Lucent Technologies Inc.

Charles Duvall

Ian A White

Henry H Yaffe

An optical integrated circuit provides a 1.times.2 power splitting function for a communication system and additionally provides at least one type of upgrade capability for the system. The upgrade capability may be remote optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) testing at an out-of-band wavelength. The OTDR testing is performed around a power splitter whereby a fault may be precisely located on an output line past the power splitter. Other upgrade capabilities that an optical integrated circuit may provide are the ability to add optical network units (ONUs) to the communication at a later time or to increase the bandwidth without requiring any new cables between a central office and the optical circuit. The optical integrated circuits can provide these upgraded capabilities with a higher reliability than circuits which are manufactured with discrete components and at a lower cost.

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Charles Duvall