Patent ID: 6243510
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
An electronically-controllable fiber optic patch panel configured to replicate incoming fiber optic signals on an outgoing fiber optic line, comprising:a switch matrix having plural electrical inputs and plural electrical outputs;an electronic controller coupled to the switch matrix;plural pairs of optical ports, each pair including a fiber optic input and a fiber optic output; andplural transceivers, where each transceiver is connected to a different one of the plural pairs of optical ports and a different one of the plural electrical inputs and a different one of the plural electrical outputs, and where each transceiver includesa receiver portion adapted to convert optical signals received at the corresponding fiber optic input into electrical signals, and to transmit the electrical signals to the corresponding electrical input, anda transmitter portion adapted to convert electrical signals received from the corresponding electrical output into optical signals, and to transmit the optical signals to the corresponding fiber optic output;where the switch matrix is adapted to be controlled by the controller to connect a selected electrical input to one or more selected electrical outputs, so that optical signals received at the fiber optic input corresponding to the selected electical input are transmitted to the one or more fiber optic outputs corresponding to the one or more selected electrical outputs.