Arrangement for transmitting digital data over an optical network of

Abstract

Digital data in the form of a light signal is to be transmitted through an optical network of optical waveguides joined together at passive node points. The node points split or branch off the light signal from a primary waveguide into secondary or branch waveguides. The passive node points include special coupling surfaces respectively a coupling body including a flat surface and a prismatic structure arranged at the junction or head end of the secondary waveguide. The respective coupling surface or coupling body achieves an exactly defined maximum reflection of the light in the primary waveguide, i.e. constrains a major proportion of the light within the primary waveguide. Thus, maximum light power is maintained and transmitted along the primary waveguide, and at each node point a defined minimum light power is coupled into the respective secondary waveguides. In this manner, the overall light power transmission along the primary waveguide is increased and a greater number of passive node points can be used in the optical network.