Repeaterless branch powered fiber optic communication system

摘要

The specification relates to a repeaterless branch powered fiber optic communications system. The system comprises an optical fiber cable trunk, configured in ring topology, with one or more telecommunications hub, and one or more branching unit serially interconnected therein. Branching units are provided as convenient add/drop points along the trunk ring from which branch fiber optic cable radially extend to cable stations. Cable stations insert and extract telecommunications traffic from the trunk ring over the branch fiber optic cables. In addition, the branch fiber optic cables are also coupled to light emitting power sources. The branch fiber optic cables deliver the energy produced from these power sources to optical amplifiers serially embedded within the branch fiber optic cables, the branching units, or the optical fiber cable trunks. The optical amplifiers convert the energy delivered from the branch fiber optic cables into amplified telecommunications signals. Thus, remote pumping or energy delivery is achieved without the requirement of additional optical fiber cable runs and further, using solely passive repeaterless components.