Alcatel

Alcatel N.v.

Peter Johannes Vetter

Ingrid Zulma Benoit Van De Voorde

Hans Slabbinck

Claire Martin

Francois Jeanne Leyssens

Thomas Pfeiffer

Jan A Vandewege

Wim Jozef Delbare

Ingrid Van De Voorde

Frederic Migom

Geert De Pestel

A method for amplifying a time-varying optical signal comprising the steps of: generating an auxiliary optical signal the amplitude of which is chosen to be complementary to at least the envelope of the amplitude of the optical signal, superimposing the auxiliary optical signal to the optical signal resulting in a compound signal having an amplitude which is constant at least on average, amplifying the compound signal, and removing the amplified auxiliary optical signal from the amplified compound signal; as well as an optical amplification unit for carrying out the method.

Method for amplifying a time-varying optical signal and optical amplification unit

The present invention concerns a method to perform central control of in-line element (Ei) in a tree-like network by a line terminator (LT). A plurality of network terminators (NT, NT, . . . , NTi, . . . , NTn) are coupled via one or more of such in-line elements (Ei) to the line terminator (LT) by dedicated branches and by a common branch, respectively. The method includes the steps of: determining by the line terminator (LT) a first plurality of bits (A) according to an identification of a selected element (SEL-E) and a second plurality of bits (B) according to an identification of a locally predefined function (SEL-F) whereby the selected element (SEL-E) has been selected by the central control out of the in-line elements (Ei) in order to execute its locally predefined function (SEL-F); and including by the line terminator (LT) in a grant message (G) the first plurality of bits (A) and the second plurality of bits (B); forwarding the grant message (G) by the line terminator (LT) to the in-line elements (Ei) in order to thereby impose execution of the locally predefined function (SEL-F) according to the second plurality of bits (B) upon the selected element (SEL-E) according to the first plurality of bits (A).

Method to perform central control, a line terminator and an element controller realizing such a method and a tree-like network including such a line terminator and an element controller

A method to divide upstream timeslots in a multiple access system that couples a line terminator via a tree-like network to a plurality of network terminators and the line terminator distributes downstream data packets to the plurality of network terminators. The line terminator includes a grant, associated with one of the network terminators, in the downstream packet. A network terminal, upon recognizing its associated grant in the downstream packet, transmits data in a packet placed in a predefined upstream timeslot. Depending on the type of line terminator (high or low order) and the placement of the grant in the downstream packet, the data transmitted by the network terminator, in response to the grant recognition, is placed in a high or low order timeslot for transmission to the line terminator.

Method to divide upstream timeslots in a time division multiple access system, related line terminator and related network terminator

A method to determine a switching moment (Ti) of a switch (SWi) is provided. The switch is coupled to an optical combiner (OC) of a tree-like optical network. The optical combiner enables multiple access of information signals (IN,, . . . , INi, . . . INn) which are upstream transmitted from network units (NU,, NU,&prime;, NU,&Prime;, . . . , NUi, . . . , NUn) to a line terminator (LT) via the cascade connection of dedicated branches (B,, . . . , Bi, . . . , Bn), the optical combiner and a common branch (BC). The switch passes an information signal (INi) at an approximated switching moment (APP-Ti) when the information signal is present and interrupts the branch when the information signal is not present. The method includes the steps of: a) capturing downstream grant information by a control network unit (CTRL-NU) which is coupled between the switch and the line terminator; and b) determining the approximated switching moment by the control network unit based upon the downstream grant information; and c) upstream transmitting by one of the network units coupled to this one dedicated branch a predefined bit pattern (PAT) similar to the information signal. In the event when the predefined bit pattern is passing through the switch, the predefined bit pattern is truncated and a truncated bit pattern (PAT-TR) is provided which is related to the approximated switching moment; and d) detecting by the line terminator reception of the truncated bit pattern; and e) determining by the line terminator a measure of how much the predefined bit pattern is truncated and providing thereby a truncation measure (TR); and f) calculating in function of the truncation measure a calibration value (CAL-SWi) for the switching moment; g) providing the calibration value to the control network unit in order to determine the switching moment in function of the calibration value and the approximated switching moment.

Method to determine a switching moment and a line terminator, a control network unit and a network unit realizing such a method and a tree-like optical network including such a line terminator, such a control network unit or such a network unit

A coupling structure couples an optical termination (T1/T5) of an optical fiber conductor (F1/F5) to an optical terminal (T1'/T5') of an optical device which can be another optical fiber conductor. The structure includes a carrier (S, P) wherein the optical fiber conductor is embedded therein to have at least one locally bent portion reaching an outer surface of the carrier and forming there the optical termination. The carrier includes a first positioning device (P) to correctly position the optical termination with respect to the carrier and a second positioning device (L1-L3) which cooperates with a third positioning device (s1, s2, s3) of an optical arrangement including the optical device to provide the coupling. The first positioning device (P) is a plate having a substantially V-shaped lateral cut-out portion wherein the optical termination (T1/T5) fits and the second and third positioning devices are upstanding tongue shaped elements and edges of cut-out parts of the carrier and of the optical arrangement.

Optical coupling structure, method of realizing such a structure and

An interconnection unit OB includes a flat member FM with connectors OC1, and flexible tongue-shaped elements T formed to be integral with the flat member FM. Conductors F each have a first end part fixed to one of the tongue-shaped elements T and a second end part fixed to the flat member. The tongue-shaped elements T and the flat member FM are formed of a layer of rigid material and each of the tongue-shaped elements T has a portion thereof that includes separated transverse strips S, which are kept together by the conductors F fixed to the tongue-shaped elements, thereby making the tongue-shape elements flexible. A stainless steel plate is fixed to the rigid layer. The interconnection unit is especially useful as an optical backpanel to interconnect optical connectors of printed boards mounted in a rack.

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Antwerp, Belgium

Peter Johannes Vetter