US PATENT SUBCLASS 359 / 115
.~ Multiplex

Current as of: June, 1999
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359 /   HD   OPTICS: SYSTEMS (INCLUDING COMMUNICATION) AND ELEMENTS

109  DF  OPTICAL COMMUNICATION {13}
115.~ Multiplex {7}
116  DF  .~.~> Mode
117  DF  .~.~> Spatial or switching
118  DF  .~.~> Optical local area network (LAN) {3}
122  DF  .~.~> Polarization
123  DF  .~.~> Time and frequency division
124  DF  .~.~> Wavelength division/frequency division (includes scattering, e.g., Raman, Brillouin, etc.) {4}
135  DF  .~.~> Time division {4}

DEFINITION

Classification: 359/115

Multiplex:

(under subclass 109) Subject matter wherein two or more information signals are controlled to be interleaved or simultaneously transmitted in either or both directions over a common (same) transmission medium in such a manner that the information signals may be directly recovered.

(1) Note. The use of a waveguide with an optical coupler switch to effect the multiplexing would be classified in this subclass.

(2) Note. Optical Time Slot interchange should not be included in this class since all scrambling of any energy type should go to Class 380, Cryptography.

(3) Note. Since optical demultiplex communication would often require the use of a photocell to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal, the demultiplexing is often

done electrically, which is not classifiable in Class 359.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

340, Communications: Electrical,

870.28+, for telemetering via radiant energy beam. 348, Television,

343+, for camera optical multiplexing.

380, Cryptography,

36, for time segment interchange wherein slot portions of the signal are interchanged prior to transmission in order to scramble the signal.

385, Optical Waveguides,

16+, for the combination of a waveguide and switch not included in an optical communication system.