Devices, systems and methods for coupling sensors to intelligent electronic devices (IED's), e.g., an electrical power meter, via various communication media for electrical utility submetering are provided. The present disclosure provides a mechanism for coupling an IED to another desired device, e.g., a circuit breaker, using modular connectors (e.g., a RJ-45 connector, fiber optic connectors, etc.) and fiber-optic cables. The present disclosure also provides for coupling devices using modular connectors via wired or wireless connectivity.

Devices, systems and methods for coupling sensors to intelligent electronic devices (IED's), e.g., an electrical power meter, via various communication media for electrical utility submetering are provided. The present disclosure provides a mechanism for coupling an IED to another desired device, e.g., a circuit breaker, using modular connectors (e.g., a RJ-45 connector, fiber optic connectors, etc.) and fiber-optic cables. The present disclosure also provides for coupling devices using modular connectors via wired or wireless connectivity.

An optical communication system configured with a station-side apparatus and a plurality of subscriber-side apparatuses in a bus network topology includes an optical amplification unit installed on a station side, and a drop unit configured to branch an optical signal and excitation light, wherein the optical amplification unit includes an amplifier configured to amplify a downlink signal, and an excitation light output unit configured to output the excitation light for amplifying an uplink signal to a communication path, and the drop unit changes a branching ratio in accordance with a wavelength of the optical signal so that a transmission loss of the excitation light with respect to a trunk fiber is reduced.

An optical communication system configured with a station-side apparatus and a plurality of subscriber-side apparatuses in a bus network topology includes an optical amplification unit installed on a station side, and a drop unit configured to branch an optical signal and excitation light, wherein the optical amplification unit includes an amplifier configured to amplify a downlink signal, and an excitation light output unit configured to output the excitation light for amplifying an uplink signal to a communication path, and the drop unit changes a branching ratio in accordance with a wavelength of the optical signal so that a transmission loss of the excitation light with respect to a trunk fiber is reduced.

The present invention enables shortening the time required for resuming communication in a protection method that uses a backup path in an optical communication system that includes a master station device and multiple slave station devices. The slave station devices are connected to a loop path in parallel. The communication paths between the master station device and the slave station devices include a normal path and a backup path. The master station device executes communication control processing with respect to the slave station devices based on the RTTs. A first slave station device is one of the slave station devices, and a second slave station device is a slave station device that cannot perform communication via the normal path. If a second slave station device is detected, the master station device calculates a second backup path RTT for the second slave station device based on the first normal path RTT and the first backup path RTT for the first slave station device and a second normal path RTT for the second slave station device. The master station device then resumes communication control processing for the second slave station device based on the calculated second backup path RTT.

The present invention enables shortening the time required for resuming communication in a protection method that uses a backup path in an optical communication system that includes a master station device and multiple slave station devices. The slave station devices are connected to a loop path in parallel. The communication paths between the master station device and the slave station devices include a normal path and a backup path. The master station device executes communication control processing with respect to the slave station devices based on the RTTs. A first slave station device is one of the slave station devices, and a second slave station device is a slave station device that cannot perform communication via the normal path. If a second slave station device is detected, the master station device calculates a second backup path RTT for the second slave station device based on the first normal path RTT and the first backup path RTT for the first slave station device and a second normal path RTT for the second slave station device. The master station device then resumes communication control processing for the second slave station device based on the calculated second backup path RTT.

The present invention enables shortening the time required for resuming communication in a protection method that uses a backup path in an optical communication system that includes a master station device and multiple slave station devices. The slave station devices are connected to a loop path in parallel. The communication paths between the master station device and the slave station devices include a normal path and a backup path. The master station device executes communication control processing with respect to the slave station devices based on the RTTs. A first slave station device is a slave station device that cannot perform communication via the normal path. If the first slave station device is detected, the master station device calculates a first backup path for the first slave station device based on a first RTT between the master station device and the loop path, a loop RTT required for one full lap on the loop path, and the first normal path RTT for the first slave station device. The master station device then resumes communication control processing for the first slave station device based on the calculated first backup path RTT.

An optical access network includes an optical hub having at least one processor, and a plurality of optical fiber strands. Each optical fiber strand has a first strand end connected to the optical hub. The network further includes a plurality of nodes connected to at least one segment of a first fiber strand of the plurality of optical fiber strands. Each node is sequentially disposed at respective locations along the first fiber strand at different differences from the optical hub, respectively. The network further includes a plurality of end-points. Each end-point includes a receiver. Each respective receiver (i) has a different optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) from the other receivers, (ii) is operably coupled with at least one node of the plurality of nodes, and (iii) is configured to receive the same optical wavelength signal from the first fiber strand as received by the other receivers.

Generators, systems, and methods can comprise a resistance temperature detector (RTD) module; a controller area network (CAN) module; and an optical interface between the RTD module and the CAN module. The optical interface can be directly connected to each of the RTD module and the CAN module. The RTD module can be configured to convert first optical signals from the optical interface to first RTD signals and to convert second RTD signals to second optical signals for transmission through the optical interface to the CAN module. The CAN module can be configured to convert the second optical signals from the optical interface to first CAN signals and to convert second CAN signals to the first optical signals for transmission through the optical interface to the resistance temperature detector (RTD) module.

Messages on controller area network (CAN) buses are communicated over subsea links. Messages are sent as electrical or optical signals. The present invention provides a subsea CAN BUS electronic distribution unit (EDU) for transmitting, receiving, converting, and routing electrical or optical signals sent over a subsea CAN BUS network. The CAN BUS EDU of the present invention is contained within a single housing and combines the functions of transmitting, receiving, converting, and routing electrical or optical signals sent over a subsea CAN BUS network that would typically be handled by multiple devices.