transmitted from said first communication device through said optical fiber cable, and operable to convert the first optical signal into a first electrical signal, and
• a first calibration unit coupled to said first optic-electro converter for receiving the first electrical signal therefrom, said first calibration unit being operable to
• detect a power level of the first electrical signal associated with the first calibration signal and obtain a first power attenuation ratio based on the power level detected thereby and the first predetermined power level when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the power calibration mode, and
• adjust the power level of the first electrical signal associated with the first RF signal based on the first power attenuation ratio so as to generate a first output signal with the adjusted power level when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the normal mode,
• a second signal generator operable to generate a second calibration signal with a second predetermined power level,
• a second multiplexer coupled to said second signal generator for receiving the second calibration signal therefrom, and further receiving a second RF signal, said second multiplexer being operable to output one of the second calibration signal and the second RF signal as a second selection signal in response to a second control signal,
• a second controller coupled to said second multiplexer, and operable to generate the second control signal in accordance with the desired one of the normal and power calibration modes of said fiber-optic communication apparatus, such that said second multiplexer outputs the second calibration signal as the second selection signal when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the power calibration mode, and outputs the second RF signal as the second selection signal when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the normal mode,
• a second calibration unit coupled to said second multiplexer for receiving the second selection signal therefrom, and configured to receive from said first communication device a detection signal indicating a detected power level, said second calibration unit being operable to
• generate a second output signal, which has a power level identical to that of the second calibration signal serving as the second selection signal, and to obtain a second power attenuation ratio based on the detected power level indicated by the detection signal and the second predetermined power level when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the power calibration mode, and
• adjust a power level of the second RF signal serving as the second selection signal by a multiplication factor based on the second power attenuation ratio such that the second RF signal with the adjusted power level serves as the second output signal when said fiber-optic communication apparatus operates in the normal mode,
• a second electro-optic converter coupled to said second calibration unit for converting the second output signal therefrom into a second optical signal, and
• a first optical director coupled among the other end of said optical fiber cable, said first optic-electro converter and said second electro-optic converter for transmitting the first optical signal, which is transmitted from said first communication device through said optical fiber cable, to said first optic-electro converter therethrough and for transmitting the second optical signal from said second electro-optic converter to said optical fiber cable therethrough,
• wherein said first communication device further includes
• a second optic-electro converter, and
• a second optical director coupled among said one end of said optical fiber cable, said first electro-optic converter and said second optic-electro converter for transmitting the first optical signal from said first electro-optic converter to said optical fiber cable therethrough and for transmitting the second optical signal, which is transmitted from said second communication device through said optical fiber cable, to said second optic-electro converter therethrough, said second optic-electro converter being operable to convert the second optical signal into a second electrical signal.