Patent ID: 6956996
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical system comprising: an optical transceiver having an optical receiver; and a bi-directional optical bus having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion defined between the first end and the second end, the optical bus being one of an optical fiber, a buried waveguide, and a planar waveguide, wherein the optical bus defines a propagation axis extending between the first and second ends, and includes a first reflective surface located along the intermediate portion, the first reflective surface being inclined with respect to the propagation axis and operative to simultaneously direct to the optical receiver optically coupled to the intermediate portion of the optical bus, a portion of a first optical signal and a portion of a second optical signal propagating through the optical bus, the optical receiver being operative to detect a logic level based upon the relative difference in intensities between the portion of the first optical signal and the portion of the second optical signal.