Coupling arrangement for coupling optical connections

Claim 2

A coupling arrangement for coupling first and second ends of a transmission line which is capable of bidirectionally transmitting optical signals, said coupling arrangement comprising: a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first end and the second end of the transmission line to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first end and the second end of the transmission lines to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 3

The coupling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the optical switch is provided with a signal input for controlling the switch to switch between a bar-state wherein the switch is in a first position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the input and the first output of the tapping device, respectively, and a cross-state wherein the switch is in a second position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the first output and the input of the tapping device, respectively.

Claim 4

The coupling arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the tapping device includes: an optical amplifier provided with an input and an output, and an optical power splitter provided with an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the input of the amplifier forms the input of the tapping device, the output of the amplifier is coupled to the input of the power splitter, the first output of the power splitter forms the second output of the tapping device, and the second output of the power splitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 5

The coupling arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the tapping device includes: an optical receiver having a signal input for receiving an optical signal and a signal output delivering a corresponding electrical signal, an optical transmitter having a signal input for receiving the electrical signal and a signal output for transmitting a corresponding optical signal, wherein the signal input of the optical receiver forms the input of the tapping device, the signal output of the optical receiver is coupled to the signal input of the optical transmitter and to the second output of the tapping device, and the signal output of the optical transmitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 6

A network comprising: a central node having optical transmission means for transmitting distribution signals, an optical power splitter having an input coupled to the optical transmission means, a first output, and a second output, a row of N (N≧2) network nodes connected to the central node and mutually connected by means of optical connections for taking off and passing on the distribution signals, said row of network nodes including a first network node connected to the first output of the power splitter and to a following network node, a last network node connected to a preceding network node and to the second output of the power splitter, and intermediate network nodes which are each connected to respective preceding network nodes and to respective following network nodes, wherein at least one of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling first and second ends of a transmission line which is capable of bidirectionally transmitting optical signals, said first end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective preceding network node and the first output of the power splitter, and said second end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective following network node and the second output of the power splitter, and wherein said coupling arrangement comprises: (i) a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and (ii) an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first end and the second end of the transmission line to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first end and the second end of the transmission lines to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 7

A network comprising: a central node having optical transmission means for transmitting distribution signals, an optical power splitter having an input coupled to the optical transmission means, a first output, and a second output, a row of N (N≧2) network nodes connected to the central node and mutually connected by means of optical connections for taking off and passing on the distribution signals, said row of network nodes including a first network node connected to the first output of the power splitter and to a following network node, a last network node connected to a preceding network node and to the second output of the power splitter, and intermediate network nodes which are each connected to respective preceding network nodes and to respective following network nodes, wherein at least one of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling first and second ends of a transmission line which is capable of bidirectionally transmitting optical signals, said first end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective preceding network node and the first output of the power splitter, and said second end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective following network node and the second output of the power splitter, and wherein said coupling arrangement comprises: (i) a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and (ii) an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first end and the second end of the transmission line to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first end and the second end of the transmission lines to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 8

The network according to claim 5, wherein the optical switch of the coupling arrangement is provided with a signal input for controlling the switch to switch between a bar-state wherein the switch is in a first position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the input and the first output of the tapping device, respectively, and a cross-state wherein the switch is in a second position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the first output and the input of the tapping device, respectively.

Claim 9

The network according to claim 6, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical amplifier provided with an input and an output, and an optical power splitter provided with an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the input of the amplifier forms the input of the tapping device, the output of the amplifier is coupled to the input of the power splitter, the first output of the power splitter forms the second output of the tapping device, and the second output of the power splitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 10

The network according to claim 6, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical receiver having a signal input for receiving an optical signal and a signal output delivering a corresponding electrical signal, an optical transmitter having a signal input for receiving the electrical signal and a signal output for transmitting a corresponding optical signal, wherein the signal input of the optical receiver forms the input of the tapping device, the signal output of the optical receiver is coupled to the signal input of the optical transmitter and to the second output of the tapping device, and the signal output of the optical transmitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 11

The network according to claim 7, wherein each of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement corresponding to the coupling arrangement of the at least one network node.

Claim 12

The network according to claim 8, wherein each of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement corresponding to the coupling arrangement of the at least one network node.

Claim 13

A network comprising: a first central node having first optical transmission means for transmitting first distribution signals, a second central node having second optical transmission means for transmitting second distribution signals, a row of N (N≧2) network nodes connected to the first and second central nodes and mutually connected by means of optical connections for taking off and passing on the first and second distribution signals, said row of network nodes including a first network node connected to the first optical transmission means of the first central node and to a following network node, a last network node connected to a preceding network node and to the second transmission means of the second central node, and intermediate network nodes which are each connected to respective preceding network nodes and to respective following network nodes, wherein at least one of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling first and second ends of a transmission line which is capable of bidirectionally transmitting optical signals, said first end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective preceding network node and the first optical transmission means of the first central node, and said second end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective following network node and the second optical transmission means of the second central node, and wherein said coupling arrangement comprises: (i) a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and (ii) an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first end and the second end of the transmission line to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first end and the second end of the transmission lines to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 14

A network comprising: a first central node having first optical transmission means for transmitting first distribution signals, a second central node having second optical transmission means for transmitting second distribution signals, a row of N (N≧2) network nodes connected to the first and second central nodes and mutually connected by means of optical connections for taking off and passing on the first and second distribution signals, said row of network nodes including a first network node connected to the first optical transmission means of the first central node and to a following network node, a last network node connected to a preceding network node and to the second transmission means of the second central node, and intermediate network nodes which are each connected to respective preceding network nodes and to respective following network nodes, wherein at least one of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling first and second ends of a transmission line which is capable of bidirectionally transmitting optical signals, said first end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective preceding network node and the first optical transmission means of the first central node, and said second end of the transmission line being connected to one of the respective following network node and the second optical transmission means of the second central node, and wherein said coupling arrangement comprises: (i) a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and (ii) an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first end and the second end of the transmission line to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first end and the second end of the transmission lines to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 15

The network according to claim 11, wherein the optical switch of the coupling arrangement is provided with a signal input for controlling the switch to switch between a bar-state wherein the switch is in a first position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the input and the first output of the tapping device, respectively, and a cross-state wherein the switch is in a second position such that the first end and the second end of the transmission line are connected to the first output and the input of the tapping device, respectively.

Claim 16

The network according to claim 12, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical amplifier provided with an input and an output, and an optical power splitter provided with an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the input of the amplifier forms the input of the tapping device, the output of the amplifier is coupled to the input of the power splitter, the first output of the power splitter forms the second output of the tapping device, and the second output of the power splitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 17

The network according to claim 12, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical receiver having a signal input for receiving an optical signal and a signal output delivering a corresponding electrical signal, an optical transmitter having a signal input for receiving the electrical signal and a signal output for transmitting a corresponding optical signal, wherein the signal input of the optical receiver forms the input of the tapping device, the signal output of the optical receiver is coupled to the signal input of the optical transmitter and to the second output of the tapping device, and the signal output of the optical transmitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 18

The network according to claim 13, wherein each of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement corresponding to the coupling arrangement of the at least one network node.

Claim 19

The network according to claim 14, wherein each of the network nodes is provided with a coupling arrangement corresponding to the coupling arrangement of the at least one network node.

Claim 20

A network node for switchably taking off and passing on optical signals in a first signal transport direction of a bidirectional optical transmission line and for simultaneously blocking optical signals in a second signal transport direction of the bidirectional optical transmission line, said bidirectional optical transmission line including first and second bidirectional optical connections, and said network node being provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling the first and second bidirectional optical connections, said coupling arrangement comprising: a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first and second bidirectional optical connections to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first and second bidirectional optical connections to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 21

A network node for switchably taking off and passing on optical signals in a first signal transport direction of a bidirectional optical transmission line and for simultaneously blocking optical signals in a second signal transport direction of the bidirectional optical transmission line, said bidirectional optical transmission line including first and second bidirectional optical connections, and said network node being provided with a coupling arrangement for coupling the first and second bidirectional optical connections, said coupling arrangement comprising: a unidirectional optical tapping device for providing a signal drop and signal continue function, said tapping device having an input, a first output, and a second output, and an optical switch arranged to switchably connect, in accordance with a signal direction, one of the first and second bidirectional optical connections to the input of the tapping device and the other of the first and second bidirectional optical connections to the first output of the tapping device, respectively, so as to unidirectionally feed optical signals through the tapping device.

Claim 22

The network node according to claim 17, wherein the optical switch of the coupling arrangement is provided with a signal input for controlling the switch to switch between a bar-state wherein the switch is in a first position such that first and second bidirectional optical connections are connected to the input and the first output of the tapping device, respectively, and a cross-state wherein the switch is in a second position such that the first and second bidirectional optical connections are connected to the first output and the input of the tapping device, respectively.

Claim 23

The network node according to claim 18, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical amplifier provided with an input and an output, and an optical power splitter provided with an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the input of the amplifier forms the input of the tapping device, the output of the amplifier is coupled to the input of the power splitter, the first output of the power splitter forms the second output of the tapping device, and the second output of the power splitter forms the first output of the tapping device.

Claim 24

The network node according to claim 18, wherein the tapping device of the coupling arrangement includes: an optical receiver having a signal input for receiving an optical signal and a signal output delivering a corresponding electrical signal, an optical transmitter having a signal input for receiving the electrical signal and a signal output for transmitting a corresponding optical signal, wherein the signal input of the optical receiver forms the input of the tapping device, the signal output of the optical receiver is coupled to the signal input of the optical transmitter and to the second output of the tapping device, and the signal output of the optical transmitter forms the first output of the tapping device.