JPH10261999A - Optical network equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To multiplex optical transmission lines at low cost to improve reliability, and to easily add and delete network devices to / from an optical network. SOLUTION: At one end of a spectroscope 3, an optical input unit 3a is configured by a multi-core optical fiber cable in which all cores are bundled into one bundle, and at the other end of the spectroscope 3, two cores are provided.
The multi-core optical fiber cable branched into two by being divided into bundles respectively constitutes two optical output units 3b. Similarly, one end of the light collector 6 has one core
An optical output section 6b is constituted by a bundle of multi-core optical fiber cables, and a multi-core optical fiber cable branched into two by dividing the core into two bundles is provided at the other end of the light collector 6. One light input section 6a. These two optical output units 3b and two optical input units 6a are connected by two optical transmission lines 7, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an optical network device using an optical fiber as a transmission medium for an optical signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical network device, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-65838 is known. In the ring type optical network described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-65838, the transmission path of an optical signal is doubled, and if a failure occurs in one of the optical transmission paths, a switch is used to switch to the other optical transmission path. Is configured.

[0003]

However, the conventional optical network devices have the following problems in terms of the reliability of the communication network.

[0004] Optical networks installed for controlling automobiles, trains, aircraft, and the like are required to have high reliability, but if a part of the body is damaged due to a traffic accident or the like,
Even if the body itself is slightly damaged, transmission and reception of optical signals may not be possible at all due to disconnection of one optical transmission line.

In order to improve the reliability of an optical network device, when an optical transmission line is duplicated as in a ring type optical network described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-65838, a switch for switching the transmission line is required. Become
If an optical network device is to be configured without using such a switch, a plurality of optical signal transmitting / receiving units are required for one node, and an inexpensive network cannot be constructed.

Further, when the optical transmission line is duplicated or multiplexed, it is difficult to connect and disconnect the network device to and from the optical network when adding or deleting network devices such as nodes connected to the optical network. This makes the facility work complicated.

When installing a transmission medium such as an optical fiber cable constituting an optical transmission line in a premises or equipment, it is desirable to install a plurality of optical transmission lines on different paths in order to ensure reliability. If the equipment and the optical transmission line cannot be easily connected and separated, it takes time and effort to work on the facilities of the optical transmission line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems by multiplexing optical transmission lines at low cost to improve reliability, and to easily add and delete network devices to and from an optical network. It is to provide a device.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical network apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises an electric-optical converter for converting an electric signal to an optical signal, and one optical input unit. Splitting means for splitting the optical signal input to the optical fiber cable with a multi-core optical fiber cable and outputting the split signal to a plurality of optical output units; and first light for connecting the electro-optical conversion unit to an optical input unit of the splitting unit. Fiber coupling means, optical-electrical conversion means for converting an optical signal into an electric signal, and optical signals input to a plurality of optical input sections are condensed by a multi-core optical fiber cable and output to one optical output section. And a second means for connecting a light output section of the light collecting means to the light-electricity converting means.
2 or 2 comprising a multi-core or single-core optical fiber cable and connecting a plurality of light output sections of the spectral means and a plurality of light input sections of the condensing means, respectively.
The above optical transmission path is provided.

[0010] According to the optical network device of the first aspect, the light splitting means splits the optical signal input to one optical input unit by the multi-core optical fiber cable and outputs the light signal to the plurality of optical output units. At the same time, the light condensing means condenses the optical signals input to the plurality of optical input sections by a multi-core optical fiber cable and outputs the collected signals to one optical output section, and further comprises a multi-core or single-core optical fiber cable. Even if the optical transmission line consisting of is connected to a plurality of optical output units of the spectroscopic unit and a plurality of optical input units of the light condensing unit, the optical transmission line of one path is disconnected for some reason. Without switching the optical transmission path by a switch or the like, it is possible to secure the minimum communication by the optical transmission path of another path.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical network device according to the first aspect, wherein the optical output unit of the spectroscopy unit and the optical transmission line are connected and separated by a third optical fiber coupling unit. The optical input unit of the light condensing means and the optical transmission path are connected to each other by a fourth optical fiber coupling means so as to be capable of coming and going.

According to the optical network device of the second aspect, the optical output unit of the spectral unit and the optical transmission path are
By connecting the light input section of the light condensing means and the light transmission path so as to be able to contact and separate by the fourth optical fiber coupling means, while connecting the light separating means by the third optical fiber coupling means, The network device having the light condensing means is connected or disconnected from the optical transmission line by a connection operation or a detachment operation with respect to the optical fiber coupling unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical network device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the optical network device is connected to the optical-to-electrical conversion means and controls an optical level of an optical signal input from the light collection means. A light receiving level measuring means for measuring, and a warning means for issuing a warning when the light level measured by the light receiving level measuring means at the time of inputting an optical signal is equal to or less than a set value are provided.

According to the optical network apparatus of the third aspect, the warning means generates a warning when the light level measured by the light receiving level measuring means at the time of inputting the optical signal is equal to or less than the set value, When the optical level of the optical signal input to the optical-electrical conversion unit is abnormally low, the occurrence of the device abnormality can be promptly notified to the user by a warning from the warning unit.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical network device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, where 1 is an electro-optical converter composed of a semiconductor laser, a light emitting diode, and the like.
2 is an optical fiber coupler, 3 is one optical input section 3a and 2
The optical fiber coupler 2 includes an optical-to-optical converter 1 and an optical input unit 3 a of the spectroscope 3.
Connected to In the spectroscope 3, a light input unit 3a is provided.
A multi-core plastic optical fiber cable (hereinafter, referred to as a “core bundle”) in which the core is divided from one bundle to two bundles between
An optical transmission line is constituted by a multi-core optical fiber cable). At one end of the spectroscope 3, an optical input unit 3a is constituted by a multi-core optical fiber cable in which all cores are bundled into one bundle. At the other end, two cores are divided into two bundles, and a multi-core optical fiber cable branched into two constitutes two optical output units 3b.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an optical-electrical converter constituted by a photodiode or an avalanche photodiode, 5 denotes an optical fiber coupler, and 6 denotes a condenser having two optical input sections 6a and one optical output section 6b. , Optical fiber coupler 5
Connects the light output section 6 b of the light collector 6 to the light-to-electric converter 4. In the light collector 6, an optical transmission path is formed by a multi-core optical fiber cable in which a core is divided into one bundle from two bundles between a light input unit 6a and a light output unit 6b. The optical output unit 6 is connected to one end of the optical unit 6 by a multi-core optical fiber cable in which all the cores are bundled.
b, and a multi-core optical fiber cable, which is divided into two bundles by dividing the core into two bundles, constitutes two light input sections 6a at the other end of the light collector 6 respectively.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an optical transmission line constituted by a multi-core optical fiber cable. The two optical transmission lines 7 include two optical output sections 3b of the spectroscope 3 and two optical input sections 6a of the condenser 6. And are connected respectively.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a multi-core optical fiber cable used in the optical network device shown in FIG.
Are many cores 11 made of acrylic resin.
Further, in order to protect these cores 11, a sheath material 12 formed in a tubular shape so as to cover the bundle of the cores 11 is provided. In the spectroscope 3 and the condenser 6, one multi-core optical fiber cable 10 having about 200 cores 11 is connected to two multi-core optical fiber cables having about 100 cores 11.
Branches to 10.

Next, an example of a configuration in the case where the optical network device of the present embodiment configured as described above is installed for communication in an automobile will be described with reference to FIG. Car 20
Inside, a transmitting node 21 and a receiving node 22, which are network devices, and the optical network device shown in FIG. 1 are installed. Here, the transmission-side node 21 includes the electro-optical converter 1 and is connected to the spectroscope 3 by the optical fiber coupler 2. The receiving node 22 includes the optical-electrical converter 4 and is connected to the light collector 6 by the optical fiber coupler 5. One of the two optical transmission paths 7 connecting the spectroscope 3 and the condenser 6 is provided along the roof of the automobile 20 while the other optical transmission path 7 is connected to the other.
Are routed along the floor of the car 20.

The optical network device of the present embodiment is
In the case of installation for 20 communications, even if one optical transmission line 7 is damaged due to a car accident or the like and transmission of optical signals becomes impossible,
Since the transmission of the optical signal can be ensured by the other optical transmission line 7, the transmission and reception of the optical signal between the transmitting node 21 and the receiving node 22 are prevented, so that the vehicle 20 is not controlled. it can.

In the optical network device according to the first embodiment, the case where the optical transmission line 7 connecting the spectroscope 3 and the condenser 6 is constituted by a multi-core optical fiber cable 10 having a large number of cores 11 will be described. As described above, the optical transmission line 7 can be constituted by a single-core optical fiber cable having one core. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the optical transmission path 7 is duplicated has been described. However, by increasing the number of branches of the multi-core optical fiber cable in the spectroscope 3 and the concentrator 6, the optical transmission path The path 7 can be further multiplexed (triple or more), and an example of the configuration of an optical network device connecting a pair of nodes 21 and 22 has been described. The optical network device according to the present embodiment can also be applied to a case where the optical network device is connected to the network.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical network apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Members corresponding to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. And the description is omitted. The optical network device of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that one end of the optical transmission line 7 is connected to the optical output unit 3b of the spectroscope 3.
And an optical fiber coupler 32 for detachably connecting the other end of the optical transmission path 7 to the light input section 6a of the condenser 6.

Therefore, according to the optical network device of the second embodiment, the optical output unit 3b of the spectroscope 3 and the optical transmission line 7 are connected by the optical fiber coupler 31 so as to be able to contact and separate from each other. The optical input unit 6a and the optical transmission line 7 are connected to each other by an optical fiber coupler 32 so that network devices such as the nodes 21 and 22 having the spectroscope 3 or the condenser 6 can be connected to the optical fiber. Since connection or disconnection to the couplers 31 and 32 is performed by connecting or disconnecting the optical transmission line 7, network devices can be easily connected and disconnected from the optical network. As a result, the work of adding or deleting network devices such as the nodes 21 and 22 connected on the optical network and the work of installing the optical transmission path 7 in the premises or in the devices become easy.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an optical network apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Members corresponding to those described with reference to FIGS. And the description is omitted. The optical network device according to the third embodiment is different from the optical network device according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that the optical network device is connected to the optical-electrical converter 4 and measures the optical level of the optical signal input from the condenser 6. Level sensor
41 and warning means 42 for generating a warning when the light level measured by the light receiving level sensor 41 at the time of inputting the optical signal to the optical-electrical converter 4 is equal to or less than a preset value. is there. Here, the light receiving level sensor 41 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the intensity of the light level to the warning means 42 based on the electric signal output from the optical-electrical converter 4. The warning unit 42 compares the detection signal from the light reception level sensor 41 with a preset threshold value, and determines that the light level is abnormally low when the signal level is smaller than the threshold value. When the warning unit 42 determines that the light level is abnormally reduced, the warning unit 42 itself may generate a warning by sound or display to notify the user of the abnormality, or may notify the receiving node 22 of an alarm signal. May be output to notify the user of the abnormality by the receiving node 22.

Therefore, according to the optical network device of the third embodiment, the warning means 42
When a light level measured by the light receiving level sensor 41 at the time of input of an optical signal to the optical signal is lower than a set value, a warning is issued, so that the optical level of the optical signal input to the optical-electrical converter 4 is abnormally reduced. In this case, the user can be immediately notified of the occurrence of the device abnormality by the warning from the warning means 42, so that one of the two optical transmission paths 7 is damaged due to disconnection or the like. A warning can be generated by the warning means 42 when the
It is possible to prevent the device from being used for a long time without knowing that the reliability has been lowered due to the damage of the device.

[0026]

According to the optical network apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention as described above, the spectroscopic means separates an optical signal input to one optical input unit by using a multi-core optical fiber cable. In addition to outputting to a plurality of optical output units, the condensing means condenses the optical signals input to the plurality of optical input units by a multi-core optical fiber cable and outputs the collected optical signals to one optical output unit. Alternatively, an optical transmission line composed of a single-core optical fiber cable connects a plurality of optical output units of the spectral unit and a plurality of optical input units of the condensing unit, respectively, so that optical transmission of one path is performed for some reason. Even if the path is broken, it is possible to secure the minimum communication by the optical transmission path of another path without switching the optical transmission path by a changeover switch or the like. As a result, conventionally, when multiplexing an optical transmission line, two or more pairs of an electric-optical conversion unit and an optical-electrical conversion unit must be installed, or a switch for switching the optical transmission line is required. In the optical network device of the present invention, since the optical transmission line between nodes can be multiplexed by only a pair of the electrical-optical converter and the optical-electric converter, a highly reliable and inexpensive optical network device can be provided. realizable. Further, the spectroscopic means and the light condensing means in the optical network device are usually composed of a plurality of optical components, and high assembly precision is required. Since light is emitted, highly reliable and inexpensive spectroscopic means and light condensing means can be constructed even with respect to vibration and the like.

According to the optical network apparatus of the present invention, the optical output section of the spectroscopic means and the optical transmission line are connected to each other by the third optical fiber coupling means so as to be able to come and go, and the light condensing means is provided. By connecting the optical input section and the optical transmission path so as to be able to contact and separate by the fourth optical fiber coupling means,
Since the network device having the spectroscopic means or the light condensing means is connected or disconnected from the optical transmission line by connecting or disconnecting the optical fiber coupling means, the network device can be easily connected and separated from the optical network. can do. As a result, the work of adding or deleting network devices such as nodes connected to the optical network, and the work of installing an optical transmission path in a premises or equipment become easy.

According to the optical network apparatus of the third aspect, the warning means generates a warning when the light level measured by the light receiving level measuring means at the time of inputting the optical signal is equal to or less than the set value, When the optical level of the optical signal input to the optical-electrical conversion unit is abnormally reduced, the user can be immediately notified of the occurrence of the device abnormality by a warning from the warning unit. When any one of the optical transmission lines is damaged due to a disconnection or the like, a warning can be issued by the warning means, and the user does not know that the reliability is reduced due to the damage of the optical transmission line. Long-term use of the device can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical network device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a multi-core optical fiber cable used in the optical network device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram when the optical network device shown in FIG. 1 is installed for communication in an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical network device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an optical network device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric-optical converter, 2, 5, 31, 32 ... Optical fiber coupler, 3 ... Spectroscope, 4 ... Optical-electrical converter, 6 ... Condenser, 7 ... Optical transmission line, 10 ... Multi-core light Fiber cable, 11 core, 12 sheath material, 20 automobile
21: transmitting node, 22: transmitting node, 41: light receiving level sensor, 42: warning means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric-optical conversion means for converting an electric signal into an optical signal, and an optical signal input to one optical input section is split by a multi-core optical fiber cable and output to a plurality of optical output sections. Light separating means, first optical fiber coupling means for connecting the electric-light converting means to a light input portion of the light separating means, light-to-electric converting means for converting an optical signal into an electric signal,
Light condensing means for condensing optical signals input to a plurality of light input parts by a multi-core optical fiber cable and outputting the light signals to one light output part; A second optical fiber coupling means connected to the means, and a plurality of light output sections of the light splitting means and a plurality of light input sections of the condensing means, each comprising a multi-core or single-core optical fiber cable. Or, an optical network device comprising two or more optical transmission lines. 2. An optical output unit of the spectroscopic unit and the optical transmission line are connected to each other by a third optical fiber coupling unit so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, and an optical input unit of the light condensing unit and the optical transmission line are connected to each other. 2. The optical network device according to claim 1, wherein the optical network devices are connected to each other by a fourth optical fiber coupling means. 3. A light receiving level measuring means connected to the light-to-electrical converting means for measuring a light level of an optical signal inputted from the light condensing means, and a light measured by the light receiving level measuring means when the light signal is inputted. 3. The optical network device according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that generates a warning when the level is equal to or less than a set value.