Optical communications repeater

An optical communications repeater is used in a fiber-optic communications system to regenerate an optical signal. Such repeaters are used to extend the reach of optical communications links by overcoming loss due to attenuation of the optical fiber. Some repeaters also correct for distortion of the optical signal by converting it to an electrical signal, processing that electrical signal and then retransmitting an optical signal. Such repeaters are known as optical-electrical-optical (OEO) due to the conversion of the signal. These repeaters are also called regenerators for the same reason.