A customer premises device including an optical modem including at least one upstream laser is power controlled to provide one or more reduced power levels of service in response to a detected AC input power failure, and/or in response to control commands, e.g., from an optical line terminal (OLT). The commands control the customer premises device to switch to a reduced power consumption mode of operation. During the reduced power mode one or a few lasers are powered, e.g., on an intermittent but predictable basis. During normal operation mode each of the upstream lasers are powered. One or more receiver circuits are also powered off during reduced power mode operation in some embodiments. A schedule is used in some embodiments to control when one or more upstream lasers and/or receivers are powered. In some embodiments the schedule is determined based on information provided by the OLT.

A customer premises device including an optical modem including at least one upstream laser is power controlled to provide one or more reduced power levels of service in response to a detected AC input power failure, and/or in response to control commands, e.g., from an optical line terminal (OLT). The commands control the customer premises device to switch to a reduced power consumption mode of operation. During the reduced power mode one or a few lasers are powered, e.g., on an intermittent but predictable basis. During normal operation mode each of the upstream lasers are powered. One or more receiver circuits are also powered off during reduced power mode operation in some embodiments. A schedule is used in some embodiments to control when one or more upstream lasers and/or receivers are powered. In some embodiments the schedule is determined based on information provided by the OLT.

A method for automatic power and modulation management in a communication network includes (1) generating a management function of (a) mutual information per symbol (MIPS) of the communication network and (b) output power (P) of a transmitter of the communication network, determining a selected MIPS value and a selected P value which achieve a maximum value of the management function, and causing the transmitter of the communication network to operate according to the selected MIPS value and the selected P value.

A method for automatic power and modulation management in a communication network includes (1) generating a management function of (a) mutual information per symbol (MIPS) of the communication network and (b) output power (P) of a transmitter of the communication network, determining a selected MIPS value and a selected P value which achieve a maximum value of the management function, and causing the transmitter of the communication network to operate according to the selected MIPS value and the selected P value.

An optical communication system includes an optical line terminal and a plurality of optical network unit connected by optical transfer paths. The optical line terminal includes a light transmitting/receiving unit and a control unit. The light transmitting/receiving unit transmits/receives an optical signal to/from the plurality of optical network units via the optical transfer paths. The control unit performs control so as to change a launch power of an optical signal that is transmitted from the light transmitting/receiving unit, such that, when it is recognized, regarding at least one optical network unit, that a monitoring value that changes according to a receive signal quality of an optical signal transmitted from the light transmitting/receiving unit has changed to a value indicating deterioration, a receive power of an optical signal in each of the plurality of optical network units is lower than or equal to an upper limit value and a receive power of an optical signal in the optical network unit in which the monitoring value has changed to a value indicating deterioration is higher than or equal to a lower limit value.

An optical communication system includes an optical line terminal and a plurality of optical network unit connected by optical transfer paths. The optical line terminal includes a light transmitting/receiving unit and a control unit. The light transmitting/receiving unit transmits/receives an optical signal to/from the plurality of optical network units via the optical transfer paths. The control unit performs control so as to change a launch power of an optical signal that is transmitted from the light transmitting/receiving unit, such that, when it is recognized, regarding at least one optical network unit, that a monitoring value that changes according to a receive signal quality of an optical signal transmitted from the light transmitting/receiving unit has changed to a value indicating deterioration, a receive power of an optical signal in each of the plurality of optical network units is lower than or equal to an upper limit value and a receive power of an optical signal in the optical network unit in which the monitoring value has changed to a value indicating deterioration is higher than or equal to a lower limit value.

Materials containing picocrystalline quantum dots that form artificial atoms are disclosed. The picocrystalline quantum dots (in the form of born icosahedra with a nearly-symmetrical nuclear configuration) can replace corner silicon atoms in a structure that demonstrates both short range and long-range order as determined by x-ray diffraction of actual samples. A novel class of boron-rich compositions that self-assemble from boron, silicon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen is also disclosed. The preferred stoichiometric range for the compositions is (B.sub.12H.sub.w).sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z with 3≤w≤5, 2≤x≤4, 2≤y≤5 and 0≤z≤3. By varying oxygen content and the presence or absence of a significant impurity such as gold, unique electrical devices can be constructed that improve upon and are compatible with current semiconductor technology.

A device configured to perform a task. The device includes an optical sensor configured to obtain light sequences from a camera flashlight (or other source) and convert the light sequences to electronic signals; a processor configured to receive the electronic signals from the optical sensor, detect electronic signals indicative of a predefined light sequence, and output control signals in response to detection of a predefined light sequence; and a controllable feature that is activated in response to the control signals from the processor.

A device configured to perform a task. The device includes an optical sensor configured to obtain light sequences from a camera flashlight (or other source) and convert the light sequences to electronic signals; a processor configured to receive the electronic signals from the optical sensor, detect electronic signals indicative of a predefined light sequence, and output control signals in response to detection of a predefined light sequence; and a controllable feature that is activated in response to the control signals from the processor.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide control systems and methods for controlling a pulsed laser diode and a sensing device including a pulsed laser diode. An exemplary control system includes a distance detector configured to generate a distance signal indicating a distance between the pulsed laser diode and an object reflecting pulsed laser beams emitted by the pulsed laser diode. The control system may also include a controller configured to dynamically control power supplied to the pulse laser diode based on the distance signal.