Optical sensor/actuator communication system with common control site independently responding to inputs from sensors and controlling associated actuators

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB93/01130 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 26, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 26, 1995 PCT Filed May 28, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO93/25020 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 9, 1994An optical communication system includes a head-end station, an optical fibre network and a number or sensors and actuators connected via the network to the head-end station. The head-end station includes one or more broadband sources and is arranged to output a broadband signal onto the network. The sensors modulate the broadband signal received from the head-end station and return narrowband components of the signal via the network to the head-end. There the different narrowband components are detected, for example using a demultiplexer and the resulting signals processed by control electronics. The head-end station also includes an optical circuit arranged to split a signal from a broadband source into different narrowband components. Electro-optic modulators (FOM) modulate the different narrowband components and the resulting narrowband signals are output onto the fibre network and transmitted to the actuators. The electro-optic modulators (FOM) are operated by the control electronics.