Alcatel

Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel Submarine Networks

Alain Cordier

Jose Chesnoy

Thierry Verhaege

Jean-Francois Marcerou

Tony Farrar

Antoine Lecroart

Pierre Aussant

Jean-François Marcerou

T Frish

Carol Webb

Patrick Mejasson

Mathieu Duval

Olivier Antheaume

Rodolph Audebert

Bernard Julien

Rodolphe Boulon

Thony Farrar

In certain embodiments, an assembly has intermediate pods magnetically, but not galvanically, coupled along an electrically conductive cable. Each pod has a magnetic core surrounding and inductively coupled to the cable and one or more coils inductively coupled to the magnetic core. The pod transmits, for example, outgoing current pulses on the cable by inducing electrical signals in the cable using a transmitter coil and the magnetic core. In addition, the pod repeats, for example, incoming current pulses on the cable by inducing electrical signals in the cable using the transmitter coil and the magnetic core, based on electrical signals induced in a receiver coil via the magnetic core by the incoming current pulses. Such an assembly can function as a data collection system for scientific research and/or as an early-warning system for events, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, without having to modify the cable itself.

Monitoring equipment for cables

A network for transporting communication and power is disclosed. The network comprises terminal stations branching units and subsea nodes connected to a branching unit, wherein at least one connection path between a terminal station and a first branching unit and between the first branching unit and a first subsea node is provided by means of optical fiber, and wherein said first subsea node is adapted to receive a plurality of wavelengths and provide at least one wavelength at an output thereof. The network comprises a first power supply connected to a first cable head of the trunk cable and at least a second power supply connected to a second cable head of the trunk cable. The first power supply and the at least second power supply, supply at least a minimum amount of electric current in the network either individually or in combination, under normal or faulty conditions.

System and method for transporting electric power and providing optical fiber communications under sea water

An underwater connection assembly comprises an underwater device and an optical cable segment. The optical cable segment is configured to be coupled to a first sea earth by means of a first sea earthing electrode and the underwater device is configured to be coupled to a second sea earth by means of a second sea earthing electrode. In use, the first sea earthing electrode and the second sea earthing electrode are disposed at separated locations from each other.

Underwater connection assembly for use in underwater communication systems

A branching unit for an optical transmission system, an optical transmission system and a method of operation of said branching unit () is disclosed having a first branch () and a second branch (), each connected to a main branch (). First directional current flow means () and second directional current flow means () are operable to allow electrical current to flow substantially in one direction only along the first branch () and the second branch () respectively such that electrical current flow from the first branch to the second branch and from the second branch to the first branch is substantially prevented and a simultaneous conduction of current between the first branch and the main branch and between the second branch and the main branch is prevented.

Branching unit for an optical transmission system

A method and an apparatus for optical transmission line power feed interference compensation for compensating for an electrical interference signal in a power feed conductor () and in an associated second conductor (). The interference signal may be produced by electromagnetic induction or by local variation in earth potential. The compensation is performed by producing a variable compensation signal from an electrical interference signal produced in the second conductor and inputting the variable compensation signal onto the power feed conductor, in order substantially to compensate for or cancel the electrical interference signal produced in the power feed conductor.

Power feeding for an optical transmission system

A branching unit integrated into a submarine telecommunication system comprising three cables having optical and electrical transmission members comprises three terminals connected to the electrical transmission members of the cables, three input points, and three electrical contacts each between one of the terminals and one of the input points. In an operating configuration, and at a given time, a first terminal and a second terminal are electrically connected together and form a trunk segment adapted to convey a trunk current, and a third terminal is electrically connected to a submarine ground to form a branch segment adapted to convey a branch current. The branching unit carries out reconfiguration by controlling switching of the electrical contacts. A voltage indicating the potential at a point on the trunk segment is measured. Because an optical reconfiguration request is made by means of an optical reconfiguration signal the unit is able to receive and process optical reconfiguration signals. Reconfiguration is validated according to the measured voltage and to the signals received and processed and reconfiguration in accordance with the optical reconfiguration signal is activated only if the absolute value of the potential is below a threshold.

Branching unit with reconfigurable terminal connections

Growing community of inventors

Vaux Le Penil, France

Alain Cordier