Patent ID: 6134035
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
An optical network termination unit (ONU) of a hybrid fiber/coax access network (NET) with a forward channel and a return channel to provide a direct link between an optical line (FIBRE) and an electric line (KOAX1),wherein said optical termination unit (ONU) serves to receive and electrically transmit optical signals in the forward channel and to receive quasi-analog electric signals and optically retransmit said quasi-analog electric signals in digital form in the return channel,said optical network termination unit (ONU) comprising an optical-to-electrical transducer (O/E2) operatively connected to the optical line (FIBRE), a digital electrical-to-optical transducer (E/O2), and an analog-to-digital converter (A/D1),wherein the optical-to-electrical transducer (O/E2) is operatively connected to the optical line (FIBRE) for directly receiving optical signals from the optical line (FIBRE) and converting the received optical signals into electric signals in order to electrically transmit the received optical signals directly to the electric line (KOAX1); and the analog-to-digital converter (A/D1) is operatively connected to the electric line (KOAX1) for directly receiving quasi-analog electric signals from the electric line (KOAX1), converting the quasi-analog electric signals into digitized quasi-analog signals and conveying the digital signals to the electrical-to-optical transducer (E/O2) so as to allow the electrical-to-optical transducer (E/O2) to convert the digitized quasi-analog signals into optical signals for direct retransmitting via the optical line (FIBRE).