Alloptic, Inc.

Jer-Chen Kuo

Gerald A Pesavento

A passive optical network which employs multiple wavelengths to increase overall system bandwidth, with each wavelength being shared by multiple optical network units (ONUs) according to a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol. The upstream TDMA traffic therefore includes multiple TDMA data streams at different wavelengths. An optical line terminal (OLT) preferably receives the multiple TDMA data streams and separates them to different detectors before ultimately combining all data into a single data stream using a multiplexer after performing clock and data recovery functions. In this manner, the upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network can be markedly increased without requiring an increase in data transmit speeds, and while using low cost/low speed detectors in the OLT, and low cost/low speed transceivers in the ONUs. System bandwidth can be further improved by using higher cost, higher speed components.

Multiple wavelength TDMA optical network

A passive optical network. The optical network has an optical fiber ring with ends terminating at an optical line terminal. The optical line terminal transmits signals through the fiber ring to optical network units passively connected to the fiber ring. The optical network units receive signals from the optical line terminal through the fiber ring. In one embodiment, the optical line terminal transmits redundant signals in opposite directions through the fiber ring and the optical network units receive the redundant signals from opposite directions through the fiber ring. In another embodiment, the optical network units receive TDM signals from and transmit TDMA signals to the optical line terminal through a fiber line. A first WDM coupler passively connected to the fiber line multiplexes an overlay signal with at least one of the TDM signals and the TDMA signals for transmission through the fiber line. The overlay signal has a wavelength different than the signals with which it is multiplexed.

Growing community of inventors

Davis, CA, United States of America

Jer-Chen Kuo