Charles E Bell

US Patent:

40615774, Dec 6, 1977

Filed:

Aug 18, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/715485

Inventors:

Charles H. Bell - Merritt Island FL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04B 900

US Classification:

250199

Abstract:

A multiplex optical transmission system for simultaneously transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals while minimizing external interference. The system includes a plurality of subgroup mixers wherein video signals, digital data signals, and audio signals are supplied to the respective subgroup mixers for being blocked into respective frequency ranges. The output of the subgroup mixers are, in turn, fed to a master mixer that produces a composite electrical signal therefrom. An optical transmitter is connected to the master mixer for converting the composite signal into an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal over a fiber optic cable. An optical receiver is connected to the other end of the fiber optic cable for receiving the optical signal and converting such back into a composite electrical signal. A de-multiplexer is coupled to the output of the optical receiver for separating the composite signal back into a composite video, data, and audio signals. A programmable optical patch board is interposed in the fiber optic cables for selectively connecting the optical signals to various receivers and transmitters.

US Patent:

43818811, May 3, 1983

Filed:

May 27, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/153245

Inventors:

Charles H. Bell - Merritt Island FL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G02B 514

US Classification:

350 9616

Abstract:

A system for automatically optically switching fiber optic data signals between a plurality of input optical fibers (10, 11, 12, 13) and selective ones of a plurality of output fibers (56, 56a, 56b, 56c). The system includes optical detectors (14, 16, 18, 20) which are connected to each of the input fibers (10, 11, 12, 13) for converting the optic data signals appearing at the respective input fibers to an RF signal. A plurality of RF to optical signal converters (38, 40, 42, 44a, etc. ) are arranged in rows and columns. The output of each of the optical detectors (14, 16, 18 and 20) are each applied to a respective row of optical signal converters (38, 40, 42, 44, etc. ) for being converted back to an optical signal when the particular optical signal converter is selectively activated by a DC voltage. These optical signals are then applied via optical fibers (62) to optical detectors (58) which convert the optical signal back to an RF signal which is used for driving the ILDs ( 60). The ILDs (60), in turn, convert the RF signals back to optical signals without any mechanical switching either of the optical signals or the RF signals.