Austin Farnham

US Patent:

20040047549, Mar 11, 2004

Filed:

Sep 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/236146

Inventors:

Austin Farnham - Severna Park MD, US
Michael Petersen - Columbia MD, US
Bo Pedersen - Annapolis MD, US

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation

International Classification:

G02B006/28

US Classification:

385/024000

Abstract:

An optical communications system, including first terminal equipment, second terminal equipment, third terminal equipment, a first powered optical segment connected to the first terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, a second powered optical segment connected to the second terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, an unpowered optical segment connected to the third terminal equipment, and a branch unit connecting the first powered segment, the second powered segment, and the unpowered segment via passive, all-optical connections, and wherein the unpowered segment is pumped with optical energy through the branch unit from at least one of the amplifiers in the first and second powered segments.