OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

2137084 9325020 PCTABS00028 An optical communication system includes a head-end station (1), an optical fibre network (2) and a number of sensors and actuators (S, A) connected via the network to the head-end station. The head-end station (1) includes one or more broadband sources (3, 9) and is arranged to output a broadband signal onto the network (2). The sensors modulate the broadband signal received from the head-end station (1) and return narrowband components of the signal via the network to the head-end (1). There the different narrowband components are detected, for example using a demultiplexer (7) and the resulting signals processed by control electronics (8). The head-end station also includes an optical circuit arranged to split a signal from a broadband source (9) into different narrowband components. Electro-optic modulators (FOM) modulate the different narrowband components and the resulting narrowband signals are output onto the fibre network (2) and transmitted to the actuators. The electro-optic modulators (FOM) are operated by the control electronics (8).