Patent ID: 8588619

Claim:
An apparatus for providing communications between a first device disposed at a tubular and a second device, the tubular comprising tubular sections and configured to be disposed in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus comprising: a first optical coupler configured to be coupled to a first tubular section and configured to be in optical communication with the first device using a first optical transmission medium disposed at the first tubular section; and a second optical coupler configured to be coupled to a second tubular section and configured to be in optical communication with the second device using a second optical transmission medium disposed at the second tubular section; wherein the first optical coupler is configured to be perimetrically disposed about the second optical coupler to be in communication with the second optical coupler to provide the communications between the first device and the second device, and at least one of the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler comprises an optical repeater configured to amplify an optical signal, the second optical coupler is configured to be inserted into the first optical coupler, and the first optical coupler comprises a light deflector sleeve in optical communication with first optical transmission medium and the second optical coupler comprises a light deflector ring in optical communication with the second optical transmission medium, the light deflector ring being configured to slide into and be in optical communication with the light deflector sleeve to deflect light over an interface between the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler.