Patent ID: 6912339
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: G02B,H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical interface device, comprising: a first port; a second port; a third port; each of the first, second, and third ports for receiving optical signals; a first coupler for splitting optical signals from the first port into a plurality of optical signal components and for routing one of the optical signal components to each of the second and third ports; a second coupler for splitting optical signals from the second port into a plurality of optical signal components and for routing one of the optical signal components to each of the first and third ports; a third coupler for splitting optical signals from the third port into a plurality of optical signal components and for routing one of the optical signal components to each of the first and second ports; a first optical amplifier located between the first and second ports for amplifying optical signals routed between the first and second ports; a second optical amplifier located between the second and third ports for amplifying optical signals routed between the second and third ports; a third optical amplifier located between the first and third ports for amplifying optical signals routed between the first and third ports; wherein each of the first, second, and third optical amplifiers has a gain that is sufficient to compensate for coupling losses associated with the first, second, and third ports, respectively, and splitting losses associated with the first, second, and third splitter, respectively.