| Summary: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === This thesis described the design and implementation of a fiber optic link for a token ring local area network (LAN). It features the use of fiber optic channels as the transmission medium between a computer system and a wiring concentrator to convert a physical ring design into a star-wired configuration. The LAN was controlled by the TMS380 LAN Adapter chipset, which provided all diagnostic and network management features to include the 4 Mb/s electrical signal for operation. Since this adapter was developed for systems using twisted wire pair adapter cables, design modifications required that the fiber link be able to simulate impedance and current characteristics of the copper wire link. This allows the use of adapter diagnostic checks for ring continuity and proper ring operation. Design evaluations using test signals and adapter signals from within the computer-concentrator link shower mixed results. All transmission objectives were met, but the circuit loaded down the LAN adapter causing hardware error messages.
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