Patent ID: 7359640
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical coupling device operative over a bidirectional data link between at least first and second communicating units, each operative to send and receive data along a common wire of said data link, said device comprising: at least first and second optical coupling means each comprising a photon flux source and a photon flux detector, wherein: first inhibiting means for inhibiting the photon flux source of said second optical coupling means in response to an activation of the photon flux source of said first optical coupling means; and second inhibiting means for inhibiting the photon flux source of said first optical coupling means in response to an activation of the photon flux source of said second optical coupling means, wherein said bidirectional data link is normally biased to a first state when no data is present, data on said link being expressed by a forcing of said link to a second state, wherein at least one said communicating unit comprises: wherein said photon flux source operative in response to said data signal to be sent by said communicating unit, said photon flux source being active when biased at a level above a threshold value and being connected between a driving power source and said source at said second state via said switch of said first conduction path, said photon flux source thereby being biased above said threshold value when said switch is conducting, and wherein said inhibiting means comprises means for forcing the biasing level of said photon flux source to be below said threshold value when said second connection path is made to connect said data link to said source at said second state, in the presence of said photon flux on said photon flux detector.