Patent ID: 7539420

Claim:
A network for transmitting information between subscribers and a central unit, the network comprising: transmission links between the central unit and each of the subscribers, each transmission link comprising: at one end at the center unit, an electrical connection line, an optical fiber coupled to the electrical connection line, and at the coupling between the electrical connection line and the optical fiber, a converter for converting between electrical and optical signals, the central unit comprising ports for connection to the electrical connection lines for receiving and transmitting electrical signals, connector housings, each having an electrical connector at one end and at an opposite end means for connection to an optical fiber, each connector housing receiving one of the converters, which is connected between the electrical connector and the means for connection to the optical fiber, the electrical connector being designed for cooperating with a complementary electrical connector mounted on the electrical connection line, the converter for converting optical signals to electrical signals comprising an electrooptical detector connected to a broadband amplifier having an output terminal connected to the primary winding of a transformer, the secondary winding of the transformer being connected to an electrical transmission line, the amplifier having such a setting of its zero-point that a rest level of an incoming light signal results in zero current through the transformer and a higher light signal level gives a positive current through the transformer and a lower light signal level results in a negative current through the transformer.