Patent ID: 6486989
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical communications terminal station for use in a wavelength-multiplexing optical transmission communications system, comprising:an optical signal generation unit to generate and transmit at least one main signal containing information, such that when a plurality of main signals is generated and transmitted, the main signals have different wavelengths; a light generation unit to generate a light having a power large enough to generate a nonlinear effect in an optical transmission line when fewer than a predetermined number of main signals is transmitted, and having a power small enough to avoid the nonlinear effect when the predetermined number of main signals is transmitted; and a coupler optically connected to the optical signal generation unit, the light generation unit and the optical transmission line, the coupler wavelength-multiplexing the at least one main signal with the light generated by the light generation unit to cause four-wave mixing in the optical transmission line when fewer than the predetermined number of main signals is transmitted.