Fiber optic conversion system and method

Abstract

A fiber optic conversion method is provided that includes receiving a first electrical signal. A second electrical signal is received. The first and second electrical signals are compared. A float signal is generated when the first and second electrical signals comprise substantially a same electrical signal. A determination is made regarding whether optical signals are being received. A light signal is generated while optical signals are being received. A driver mode is entered in response to the float signal and the light signal being generated simultaneously. The driver mode is remained in while the light signal is being generated.

1. A fiber optic conversion method, comprising:
 receiving a first electrical signal;  
 receiving a second electrical signal;  
 comparing the first and second electrical signals;  
 generating a float signal when the first and second electrical signals comprise substantially a same electrical signal;  
 determining whether optical signals are being received;  
 generating a light signal while optical signals are being received;  
 entering a driver mode in response to the float signal and the light signal being generated simultaneously; and  
 remaining in the driver mode while the light signal is being generated.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising entering a receiver mode when the light signal is no longer being generated. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , comparing the first and second electrical signals comprising comparing a voltage for the first electrical signal to a voltage for the second electrical signal, and generating a float signal comprising generating the float signal when the voltage for the first electrical signal and the voltage for the second electrical signal comprise substantially a same voltage. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising no longer generating the float signal when the first and second electrical signals comprise a different electrical signal. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 converting the received optical signals into electrical signals;  
 delaying the converted electrical signals;  
 providing the delayed electrical signals to a driver.  
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing the electrical signals from the driver to a bus; and  
 transmitting the electrical signals over the bus.  
 
     
     
       7. A fiber optic converter, comprising:
 a bus connector operable to receive input signals from a bus and to transmit output signals to the bus;  
 a driver coupled to the bus connector, the driver operable to provide output signals to the bus connector for transmission to the bus when the fiber optic converter is in a driver mode;  
 a comparator/receiver coupled to the bus connector, the comparator/receiver operable to receive input signals from the bus through the bus connector when the fiber optic converter is in a receiver mode;  
 a voltage adjustment circuit coupled to the bus connector, the voltage adjustment circuit operable to cause the input signals from the bus connector to float when signals are not being received over the bus at the bus connector;  
 a mode selector coupled to the comparator/receiver, the comparator/receiver further operable to compare the input signals received from the bus connector and to provide a float signal to the mode selector when the comparator/receiver determines that the signals are floating;  
 a light monitor coupled to the mode selector, the light monitor operable to determine whether or not the fiber optic converter is receiving optical signals and to provide a light signal to the mode selector when the light monitor determines that the fiber optic converter is receiving optical signals; and  
 the mode selector operable to receive the float signal from the comparator/receiver and to receive the light signal from the light monitor and to place the fiber optic converter into either the driver mode or the receiver mode based on the presence of the float signal and the light signal.  
 
     
     
       8. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , further comprising a fiber optic transmitter coupled to the comparator/receiver, the fiber optic transmitter operable to receive input signals from the bus via the bus connector and the comparator/receiver and to convert the input signals into optical signals. 
     
     
       9. The fiber optic converter of  claim 8 , the fiber optic transmitter also coupled to the mode selector, the mode selector operable to enable the fiber optic transmitter when the fiber optic converter is in the receiver mode and to disable the fiber optic transmitter when the fiber optic converter is in the driver mode. 
     
     
       10. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , further comprising a fiber optic receiver coupled to the driver, the fiber optic receiver operable to receive optical signals, to convert the optical signals into output signals, and to provide the output signals to the driver. 
     
     
       11. The fiber optic converter of  claim 10 , further comprising a delay circuit coupled between the fiber optic receiver and the driver, the delay circuit operable to delay the output signals provided by the fiber optic receiver before providing the output signals to the driver. 
     
     
       12. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , the driver comprising a transceiver chip. 
     
     
       13. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , the comparator/receiver comprising a plurality of transceiver chips. 
     
     
       14. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , the voltage adjustment circuit comprising a plurality of resistors. 
     
     
       15. The fiber optic converter of  claim 7 , the mode selector comprising a latch. 
     
     
       16. A fiber optic conversion system, comprising:
 a computer-processable medium; and  
 logic stored on the computer-processable medium, the logic operable to receive a first electrical signal, to receive a second electrical signal, to compare the first and second electrical signals, to generate a float signal when the first and second electrical signals comprise substantially a same electrical signal, to determine whether optical signals are being received, to generate a light signal while optical signals are being received, to enter a driver mode in response to the float signal and the light signal being generated simultaneously, and to remain in the driver mode while the light signal is being generated.  
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , the logic further operable to enter a receiver mode when the light signal is no longer being generated. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , the logic further operable to compare the first and second electrical signals by comparing a voltage for the first electrical signal to a voltage for the second electrical signal, and to generate a float signal by generating the float signal when the voltage for the first electrical signal and the voltage for the second electrical signal comprise substantially a same voltage. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , the logic further operable to no longer generate the float signal when the first and second electrical signals comprise a different electrical signal. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , the logic further operable to convert the received optical signals into electrical signals, to delay the converted electrical signals, and to provide the delayed electrical signals to a driver. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , the logic further operable to provide the electrical signals from the driver to a bus and to transmit the electrical signals over the bus. 
     
     
       22. A converter comprising:
   an optical signal receiver;        an electrical signal driver; and        a mode selector capable of switching said converter between modes in response to detecting changes in at least one of a floating voltage signal and a light signal;        wherein said modes comprise a receiver mode and a driver mode.     
     
     
       23. The converter of  claim 22 , further comprising:
   an electrical signal comparator configured to generate the floating voltage signal; and        a light monitor configured to detect that the optical signal receiver is receiving optical signals and generate the light signal.     
     
     
       24. The converter of  claim 22 , wherein in the driver mode:
   the optical signal receiver is configured to receive optical signals; and        the electrical signal driver is configured to transmit electrical signals corresponding to the received optical signals; and        wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the converter to receiver mode after the optical receiver stops receiving optical signals.     
     
     
       25. The converter of  claim 24 , further comprising:
   an electrical signal receiver; and        an optical transmitter;        wherein in the receiver mode:      the electrical signal receiver is configured to receive electrical signals from an electrical system coupled to the converter; and        the optical transmitter is configured to transmit optical signals corresponding to the received electrical signals; and          wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the converter to driver mode in response to the optical receiver receiving optical signals at substantially the same time the electrical signal receiver is not receiving electrical signals.     
     
     
       26. An apparatus comprising:
   one or more fiber optic communications lines;        two electrical systems and two converters, wherein at least a first one of the converters comprises:      an optical signal receiver;        an electrical signal driver; and        a mode selector capable of switching the first converter between modes in response to detecting changes in at least one of a floating voltage signal and a light signal;        wherein said modes comprise a receiver mode and a driver mode.       
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first converter further comprises:
   an electrical signal comparator configured to generate the floating voltage signal; and        a light monitor configured to detect that the optical signal receiver is receiving optical signals and generate the light signal.     
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein in the driver mode:
   the optical signal receiver is configured to receive optical signals; and        the electrical signal driver is configured to transmit electrical signals corresponding to the received optical signals; and        wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the first converter to receiver mode after the optical receiver stops receiving optical signals.     
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first converter further comprises:
   an electrical signal receiver; and        an optical transmitter;        wherein in the receiver mode:      the electrical signal receiver is configured to receive electrical signals from an electrical system coupled to the first converter; and        the optical transmitter is configured to transmit optical signals corresponding to the received electrical signals; and          wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the first converter to driver mode in response to the optical receiver receiving optical signals at substantially the same time the electrical signal receiver is not receiving electrical signals.     
     
     
       30. A method comprising:
   in a signal converter including an optical signal receiver, an electrical signal driver and a mode selector, switching between modes of said signal converter in response to detecting changes in at least one of a floating voltage signal and a light signal;        wherein said modes comprise a receiver mode and a driver mode.     
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the signal converter further comprises:
   an electrical signal comparator configured to generate the floating voltage signal; and        a light monitor configured to detect that the optical signal receiver is receiving optical signals and generate the light signal.     
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein in the driver mode:
   the optical signal receiver is configured to receive optical signals; and        the electrical signal driver is configured to transmit electrical signals corresponding to the received optical signals; and        wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the signal converter to receiver mode after the optical receiver stops receiving optical signals.     
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the signal converter further comprises:
   an electrical signal receiver; and        an optical transmitter;        wherein in the receiver mode:      the electrical signal receiver is configured to receive electrical signals from an electrical system coupled to the signal converter; and        the optical transmitter is configured to transmit optical signals corresponding to the received electrical signals; and          wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the signal converter to driver mode in response to the optical receiver receiving optical signals at substantially the same time the electrical signal receiver is not receiving electrical signals.     
     
     
       34. A converter comprising:
   a first means for receiving optical signal;        a second means for driving electrical signals; and        a third means for switching the converter between modes in response to detecting changes in at least one of a floating voltage signal and a light signal;        wherein said modes comprise a receiver mode and a driver mode.     
     
     
       35. The converter of  claim 34 , further comprising
   a fourth means for receiving electrical signals; and        a fifth means for transmitting optical signals;        wherein in the driver mode, the first means is configured to receive optical signals and the second means is configured to transmit electrical signals corresponding to the received optical signals;        wherein in the receiver mode, the fourth means is configured to receive electrical signals from an electrical system coupled to the converter and the fifth means is configured to transmit optical signals corresponding to the received electrical signals;        wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the converter to receiver mode after the first means stops receiving optical signals; and        wherein the mode selector is configured to switch the converter to driver mode in response to the first means receiving optical signals at substantially the same time the fourth means is not receiving electrical signals.     
     
     
       36. The converter of  claim 35 , further comprising a delay circuit coupled to the second means, wherein the delay circuit is configured to delay the transmitted electrical signals corresponding to the received optical signals. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the logic is operable in the receiver mode to cause optical signals corresponding to the first and second electrical signals to be transmitted at an optical transmitter. 
     
     
       38. A fiber optic converter, comprising:
   a driver operable to provide output signals for transmission to a bus when the fiber optic converter is in a driver mode;        a comparator/receiver coupled to the bus, wherein the comparator/receiver is operable to receive input signals from the bus when the fiber optic converter is in a receiver mode;        a mode selector, wherein the comparator/receiver is further operable to compare the input signals received from the bus and to provide a float signal to the mode selector when the comparator/receiver determines that the signals are floating; and        a light monitor coupled to the mode selector, wherein the light monitor is operable to determine whether or not the fiber optic converter is receiving optical signals and to provide a light signal to the mode selector when the light monitor determines that the fiber optic converter is receiving optical signals;        wherein the mode selector is operable to receive the float signal from the comparator/receiver and to receive the light signal from the light monitor and to place the fiber optic converter into either the driver mode or the receiver mode based on the presence of the float signal and the light signal.