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:
Sep. 28, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2001
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
An optical data throughput protection switch is provided which provides access to a data-carrying first optical path in a manner which protects the data from interference from equipment utilizing said access, and eliminates optical connectors along the first optical path. The protection switch includes a controlling means and a controllable switch which is optically coupled to the first optical path the termination of a second optical path. The controllable switch is controlled by the controlling means and functions to enable and disable optical coupling between the termination, of the second optical path and the first optical path. This may be effected in a manner that allows access to the first optical path when there is no data traffic thereon, and denies access thereto when data is present, resulting in data throughput on the first optical path being protected from signals of the second optical path.