Schemes of optical power splitter nodes for direct ONU–ONU intercommunication

Abstract In this study, two schemes of optical power splitter nodes to enable direct local intercommunications between optical network units (ONUs) in a passive optical network (PON) are proposed and analyzed. In comparison with the existing schemes, the new schemes dramatically increase the number of ONUs supported in a PON with the capability of direct local communication. Experimental demonstrations confirm that our proposed schemes can fit into gigabit PON standard by meeting its requirement on the power penalty. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51:2814–2817, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24771