Patent ID: 6668138
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
Distribution apparatus in an optical communication system to allow radio frequency (RF) user channels to be added to a specific optical wavelength carrier channel until bandwidth saturation of the specific optical wavelength carrier channel is reached before being required to add another optical wavelength carrier channel at a different optical wavelength, comprising:a first group of combining circuits, each combining circuit having a plurality of inputs and an output, each combining circuit suitable for receiving an input signal on each one of said plurality of inputs and for providing an output signal comprised of said received input signals on said output, said plurality of inputs and said output terminating with a first type of connector; a multiplicity of input cables, each one of said input cables carrying an input signal and terminating with a connector suitable for connecting with one of said first type of connectors on said first group of combining circuits; a second group of combining circuits, each one of said second group of combining circuits having a plurality of inputs and an output, and each one of said plurality of inputs of said second group suitable for receiving one of said output signals from one of said first group of combining circuits and each one of said second group of combining circuits providing a combined output signal at its output comprised of said output signals received from said first group of combining circuits, said plurality of inputs on each of said second group of combining circuits terminating with one of said first type of connectors; a first group of connecting cables terminated at each end with a connector suitable for connecting with one of said first type of connectors, each of said first group of connecting cables connecting an output from one of said first group of combining circuits to one of said inputs on one of said second group of combining circuits; and a plurality of optical transmitters, each optical transmitter operable to generate a carrier wavelength of light corresponding to a specific optical wavelength carrier channel, and further operable to receive one of said combined output signals from said second group of combining circuits and modulate said carrier wavelength of light according to said received one of said combined output signal, each of said plurality of optical transmitters having a different carrier wavelength of light so that when a bandwidth saturation of said specific optical wavelength carrier channel is reached another optical wavelength carrier channel at a different optical wavelength may be added on demand.