Free-space optics manufacturer LightPointe received a new patent that builds upon an earlier patent it received for all-optical FSO network design, the company reported.
LightPointe’s system enables carriers to deploy FSO as a seamless complement to fiber-optic cable in several network applications, including Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing services, metro network extensions, Sonet ring closures, mobile wireless network backhaul and local area networks, in addition to “last mile” access.
This latest patent is a “continuation” patent that builds upon a patent granted last year for a network that does not require any electro-optic conversion between FSO link heads and fiber-optic networking equipment. The new patent includes 10 independent claims on fundamental aspects of all-optical FSO products and networks.
The LightPointe patents are the work of Dr. Heinz Willebrand, the company’s founder and chief technology officer, who is also credited with inventing fiber-optic WDM technologies for ultra high-speed local-loop access.