Terminal line interface module for undersea open cable system access
An apparatus for managing optical subsea communications system may include a plurality of fiber interface modules (FIM), wherein a given FIM comprises a receive part, and a transmit part. The transmit part may include two normally closed switches, wherein a first switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled to a line monitoring equipment (LME) TX port, and wherein a second switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled to a line terminating equipment (LTE) TX port.
1. An apparatus for managing an optical subsea communications system, comprising:
a plurality of fiber interface modules (FIM), wherein a given FIM comprises:
a receive part, comprising a line monitoring equipment (LME) RX line, line terminating equipment (LTE) RX line, command response equipment (CRE) RX line, a LME RX port, connected to the LME RX line, a LTE RX port, connected to the LTE RX line, and a CRE RX port, connected to the CRE RX line; and
a transmit part, the transmit part comprising a LME TX line, LTE TX line, and CRE TX line, a LME TX port, connected to the LME TX line, a LTE TX port, connected to the LTE TX line, and a CRE TX port, connected to the CRE TX line,
wherein the transmit part further comprises two normally closed switches, wherein a first switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a first side to the LME TX port, and is coupled on a second side to a first side of a second switch of the two normally closed switches,
and wherein the second switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a second side to the LTE TX port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of FIM comprises at least twelve FIM.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a receive amplifier and an LME receive coupler, the receive amplifier being coupled between the LME RX port and the LME receive coupler.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a transmit amplifier, coupled to the CRE TX port.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a CRE TX coupler and a LME TX coupler, the CRE TX coupler being coupled to the second switch and to the LME TX coupler.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a first circulator and a second circulator, coupled on opposite sides of the first switch, and a third circulator, coupled between the CRE TX coupler and the CRE TX port.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a third coupler, disposed between the second circulator, the third circulator, and the CRE TX coupler.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one hot swappable power module.
9. A subsea communications system, comprising:
a wet plant; and
an interface module assembly, coupled to the wet plant, the interface module assembly comprising:
a plurality of fiber interface modules (FIM), wherein a given FIM comprises:
a receive part, comprising a line monitoring equipment (LME) RX line, line terminating equipment (LTE) RX line, command response equipment (CRE) RX line, a LME RX port, connected to the LME RX line, a LTE RX port, connected to the LTE RX line, and a CRE RX port, connected to the CRE RX line; and
a transmit part, wherein the transmit part comprises two normally closed switches, the transmit part comprising a LME TX line, LTE TX line, and CRE TX line, a LME TX port, connected to the LME TX line, a LTE TX port, connected to the LTE TX line, and a CRE TX port, connected to the CRE TX line,
wherein a first switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a first side to the LME TX port, and is coupled on a second side to a first side of a second switch of the two normally closed switches,
and wherein the second switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a second side to the LTE TX port.
10. The subsea communications system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of FIM comprises at least twelve FIM.
11. The subsea communications system of claim 9 , further comprising a receive amplifier and an LME receive coupler, the receive amplifier being coupled between the LME RX port and the LME receive coupler.
12. The subsea communications system of claim 9 , further comprising a transmit amplifier, coupled to the CRE TX port.
13. The subsea communications system of claim 12 , further comprising: a CRE TX coupler and a LME TX coupler, the CRE TX coupler being coupled to the second switch and to the LME TX coupler.
14. The subsea communications system of claim 12 , further comprising a first circulator and a second circulator, coupled on opposite sides of the first switch, and a third circulator, coupled between the CRE TX coupler and the CRE TX port.
15. The subsea communications system of claim 14 , further comprising a third coupler, disposed between the second circulator, the third circulator, and the CRE TX coupler.
16. The subsea communications system of claim 9 , wherein the interface module assembly comprises at least one hot swappable power module.
17. A subsea communications system, comprising:
a wet plant;
an interface module assembly, coupled to the wet plant, the interface module assembly comprising:
a plurality of fiber interface modules (FIM), wherein a given FIM of the plurality of FIM comprises:
a receive part, comprising an line monitoring equipment (LME) RX line, line terminating equipment (LTE) RX line, command response equipment (CRE) RX line, a LME RX port, connected to the LME RX line, a LTE RX port, connected to the LTE RX line, and a CRE RX port, connected to the CRE RX line;
a transmit part, the transmit part comprising a LME TX line, LTE TX line, and CRE TX line, a LME TX port, connected to the LME TX line, a LTE TX port, connected to the LTE TX line, and a CRE TX port, connected to the CRE TX line,
wherein the transmit part comprises two normally closed switches,
wherein a first switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a first side to the LME TX port, and is coupled on a second side to a first side of a second switch of the two normally closed switches,
and wherein the second switch of the two normally closed switches is coupled on a second side to the LTE TX port; and
at least one amplifier, coupled to a port of the given FIM.
18. The subsea communications system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a receive amplifier and an LME receive coupler, the receive amplifier being coupled between the LME RX port and LME receive coupler.
19. The subsea communications system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a transmit amplifier, coupled to the CRE TX port.
20. The subsea communications system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one amplifier comprises a CRE Rx EDFA, wherein the receive part comprises a receive coupler and a receive filter, the CRE Rx EDFA being coupled between the receive coupler and the receive filter.