WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXED FIBER OPTIC CABLE SYSTEM WITH NON-UNIQUE TERMINAL TYPES

摘要

A wavelength division multiplexed fiber-optic communication system employs a pair of terminal stations, at opposite ends of the fiber-optic link, with the base configuration of each terminal station being the same. In each station a selective coupling arrangement is provided between the source or transmitter devices as well as the receiver devices and the single optical fiber over which the transmissions are to take place so as to effectively make the terminals interchangeable. For achieving this purpose, each terminal station is comprised of a transmitter or source arrangement that is capable of generating a plurality of wavelengths. Similarly, each terminal station includes a receiver or detector which is capable of detecting the plurality of wavelengths that are selectively available for transmission or generation by the transmitter or source. The transmitter or source may comprise a single multiwavelength source such as a dual semiconductor laser generator the control and bias connections for which provide the selectivity for the wavelength of interest. Similarly, a multiple wavelength sensitive receiver, constituting a single unit, is associated with the multiple wavelength source. The multiple wavelength transmitter device may also be comprised of a plurality of individual transmitter or source devices the activation of which is selected by controllably switching or engaging the desired source.