Patent ID: 6765189
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A switched multichannel tapped fiber optic power monitoring apparatus, comprising:a plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector connected to a tap of a different optical line for converting a small portion of an optical signal from the respective optical line to an electrical signal, at least one switch, the number of switches being less than the number of photodetectors, each switch having inputs connected to outputs of each of a plurality of said photodetectors for receiving the output electrical signal from each of said photodetectors and for switching said output electrical signals in a multiplexed manner to an output thereof as a multiplexed electrical signal; at least one amplifier for amplifying said multiplexed electrical signal, the number of amplifiers being less than the number of photodetectors, an analog to digital converter which converts the amplified electrical signal to a digital signal, and a microprocessor which provides an output measurement signal in response to the digital signal, said microprocessor being connected to said at least one switch to control a length of time that the at least one switch is open for each optical line.