A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR LIMITING THE MAXIMUM OF LIGHT TRANSMITTED FROM A RIBBON FIBER

摘要

A terminal (104) is connected to a communication link (102) comprising a ribbon fiber (110) for communication in two directions over pairs of fiber in the ribbon. For each incoming fiber (106) in the ribbon fiber a receiver (112) is connected to an amplifier/detector (114) which emits detection signals on line (117). The detection signals indicate that there is sufficient optical power in the corresponding incoming fibers and are supplied via gates (124) to control units (122). These control whether electric signals incoming on lines (120) are to be conveyed further to transmitters (118) for being sent on the outgoing fibers (108). A channel selector unit (126) delivers selector signals to the gates so that when insufficient optical power exists in an incoming fiber the corresponding transmitter is only permitted to transmit during short repeated periods and is shut off in between.