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A multi-body modular repeater system is capable of accommodating an increased number of fibers in an undersea fiber optic system. The system includes at least two repeater bodies connected in tandem with fiber optic cables coupled to the ends of the series of repeater bodies. A first plurality of op

A multi-body modular repeater system is capable of accommodating an increased number of fibers in an undersea fiber optic system. The system includes at least two repeater bodies connected in tandem with fiber optic cables coupled to the ends of the series of repeater bodies. A first plurality of optical fibers is amplified in one of the repeater bodies and a second plurality of fibers is amplified in the other repeater body connected in tandem. When the number of fibers in the fiber optic cable system is further increased, another repeater body may be added to accommodate the circuitry needed to amplify the additional fibers. In one embodiment, the repeater body housings are coupled together using an articulating joint that allows angular deflection of the repeater body housings while substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the repeater body housings with respect to one another. The articulating joint preferably allows angular deflection about at least two axes. One preferred type of articulating joint includes a connecting member coupled to each of the repeater body housings using a gimbal connection.

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A multi-body modular repeater system is capable of accommodating an increased number of fibers in an undersea fiber optic system. The system includes at least two repeater bodies connected in tandem with fiber optic cables coupled to the ends of the series of repeater bodies. A first plurality of op

A multi-body modular repeater system is capable of accommodating an increased number of fibers in an undersea fiber optic system. The system includes at least two repeater bodies connected in tandem with fiber optic cables coupled to the ends of the series of repeater bodies. A first plurality of optical fibers is amplified in one of the repeater bodies and a second plurality of fibers is amplified in the other repeater body connected in tandem. When the number of fibers in the fiber optic cable system is further increased, another repeater body may be added to accommodate the circuitry needed to amplify the additional fibers. In one embodiment, the repeater body housings are coupled together using an articulating joint that allows angular deflection of the repeater body housings while substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the repeater body housings with respect to one another. The articulating joint preferably allows angular deflection about at least two axes. One preferred type of articulating joint includes a connecting member coupled to each of the repeater body housings using a gimbal connection. length of the optical signal in the mounting structure is at least about 1. 6. The optical device of claim 1 wherein each prism of the filter subassembly has a refractive index that is essentially the same as the refractive index of the mounting structure at wavelengths in the wavelength bands of the optical signals. 7. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver elements are individually selected from the group consisting of a single mode optical fiber, a multimode optical fiber, a planar waveguide, a laser, a light emitting diode and a photodiode detector. 8. The optical device of claim 1 wherein one of the transceiver elements is an optical fiber, the optical fiber being held by a ferrule, the ferrule being held in one of the transceiver alignment features of the mounting structure. 9. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the filter subassembly is held in the filter subassembly alignment feature of the mounting structure by an adhesive. 10. The optical device of claim 9 wherein the adhesive has a refractive index that is essentially the same as the refractive index of the mounting structure at the wavelengths of the emitted wavelength band and the detected wavelength band. 11. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical signal includes an emitted optical signal having wavelengths within an emitted wavelength band, a first detected optical signal, the first detected optical signal having wavelengths within a first sub-band of a detected wavelength band, and a second detected optical signal having wavelengths within a second sub-band of the detected wavelength band; wherein the transceiver alignment features of the transparent mounting structure include a ferrule alignment feature, an optical signal source alignment feature, and at least one receiver alignment feature; wherein the at least three transceiver elements include: an input optical fiber having an end, the end of the input optical fiber being held in a ferrule, the ferrule being held in the ferrule alignment feature of the mounting structure, an optical signal source held in the optical signal source alignment feature of the mounting structure, the optical signal source being operative at wavelengths in the emitted wavelength band, a first receiver held in one of the receiver alignment features of the mounting structure, and a second receiver held in one of the alignment features of the mounting structure; wherein the at least one interference filter of the filter subassembly includes a first interference filter selective between the emitted wavelength band and the detected wavelength band, and a second interference filter selective between the first sub-band and the second sub-band of the detected wavelength band; wherein the emitted optical signal is coupled from the optical signal source to the end of the optical fiber by the first interference filter, and is not substantially reflected by any element other than the first interference filter; and wherein the first detected optical signal is coupled from the end of the optical fiber to the first receiver by the first interference filter and the second interference filter, and is not substantially reflected by any element other than the first interference filter and the second interference filter; and wherein the second detected optical signal is coupled from the end of the optical fiber to the second receiver by the first interference filter and the second interference filter. 12. The optical device of claim 11 wherein the first interference filter is transmissive for the emitted wavelength band, and reflective for the detected wavelength band. 13. The optical device of claim 11 wherein the filter subassembly further includes a third interference filter deposited on one of the prisms, and wherein the second detected optical signal is coupled from the second interference filter to the second receiver by the third interference filter. 14. An optical device for use with a plurality of optical signals, each optical signal having a wavelength within a unique wavelength band, the optical device comprising: at least three transceiver elements, each transceiver element being operatively coupled to a lensing element, and each transceiver element emitting at least one of the optical signals, receiving at least one of the optical signals, or both; at least one prism, each prism having at least one substantially flat face, each prism being formed from a glass material; at least one interference filter, each one of the interference filters being respectivelly deposited on one of the substantially flat faces of one of the prisms, each interference filter being selective between two of the unique wavelength bands of the optical signal; a transparent mounting structure formed from a polymeric material, the transparent mounting structure having at least one transceiver element alignment feature, each transceiver element being held in one of the transceiver element alignment features, and at least one prism alignment feature, each prism being held in one of the prism alignment features, wherein each optical signal is coupled from one of the transceiver elements to another of the transceiver elements by at least one of the interference filters, and wherein each lensing element is formed in the transparent mounting structure. 15. The optical device of claim 14 wherein each optical signal is not substantially reflected by any element other than the interference filters. 16. The optical device of claim 14 wherein each lensing element is a collimating element. 17. The optical device of claim 14 wherein for at least one of the optical signals, the ratio of the path length of the optical signal in the prisms to the path length of the optical signal in the mounting structure is at least about 0.5. 18. The optical device of claim 14 wherein for at least one of the optical signals, the ratio of the path length of the optical signal in the prisms to the path length of the optical signal in the mounting structure is at least about 1. 19. The optical device of claim 16 wherein each prism has a refractive index that is essentially the same as the refractive index of the mounting structure at wavelengths in the wavelength bands of the optical signals. 20. The optical device of claim 14 wherein the transceiver elements are individually selected from the group consisting of a single mode optical fiber, a multimode optical fiber, a planar waveguide, a laser, a light emitting diode, and a photodiode detector. 21. The optical device of claim 20 wherein one of the transceiver elements is an optical fiber, the optical fiber being held by a ferrule, the ferrule being held in one of the transceiver alignment features of the mounting structure. 22. The optical device of claim 14 wherein the at least one interference filter is held in the mounting structure by an adhesive. 23. The optical device of claim 22 wherein the adhesive has a refractive index that is essentially the same as the refractive index of the mounting structure at the wavelengths of the wavelength bands of the optical signals. 24. The optical device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of optical signals includes an emitted optical signal having wavelengths within an emitted wavelength band, a first detected optical signal, the first detected optical signal having wavelengths within a first sub-band of a detected wavelength band, and a second detected optical signal having wavelengths within a second sub-band of the detected wavelength band; wherein the transceiver alignment features of the transparent mounting structure include a ferrule alignment feature, an optical signal source alignment feature, and at least one receiver alignment feature; wherein the at least three transceiver elements include: an input optical fiber having an end, the end of the input optical fiber being held in a ferrule, the ferrule being held in the ferrule alignment feat