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:
Jan. 28, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1999
Donald G. Heflinger, Torrance, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A broadcast optical communication system is disclosed. It comprises an optical waveguide having a plurality of gratings. A first grating is disposed at a first node and couples light impinging normally into the waveguide, propagates coupled light bi-directionally through the waveguide and emits a portion of the coupled light at a second grating in a direction normal thereto. An optical source is disposed proximate the first node for transmitting light normally to the first grating and an optical detector is disposed proximate the second node for detecting the normally emitted light. In another embodiment multiple optical waveguides and source-detector pairs are employed in a parallel data architecture to provide multiple channel broadcast communication.