Patent ID: 7583642

Claim:
A communication system comprising: an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding said core; a fiber bench having a groove retaining said optical fiber therein; said optical fiber having a portion of said cladding removed to define an exposed core portion flush with adjacent portions of said fiber bench; and at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of said optical fiber adjacent the exposed core portion and comprising an optical fiber power unit coupled to said exposed core portion for converting optical power therein into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered solely by said optical fiber power unit and coupled to said exposed core portion and comprising an ultra-wideband transmitter and a signal optical grating coupling said ultra-wideband transmitter to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber, said ultra-wideband transmitter comprising an optical detector having an input coupled to said signal optical grating and having an output, an amplifier having an input connected to the output of said optical detector and having an output, a pseudorandom code generator having an output, a multiplier having inputs connected to the outputs of said amplifier and pseudorandom code generator, and having an output, a pulse generator having an input connected to the output of said multiplier, and having an output, and an antenna connected to the output of said pulse generator.