Subscriber terminal of adjusting intensity of optical signal by controlling attenuation, and a method thereof

Abstract

A subscriber terminal connected to a central-office unit in an optical communication network includes a variable optical attenuator for attenuating an optical signal received from the central-office unit; an optical-electric converter for converting the optical signal received via the attenuator to a corresponding electric signal; a clock extractor for extracting a clock from the electric signal and producing a clock extraction information signal representing whether or not the clock is extracted stably; and a terminal controller. The controller includes a clock extraction decider for determining whether or not the extractor stably extracts the clock on the basis of the information signal, a receiving level adjuster for setting an attenuation value to a value between a minimum and a maximum value, and an attenuation controller for setting the attenuation amount for the attenuator to the set attenuation value.