An optical interface devices (OID) routes signals entering each of its ports
to
all other ports. The OID passively routes the optical signals and performs no conversion
of the signals into the electrical domain. In addition to signal routing, the OID
also performs bi-directional amplification of the optical signals to compensate
for splitting losses, coupling losses, signal variations, and to provide additional
gain. As a result, the power level of a signal entering one port is the same power
level at which corresponding signals exit all other ports of the OID. The OID is
useful in a number of network topologies, including but not limited to bus, point-to-point,
star, ring, broken ring, hub, and a tree-like topology. The OID enables signal
quality to be maintained throughout the network which is especially beneficial
in the transmission of Radio Frequency and other analog signals.
