Laser Safety Method For Duplex Open Loop Parallel Optical Link

Patent · Tue Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI ID:879658

Baumgartner, Steven John ^[1]; Hedin, Daniel Scott ^[2]; Paschal, Matthew James ^[2]

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1. Zumbro Falls, MN
2. Rochester, MN

A method and apparatus are provided to ensure that laser optical power does not exceed a "safe" level in an open loop parallel optical link in the event that a fiber optic ribbon cable is broken or otherwise severed. A duplex parallel optical link includes a transmitter and receiver pair and a fiber optic ribbon that includes a designated number of channels that cannot be split. The duplex transceiver includes a corresponding transmitter and receiver that are physically attached to each other and cannot be detached therefrom, so as to ensure safe, laser optical power in the event that the fiber optic ribbon cable is broken or severed. Safe optical power is ensured by redundant current and voltage safety checks.

• DOE Contract Number: B338307
• Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
• Patent Number(s): US 6,658,030
• Application Number: 09/618221
• OSTI ID: 879658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English