International Business Machines Corporation

Bert W Weidle

David William Boerstler

Mark Steven Styduhar

Anthony J Perri

Karl H Hoppe

Robert J Gallagher

Jordan M Taylor

Gerald W Peterson

An inexpensive and low power consumption power control unit that does not require a separate interface or network. In the power off state only a detector and a power controller require power, this power is supplied from a power source. Upon detection of traffic a frame decoder is powered up to receive frames. When the link is quiet, the decoder is powered down while the power controller and receiver remain powered and await further traffic.

Remote power control via data link

A semiconductor injection laser diode is coupled via a switch to two drivers. One driver provides a drive current above the threshold current required to cause the injection laser diode to lase. The other driver provides a drive current below this threshold current, causing the laser diode to operate in a light-emitting diode (LED) mode. The switch couples the laser diode to one or the other of the drivers depending upon the receiver to which the transmitter is coupled.

Dual-mode laser diode transmitter

A Hall effect sensor associated with the receptacle of a laser transmitter module senses the presence of a magnet carried by a fiber-optic connector when the connector is inserted in the receptacle. The output signal from the sensor is used to disable the laser transmitter if the fiber-optic connector is not inserted, providing a safety interlock as well as a positive key against the insertion of incompatible multimode connectors.

Laser transmitter interlock

Growing community of inventors

Ulster Park, NY, United States of America

Bert W Weidle