The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 29, 1996
Stephen B Alexander, Millersville, MD (US);
Steve W Chaddick, Annapolis, MD (US);
David R Huber, Glenwood, MD (US);
Cecil D Smith, Severna Park, MD (US);
Ciena Corp., Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
A WDM optical communication system is described which is capable of placing information from incoming information-bearing optical signals onto N optical signal channels for conveyance over an optical waveguide. The optical system includes a first set of one or more optical transmitters, each of which emits an information-bearing optical signal at one or more transmission wavelengths, .lambda..sub.Ti. At least M optical receiving systems are provided, each receiving system configured to receive an information-bearing optical signal at a particular reception wavelength .lambda..sub.j, where M is a whole number greater than or equal to N and j is from 1 to M. Each receiving system includes at least one Bragg grating member for selecting the particular reception wavelength .lambda..sub.j. An optical waveguide optically communicates with each of the M receiving systems for transmitting a plurality of optical signals. A plurality of optical remodulators is further included for communicating with the first set of optical transmitters and the optical waveguide. Each optical remodulator is configured to receive an information-bearing optical signal at a transmission wavelength .lambda..sub.Ti and output an information-bearing optical signal at a reception wavelength .lambda..sub.j. A second set of one or more optical transmitters is also provided, each of which emitting a