Patent ID: 7908038
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method of making an optical transponder, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of electrical and optical components within a housing, wherein the housing is configured to thermally conduct heat away from the optical components, and wherein the plurality of electrical and optical components include an electrical-to-optical converter and an optical-to-electrical converter; positioning a microcontroller within the housing, wherein the microcontroller is configured to communicatively interface with a controller located external to the housing; coupling a first input of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to the electrical-to-optical converter, a second input terminal of the A/D converter to the optical-to-electrical converter, and at least a first output terminal of the A/D converter to the microcontroller; positioning a first memory within the housing, wherein the first memory is configured to store at least one software program which is accessible and executable by the microcontroller; coupling the first memory to the microcontroller; providing electrical communication pathways between the microcontroller and at least one device located external to the housing; and positioning a second memory within the housing, wherein the second memory is configured to store calibration parameters; wherein the method of making enables a calibration of the optical transponder to be performed with the housing in place.