Multiplexing two separate optical links with the same wavelength using asymmetric combining and splitting
View Patent ↗An optical communications system includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to an optical combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter coupled to optical media; and, another optical transmitter and another optical receiver optically coupled to another optical combiner/splitter, the another combiner/splitter remotely coupled to the optical media; wherein the optical transmitter and the another optical transmitter are configured to transmit optical signals at substantially the same wavelength.
1. A method for providing an optical network configured for bi-directional communication using optical signals, the method comprising:
selecting a first operator comprising a first optical transmitter and a second optical receiver optically coupled to a first asymmetric optical combiner/splitter, the first asymmetric optical combiner/splitter coupling the first operator to a first end of optical media;
selecting a second operator comprising a second optical transmitter and a second first optical receiver optically coupled to a second asymmetric optical combiner/splitter, the second asymmetric optical combiner/splitter remotely coupled to the optical media;
attenuating a first signal transmitted from the first optical transmitter based on a low transmittance ratio, T R , corresponding to the first asymmetric optical combiner/splitter prior to providing the first signal to the optical media;
attenuating the first signal received from the optical media based on a high transmittance ratio, T R , corresponding to the second asymmetric optical combiner/splitter prior to providing the first signal to the first optical receiver;
attenuating a second signal transmitted from the second optical transmitter based on a low transmittance ratio, T R , corresponding to the second asymmetric optical combiner/splitter prior to providing the second signal to the optical media; and
attenuating the second signal received from the optical media based on a high transmittance ratio, T R , corresponding to the first asymmetric optical combiner/splitter prior to providing the second signal to the second optical receiver; and
selecting the second optical transmitter for operation at substantially a same wavelength as the first optical transmitter.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating the low transmittance ratio, T R , of each of the first and second asymmetric combiner/splitters with a respective one of the first and second optical transmitters.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising associating the high transmittance ratio, T R , of each of the first and second asymmetric combiner/splitters with a respective one of the first and second optical receivers.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the high transmittance ratio, T R , and the low transmittance ratio T R comprise a combination of ratios that is one of 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, 80/20, 75/25, 70/30, and a ratio therebetween.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first optical transmitter is substantially insensitive to optical interference received at an operational wavelength of the optical network.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second optical transmitter is substantially insensitive to optical interference received at the operational wavelength of the optical network.
7. The method claim 4 , further comprising selecting a Fabry-Perot laser as at least one of the first and second optical transmitters.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the high transmittance ratio, T R , and the low transmittance ratio, T R , comprise a combination of ratios that is about 90/10.