Patent ID: 9515765
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: H04B,H04J,H04Q

Claim Text:
1. A contributing optical splitter/combiner configured to function passively without electrical power, the contributing optical splitter/combiner connected via a fiber to an aggregating optical splitter/combiner with at least one output port located upstream from the contributing optical splitter/combiner, the contributing optical splitter/combiner comprising: one or more detectors for detecting reverse path optical signals received from one or more optical network units (ONU) and configured for detecting forward path optical signals received from the upstream aggregating optical splitter/combiner at least one additional detector for detecting a light injected in a forward path by a pump laser by the upstream aggregating optical splitter/combiner, a powering circuit configured to use the forward path light from the upstream aggregating optical splitter/combiner's pump laser to provide electrical power to the contributing optical splitter/combiner, powering at least one of downstream circuitry or upstream circuitry in the contributing optical splitter/combiner for processing the respective reverse path optical signals and forward path optical signals.