Underwater wireless optical communication assembly adapted to existing connectors

Abstract

The application relates to an underwater wireless optical communication assembly which is adapted to an existing connector, and the existing connector comprises a plug and a socket which are front-end matched, the communication assembly comprises a transmitting end and a receiving end, the transmitting end and the receiving end each comprise a cylindrical outer shell body, the outer shell bodies of the transmitting end and the receiving end are fixed on the front end faces of plug flanges and socket flanges respectively, light source transmitting systems and detector receiving systems are fixed in the outer shell bodies, the light source transmitting systems are provided with a plurality of light sources which are annularly distributed around the central axes of the outer shell bodies, the detector receiving systems are provided with detectors which are located on the same circumferences as the light sources, and deep water sealing connectors are further connected to the tail parts of the outer shell bodies, and are used for realizing the interaction of the transmitting end or the receiving end with user end information. The application can be used in cooperation with the existing connector, realizes fast installation and fixing, does not need to be angle-adjusted and aligned, and does not need to additionally open holes on the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, and specifically relates to an underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater wireless optical communication technology plays a vital role in marine exploration, marine environmental monitoring, and marine resource development due to its advantages such as high bandwidth, strong anti-interference capability, low power consumption, and small size. Underwater wireless optical communication components are widely used in active terminal devices such as underwater detectors, underwater unmanned robots, and underwater observation stations to achieve high-speed data transmission between various underwater devices and between different locations within the same device. Currently, most common underwater wireless optical communication components are full-duplex, using LED light sources for point-to-point communication. The transmitting and receiving components are mounted separately on the housing of the device requiring communication, with fixed structural positions. Communication between devices requires pre-alignment of the installation angle during installation.

[0003] Existing underwater wireless optical communication components used for communication between underwater terminal devices often require pre-setting installation positions, dimensions, and wiring layouts on the active terminal equipment, as well as drilling holes in the equipment housing to fix the components and adjusting their alignment angles. This results in a cumbersome design process, complex installation, and increased difficulty in sealing the underwater terminal equipment. Therefore, finding a small, easy-to-install, and reliable underwater visible light communication component is of great significance to the development of current underwater visible light communication technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an underwater wireless optical communication component that is compatible with existing connectors, enabling it to be connected and mated with existing front-end connectors. The assembly achieves angle and position alignment through the mating of existing connectors, and the installation position is made floating through a ring-shaped optical path, reducing the installation accuracy requirements and ensuring rapid installation and transmission performance.

[0005] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved by the following technical solution. According to this invention, an underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors includes a transmitter 3 and a receiver 4. The existing connector adapted to this communication component includes a plug 1 and a socket 2 with interlocking front ends. Both the transmitter 3 and the receiver 4 include a cylindrical outer shell 9. The outer shell 9 of the transmitter 3 and the receiver 4 are respectively fixed to the front end face of the plug flange 11 and the front end face of the socket flange 21. A light source emitting system and a detector receiving system are fixed inside the outer shell 9. The light source emitting system has several light sources arranged in a ring around the central axis of the outer shell 9, and the detector receiving system has detectors located on the same circumference as the light sources. A deep-water sealed connector is also connected to the tail of the outer shell 9 for realizing the interaction of information between the transmitter 3 or the receiver 4 and the user terminal.

[0006] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0007] In the aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component that adapts to existing connectors, the light source emitting system and the detector receiving system are both located in the annular groove 91 at the front end of the housing 9, and the annular groove 91 is coaxial with the housing 9.

[0008] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component that adapts to existing connectors uses light sources with different wavelengths in the light source emission systems of the transmitter 3 and receiver 4.

[0009] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors includes a light source transmitting system comprising a light source, a driving circuit for driving the light source, a first signal interface for connecting to a deep-sealed connector to obtain user data, and a signal modulation module for modulating the signal received by the first signal interface; the detector receiving system includes a detector, a signal demodulation module for demodulating the signal received by the detector, an amplification processing circuit for amplifying the demodulated signal, and a second signal interface for sending the amplified signal to the deep-sealed connector.

[0010] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component that adapts to existing connectors, wherein the driving circuit, the first signal interface, the second signal interface, the signal modulation module, the signal demodulation module, and the amplification circuit are all located on the printed circuit board module 10.

[0011] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component that adapts to existing connectors has a printed circuit board module 10 that is generally ring-shaped, including an upper printed circuit board 101, a lower printed circuit board 102, and an inter-board connector connecting the upper and lower printed circuit boards.

[0012] In the aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors, the light source and detector are both connected to the upper printed circuit board, the driving circuit is located on the upper printed circuit board, and the first signal interface, the second signal interface, the signal modulation module, the signal demodulation module, and the amplification circuit are all located on the lower printed circuit board.

[0013] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors has an annular groove 91 with a stepped groove structure that is larger at the front and smaller at the back. The printed circuit board assembly 10, the light source, and the detector 5 are all located in the small diameter section at the rear end of the annular groove 91. An annular light window is fixedly installed in the large diameter section at the front end of the annular groove 91, and the light window is sealed to the stop surface at the diameter change point of the annular groove by a sealing ring.

[0014] In the aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component that adapts to existing connectors, the optical window 7 is pressed and limited within the annular groove 91 by the pressure plate 8, and the pressure plate 8 is connected and fixed to the outer shell 9.

[0015] The aforementioned underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors includes a pressure plate 8 comprising an inner ring plate 81, an outer ring plate 82, and several connecting plates 83 connecting the inner ring plate 81 and the outer ring plate 82. The inner ring plate 81 and the outer ring plate 82 are both threadedly connected to the front end face of the outer shell 9 by screws, and the connecting plates 83 press on the annular light window 7.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has significant advantages and beneficial effects. Through the above technical solution, this invention achieves considerable technological advancement and practicality, and has broad industrial application value, possessing at least the following advantages:

[0017] (1) The underwater wireless optical communication component of the present invention can be configured on an electrical connector. The component has a ring structure and is small in size. It can be fixed on the flange of the electrical connector plug and socket, which eliminates the need for pre-communication of product layout, wiring and other design processes when equipping underwater terminal equipment with wireless optical communication components; it does not add extra mounting holes to the housing of underwater terminal equipment, thus avoiding increasing the risk of underwater equipment sealing.

[0018] (2) The present invention arranges the LED light source in a ring, so that the component can be directly inserted or rotated on the electrical connector, so that the change of installation angle does not affect the communication performance; when installed on the electrical connector, it avoids the alignment problem that is easy to occur when installing optical communication components, and increases the stability of the communication link. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the use of the underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 A side view of one end of the underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to an existing connector according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of one end of the underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to an existing connector according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of the optical module of an underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors for the present invention.

[0023] [Explanation of Key Component Symbols]

[0024] 1: Connector plug

[0025] 11: Plug flange

[0026] 2: Connector socket

[0027] 21: Socket flange

[0028] 3: Transmitter

[0029] 4: Receiver

[0030] 5: Detector

[0031] 6: LED light source

[0032] 7: Light Window

[0033] 8: Pressure plate

[0034] 9: Outer shell

[0035] 10: Printed Circuit Board Assembly

[0036] 12: Sealing ring

[0037] 13: Deep water sealed connector Detailed Implementation

[0038] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, describes the specific implementation, structure, features, and effects of the underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors proposed according to the present invention.

[0039] Please see Figure 1-4 This is a schematic diagram of the various parts of the underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to the present invention. The wireless optical communication component includes a transmitter 3 and a receiver 4, and both the transmitter 3 and the receiver 4 include a housing 9, which is a cylindrical structure open at both ends. The connector adapted to the wireless optical communication component includes a plug 1 and a socket 2 with front-end mating fittings. The housing 9 allows the front ends of the plug 1 and socket 2 to pass through and be connected and fixed to the flanges on the outer periphery of the plug 1 and socket 2. The housing 9 is coaxial with the plug 1 and plug 2. When the housing 9 of the transmitter 3 is fixed to the front end of the plug flange 11, and the housing of the receiver 4 is fixed to the front end face of the socket flange 21, when the plug 1 and socket 2 are mated, the transmitter 3 and receiver 4 are axially aligned through the existing connector.

[0040] An annular groove 91 is also provided on the front end face of the outer casing 9. The annular groove 91 is coaxial with the outer casing 9. A light source emitting system and a detector receiving system are fixed in the annular groove 91. The light sources of the light source emitting system are distributed in a ring shape in the annular groove 91, and the detector 5 of the detector receiving system is also located on the circumference of the light source, so as to receive the light emitted by the other end of the light source emitting system. Since the light source is distributed in a ring shape and the light emitted by it can reach any position on the ring where the detector is located, the transmitting end and the receiving end of the present invention do not need to be adjusted in circumferential position when fixed. That is, the communication component of the present invention does not need to be adjusted and aligned in relative angle between the transmitting end and the receiving end when fixedly installed, which can achieve rapid installation.

[0041] The light source emission systems of the transmitter 3 and receiver 4 each employ light sources with different wavelengths to avoid interference. In this embodiment of the invention, the light sources of the light source emission systems are all LED light sources 6, but this is not a limitation.

[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, the light source emission systems of the transmitter 3 and receiver 4 respectively use blue light and green light as communication bands, and the detector receiving system includes a PD detector 5 that can receive light from the opposite end, thereby enabling bidirectional wireless communication underwater using visible light as a medium.

[0043] The transmitter 3 and receiver 4 are each connected to a deep-sealed connector 13, which enables data exchange with the user terminal. Specifically, the deep-sealed connector 13 is connected to a printed circuit board assembly 10 sealed and fixed inside the housing 9, which enables information exchange.

[0044] The printed circuit board assembly 10 has a driving circuit that controls the LED light source 6 to emit a high-speed bright and dark flashing light signal. It can acquire user data from the user end through the deep water-sealed connector 13 connected to it, and convert it into an electrical signal. The driving circuit then controls the LED light source 6 to emit a light signal. The detector 5 at the opposite end receives the light signal and transmits it to the user end through the printed circuit board assembly 10 and the deep water-sealed connector at that end.

[0045] In this embodiment of the invention, the printed circuit board assembly 10 has a first signal interface A1 for receiving signals transmitted by the deep-sealed connector 13, a signal modulation module A2 for modulating the received signals transmitted by the deep-sealed connector 13, and a driving circuit A3 for controlling the LED light source 6 to emit light signals. That is, the transmitting end of the wireless optical communication component of the present invention obtains user data transmitted by the deep-sealed connector 13 from the signal interface A1, modulates the data into an electrical signal by the signal modulation module A2, and the driving circuit A3, which receives the electrical signal, controls the LED light source to emit a high-speed flashing light signal, thereby completing the signal transmission.

[0046] The printed circuit board assembly 10 also includes a signal demodulation module B2 for demodulating the electrical signal transmitted by the PD detector, an amplification processing circuit B3 for amplifying the demodulated signal, and a second signal interface B4 for transmitting the amplified signal to the deep-sealed connector 13, which then transmits the signal to the user end. In other words, the optical signal emitted by the transmitter of the wireless optical communication component of this invention passes through the underwater wireless optical channel, is received by the receiver, and the received monochromatic optical signal is converted into an electrical signal by the PD detector 5 through signal acquisition and photoelectric conversion. This electrical signal then passes sequentially through the signal demodulation module B2 and the amplification processing circuit B3 before finally being sent to the user end through the second signal interface B4.

[0047] In this embodiment of the invention, the printed circuit board assembly 10 includes an upper printed circuit board 101, a lower printed circuit board 102, and an inter-board connector for connecting and communicating between the upper printed circuit board 101 and the lower printed circuit board 102. A support base 911 protrudes from the bottom of the annular groove 91. The lower printed circuit board 102 is pressed and fixed onto the support base 911 by a support column 103, while the upper printed circuit board 101 is pressed and fixed to the top of the support column 103 by screws. The upper printed circuit board 101 is connected to the LED light source 6 and the detector 5, and a driving circuit A3 is provided on the upper printed circuit board 101. The lower printed circuit board 102 is connected to a deep-water sealed connector 13 located outside the outer casing 9. Specifically, the first signal interface A1 and the second signal interface B4 are both located on the lower printed circuit board 102, which are used for connection and communication with the deep-water sealed connector 13. The signal demodulation module B2 is located on the lower printed circuit board 102, which is used for connection with the detector 5. Furthermore, the lower printed circuit board 102 also has an amplification processing circuit B3 and a signal modulation module A2. In use, the communication component of this invention has the following steps: the lower printed circuit board 102 at one end acquires user data transmitted from the deep-sealed connector via the first signal interface A1. The signal modulation module A2 then modulates this user data, and the modulated signal is transmitted to the driving circuit A3 in the upper printed circuit board 101 via the inter-board connector. This causes the driving circuit A3 to drive the LED light source 6 to emit a light signal. The detector 5 at the other end receives the light signal, converts it into an electrical signal, and transmits it to the upper printed circuit board at that end. The upper printed circuit board transmits this electrical signal to the lower printed circuit board via the inter-board connector. This electrical signal is demodulated by the signal demodulation module B2 on the lower printed circuit board and amplified by the amplification processing circuit B3 before being transmitted to the deep-sealed connector 13 via the second signal interface B4. Finally, it is transmitted to the user end via the deep-sealed connector 13. The annular groove 91 is a stepped groove structure with a larger front and a smaller rear. The printed circuit board assembly 10, the LED light source 6, and the detector 5 are all located in the smaller diameter section behind the annular groove 91. An annular light window 7 is fixedly installed in the larger diameter section at the front end of the annular groove 91. The LED light source 6 and the detector 5 are arranged in a ring below the light window 7. The light window 7 constrains the direction of optical signal transmission.

[0048] The small-diameter section at the rear end of the annular groove 91 of the present invention is a sealing annular groove to ensure the waterproof performance of the electrical components inside the annular groove. In this embodiment, the bottom of the light window 7 and the forward-facing stop surface 912 formed by the change in diameter inside the annular groove 91 are sealed by a sealing ring 12. Specifically, the stop surface 912 is provided with at least one annular groove, and the sealing ring 12 is provided in the groove. The light window 7 is pressed and limited in the annular groove 91 by the pressure plate 8 and the sealing ring 12 is pressed, thereby achieving a seal between the light window 7 and the stop surface 912. The pressure plate 8 is fixed to the outer shell 9 by screws. Preferably, the pressure plate 8 includes an inner ring plate 81 and an outer ring plate 82 and a plurality of connecting plates 83 connecting the inner ring plate 81 and the outer ring plate 82. The inner ring plate 81 and the outer ring plate 82 are both threadedly connected and fixed to the front end face of the outer shell 9 by threaded holes and screws distributed around them. The connecting plates 83 are pressed against the annular light window 7. In this embodiment of the invention, there are four connecting plates 83, which divide the annular light window 7 into four equal parts, each part corresponding to two LED light sources 6, and a detector is also provided between the two LED light sources in one part.

[0049] In this embodiment of the invention, both the receiving end and the transmitting end have eight LED light sources 6 and one detector 5 evenly distributed along the annular light window 7, but it is not limited to this.

[0050] In this embodiment of the invention, the detector 5 is further provided with a filter, which ensures that the photodetector 5 only receives light signals of a specified wavelength band and filters out other interfering light signals.

[0051] This invention relates to an underwater wireless optical communication component compatible with existing connectors. It can be used with existing electrical connectors or other front-end mating connectors. When used with an electrical connector, it enables underwater visible light communication while transmitting underwater operating current. Because the transmitter and receiver of this communication component have identical structures—both are ring-shaped with embedded active circuitry—it can be directly installed on existing connectors and adjusted at any angle during installation without affecting communication performance, thus reducing the precision requirements for installation. Furthermore, the compatibility of this invention's communication component with existing connectors ensures alignment, increasing the stability of the communication link. Finally, this invention eliminates the need for pre-designing product layout and wiring when equipping underwater terminal equipment with the wireless optical communication component; it also avoids adding extra mounting holes to the underwater terminal equipment housing, thus preventing potential sealing risks.

[0052] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors, comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the existing connectors adapted to the communication component include a plug and a socket for interlocking at the front end, characterized in that: Both the transmitter and receiver include a cylindrical outer shell, which is fixed to the front face of the plug flange and the front face of the socket flange, respectively. A light source emitting system and a detector receiving system are fixed inside the outer shell. The light source emitting system has several light sources arranged in a ring around the central axis of the outer shell, and the detector receiving system has detectors located on the same circumference as the light sources. A deep-water sealed connector is also connected to the rear of the outer shell for information exchange between the transmitter / receiver and the user terminal. Both the light source emitting system and the detector receiving system are located within an annular groove at the front end of the outer shell, and this annular groove is coaxial with the outer shell. The light source emitting system includes a light source and a mechanism for driving light. The system includes a driving circuit for the source, a first signal interface for connecting to a deep-water sealing connector to obtain user data, and a signal modulation module for modulating the signal received by the first signal interface; the detector receiving system includes a detector, a signal demodulation module for demodulating the signal received by the detector, an amplification processing circuit for amplifying the demodulated signal, and a second signal interface for sending the amplified signal to the deep-water sealing connector; the annular groove is a stepped groove structure with a larger front and a smaller rear, with the printed circuit board assembly, the light source, and the detector all located in the smaller diameter section at the rear end of the annular groove, and an annular light window is fixedly installed in the larger diameter section at the front end of the annular groove, and the light window is sealed to the stop surface at the diameter change point of the annular groove by a sealing ring.

2. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light source emission systems of the transmitter and receiver each use light sources with different wavelengths.

3. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving circuit, the first signal interface, the second signal interface, the signal modulation module, the signal demodulation module, and the amplification circuit are all located on the printed circuit board module.

4. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 3, characterized in that: The printed circuit board module is generally ring-shaped and includes an upper printed circuit board, a lower printed circuit board, and an inter-board connector that enables communication between the upper and lower printed circuit boards.

5. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 4, characterized in that: The light source and detector are both connected to the upper printed circuit board, the driving circuit is located on the upper printed circuit board, and the first signal interface, the second signal interface, the signal modulation module, the signal demodulation module and the amplification circuit are all located on the lower printed circuit board.

6. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light window is pressed and limited within the annular groove by the pressure plate, and the pressure plate is connected and fixed to the outer shell.

7. The underwater wireless optical communication component adapted to existing connectors according to claim 6, characterized in that: The pressure plate includes an inner ring plate, an outer ring plate, and several connecting plates connecting the inner ring plate and the outer ring plate. The inner ring plate and the outer ring plate are both threadedly connected to the front end face of the outer shell by screws, and the connecting plates press on the annular light window.

Images