Neptune Subsea IP Limited

David Antony Frisch

Alistair Hill

An optical repeater is disclosed, comprising: an optical input port for receiving an input optical signal; an optical output port for transmitting an output optical signal; electronics comprising an amplifier configured to increase a signal level of the optical signal between the input port and the output port; a voltage regulator configured to provide a variable voltage power supply to the electronics, and optionally comprising a local or external controller configured to determine a supply voltage in response to demand and to control the voltage regulator to provide the supply voltage.

Repeater powering

An optical communications apparatus is configured to be connected to first, second, and third optical cables. In a branch connecting configuration, a branch optical path is enabled so that (i) signal wavelengths received over the first cable are routed to the third cable and (ii) signal wavelengths received over the third cable are routed to the second cable. The signal wavelengths received over the third cable include at least one of the signal wavelengths routed from the first cable to the third cable and returned via a loop connection at a distal portion of the third cable. In a bypass configuration, a connection via the branch optical path to the distal portion of the third cable is bypassed so that the signal wavelengths received over the first cable are routed to the second cable without first being routed through the distal portion of the third cable.

Optical branching unit

An optical communications apparatus includes a branching unit and a switching module. The branching unit is configured to be connected to first, second, and third optical cables each including an optical fiber. The branching unit includes a branch optical path configured to route a fixed pre-determined range of wavelengths that are input to the branching unit from the optical fiber of the first cable to the optical fiber of the third cable. The switching module includes at least one optical switch having a bypass configuration and a branch connecting configuration. In the bypass configuration, a connection via the branch optical path to a distal portion of the third cable is bypassed. In the branch connecting configuration, the branch optical path is enabled so that the pre-determined range of wavelengths that are input to the branching unit are routed to the optical fiber of the distal portion of the third cable.

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Ashbourne, United Kingdom

David Antony Frisch