AN APPARATUS FOR CONCATONATING A PLURALITY OF UNDERSEA PRESSURE VESSELS EACH HOUSING AN OPTICAL AMPLIFIER MODULE

摘要

An undersea optical repeater is provided. The repeater includes at least first and second pressure vessels for use in an undersea environment. Each of the pressure vessels includes a pressure housing and at least two cable receiving elements disposed on opposing ends of the pressure housing for respectively receiving ends of optical cables that each include an electrical conductor therein. The cable receiving elements are adapted to be in electrical contact with the respective electrical conductors in the optical cables. The pressure housing is adapted to provide electrical isolation between the respective cable receiving elements attached thereto. At least one optical amplifier is located in each of the pressure vessels. Each of the optical amplifiers includes at least one electrical component adapted to receive electrical power from the electrical conductors in. the optical cables. A coupling element, which provides optical and electrical connectivity between the first and second pressure vessels, connects one of the cable receiving elements of the first pressure vessel to one of the cable receiving elements of the second pressure vessel.