Bidirectional optical electronic converting connector with integral

Abstract

A pair of connectors that convert electrical signals into optical signals for transmission along an optic fiber, and that also convert optical signals received from an optic fiber into electrical signals, is combined with a two-optic-fiber cable to provide an interconnecting cable assembly that receives electrical signals from a sending apparatus at either end of the cable, and presents electrical signals to a receiving apparatus at the other end of the cable, although the intervening transmission is optical. One optic fiber optically links the electrical-to-optical converter (light emitter) in one connector to the optical-to-electrical converter (light detector) in the second connector, while the other optic fiber optically links the emitter in the second connector to the detector in the first connector; thus the cable assembly is bidirectional and may be laid down and connected in either orientation with equivalent performance. Preamplification and buffering is provided within each connector, for the optical-to-electrical conversion. Simple, easy to use, but very accurate alignment devices for juxtaposing the optical fibers to the sources and detectors permit rapid but reliable replacement of the cable. Such cable assemblies are advantageous in collecting data for seismic geomapping for petroleum, particularly when electrical wires too are in the cable assembly.