1. An optical network unit, comprising:
a first optical network interface in communication with a first user device configured to operate in a non-optical domain and an optical network and configured to:
receive optically-encoded downstream data signals from said optical network for transmission to said first user device; and
transmit optically-encoded data signals upstream from said first user device to said optical network;
a second optical network interface in communication with a second user device configured to operate in said non-optical domain and said optical network and configured to receive optically-encoded Radio Frequency (RF)-band downstream signals from said optical network for transmission to said second user device;
a third optical network interface in communication with and configured to receive collision related signals from said optical network, said collision related signals enabling bi-directional optical networking on said third optical network interface; and
an access device comprising a digital processor configured to implement a carrier sense multiple accesscollision detection (CSMACD) protocol with respect to said downstream and upstream data signals, said RF-band downstream signals, and said collision related signals.
2. The optical network unit of claim 1, wherein said downstream and said upstream data signals comprise Ethernet data signals, and said RF-band downstream signals comprise RF-band video signals.
3. The optical network unit of claim 1, wherein access onto said optical network by said optical network unit is controlled at least in part based on said collision related signals.
4. The optical network unit of claim 1, wherein said collision related signals comprise signals related to a use of said network by a second optical network unit.
5. The optical network unit of claim 1, wherein said access device is further configured to permit transmission of data via said first optical network interface onto said network by said optical network unit.
6. Apparatus for conversion of light pulses from a fiber optic line to electrical pulses and thereby to provide an interface between a plurality of users and a passive optical network, said apparatus comprising:
a first interface in communication with said passive optical network and said plurality of users and configured to:
receive downstream Ethernet traffic from a service provider entity of said passive optical network; and
transmit upstream Ethernet traffic to said service provider entity;
a second interface in communication with said passive optical network and said plurality of users and configured to receive downstream video traffic from said service provider entity of said passive optical network; and
a third interface in communication with said passive optical network and said plurality of users and configured to provide a return path for said upstream Ethernet traffic, said return path configured to utilize at least one protocol to provide fair access to said return path so that each of said plurality of users is provided an opportunity to access said optical network;
wherein said third interface is further configured to enable local optical networking services among a plurality of interface apparatus in said passive optical network.
7. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said downstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1550 nm wavelength, and said upstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1310 nm wavelength, said downstream video traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1550 nm wavelength, and said return path for said upstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1310 nm wavelength.
8. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said upstream Ethernet traffic carries at least data signals, voice signals, video-on-demand signals, and channel change request signals.
9. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one protocol comprises a carrier sense multiple accesscollision detection (CSMACD) protocol.
10. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one protocol is adapted configured to allow only one of said plurality of users to send upstream data over the return path at any given time.
11. A method of operating an optical network unit (ONU) comprising a first optical network interface, a second optical network interface, a third optical network interface, and an access device, said first and second optical network interfaces configured to operate in a non-optical domain and an optical network and said third optical network interface in communication with a passive optical network, said method comprising:
receiving optically-encoded downstream data signals from said optical network for transmission to a first user device at said first optical network interface; and
transmitting optically-encoded data signals upstream from said first user device to said optical network via said first optical network interface;
receiving optically-encoded Radio Frequency (RF)-band downstream signals from said optical network for transmission to a second user device at said second optical network interface;
receiving collision related signals from said optical network at said third optical network interface, said collision related signals enabling bi-directional optical networking; and
implementing a carrier sense multiple accesscollision detection (CSMACD) protocol with respect to said downstream and upstream data signals, said RF-band downstream signals, and said collision related signals, at a processor of said access device.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said downstream and said upstream data signals comprise Ethernet data signals, and said RF-band downstream signals comprise RF-band video signals.
13. The method claim 11, wherein access onto said optical network by said optical network unit is controlled based at least in part on said collision related signals.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein said collision related signals comprise signals related to a use of said network by a second optical network unit.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising permitting transmission of data onto said network by said access device via said first optical network interface.
16. A method for converting light pulses from a fiber optic line to electrical pulses and providing an interface between a plurality of users and a passive optical network via an apparatus comprising a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface, said interfaces being in communication with said passive optical network and said plurality of users, said method comprising:
receiving downstream Ethernet traffic from a service provider entity of said passive optical network at said first interface;
transmitting upstream Ethernet traffic to said service provider entity via said first interface;
receiving downstream video traffic from said service provider entity at said second interface;
providing a return path for said upstream Ethernet traffic via said third interface, said return path utilizing at least one protocol to provide fair access to said return path so that each of said plurality of users is provided an opportunity to access said passive optical network; and
enabling local optical networking services among a plurality of interface apparatus in said passive optical network via said third interface.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said downstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1550 nm wavelength, and said upstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1310 nm wavelength, said downstream video traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1550 nm wavelength, and said return path for said upstream Ethernet traffic includes signals comprising at least a 1310 nm wavelength.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said upstream Ethernet traffic carries at least data signals, voice signals, video-on-demand signals, and channel change request signals.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least one protocol comprises a carrier sense multiple accesscollision detection (CSMACD) protocol.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least one protocol is configured to allow only one of said plurality of users to send upstream data over the return path at any given time.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A semiconductor laser, comprising:
a semiconductor chip comprising an active layer and emitting radiation in a main radiating direction;
wherein the active layer is structured in a direction perpendicular to the main radiating direction to reduce heating of the semiconductor chip by spontaneously emitted radiation;
wherein the active layer includes a region provided for optical pumping by a pump radiation source; and
wherein the optically pumped region of the active layer is surrounded by a region having, in a direction perpendicular to the main radiating direction, a periodic structure that forms a photonic crystal in which radiation having the emission wavelength is not capable of propagation.
2. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor laser is a disc laser.
3. The semiconductor laser according to claim 2, wherein the disc laser has an external resonator.
4. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the active layer has the form of a mesa.
5. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the active layer has the form of a mesa, and the width of the mesa in a direction perpendicular to the main radiating direction of the semiconductor laser is approximately as large as the width of the optically pumped region.
6. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the periodic structure is formed by a lattice-type arrangement of cutouts.
7. The semiconductor laser according to claim 6, wherein the cutouts are filled by a material having refractive index that differs from that of the active layer.
8. The semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the laser contains a heat sink.
9. The semiconductor laser according to claim 8, wherein no substrate is contained between the heat sink and the active layer.