Fiber optic multiplexer and demultiplexer system

A fiber optic multiplexer and demultiplexer system uses programmable controllers to coordinate the acquisition of switch and sensor state information, to control fiber optic sources, to control fiber optic detectors, to format output, and to perform all timing functions and error correction. The system includes a multiplexer which has an input interface that presents groups of one-bit state information to a storage latch, the number of latches depends on the number of states to be transmitted. A programmable controller selects each latch, reads the state information and drives an optical source to send the information in a multiplexed format. The system also includes a demultiplexer which has a programmable controller that monitors an optical detector for an incoming optical signal. The controller decodes the signal, checks the data for errors, and sends the data to the proper output storage latch.