Patent ID: 6233077
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L

Abstract:
An optical communication device, comprising:a plurality of photodetectors, each being configured to sense a respective one of a first plurality of optical signals and output a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical signals in response thereto;an encoder stage being configured to receive a respective one of said plurality of electrical signals, said encoder stage further comprising:a plurality of serial-to-parallel conversion circuits, each of which being coupled to a respective one of said plurality of photodetectors and generating outputs in response to said plurality of electrical signals;an encoder circuit coupled to said plurality of serial-to-parallel conversion circuits, said encoder circuit being configured to output a plurality of encoded electrical signals in response to said outputs from said serial-to-parallel conversion circuit; anda plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion circuits coupled to said encoder circuit, each of said plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion circuits outputting a corresponding one of a plurality of encoded data streams in response to said plurality of encoded electrical signals;a plurality of optical emitters, each emitting light at a respective one of a plurality of wavelengths and each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion circuits, each of said optical emitters outputting optical signals in accordance with a respective one of said plurality of encoded data streams; andan optical multiplexer coupled to each of said plurality of optical emitters, said multiplexer being configured to receive said optical signals from said plurality of optical emitters and supply said optical signals on an optical communication path.