Optical signal cable and transmission / reception unit for the same

Abstract

An optical signal cable (103) for transmitting data by means of an optical signal is described. The optical signal cable (103) comprises: an optical central conductor (201) extending along a longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103); and at least one optical annular conductor (202) extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and arranged annularly around the central conductor (201). Furthermore, the signal cable (103) comprises: a spacer sleeve (203) arranged between the central conductor (201) and the annular conductor (202), the spacer sleeve extending along a longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and forming an optical isolation layer between the central conductor (201) and the annular conductor (202); and an outer protective jacket (205) extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and surrounding the annular wire (202).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical signal cable for transmitting data and a transmitting and / or receiving unit for transmitting data via the optical signal cable. Background Art

[0002] In vehicles, data is typically transmitted between a first electronic component having a first circuit board and a second electronic component having a second circuit board. These components may vibrate during vehicle operation, particularly in various ways. This can lead to contact problems between the data transmission cable running between the two components and the transmitter / receiver units on the respective circuit boards, which in turn can cause errors in data transmission between the two components. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical task addressed in this article is to achieve particularly reliable and robust data transmission between two electronic components.

[0004] This object is achieved by each independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in particular in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the additional features of a dependent claim, when combined without the features of the independent claim or with only some of the features of the independent claim, may constitute an independent invention independent of the combination of all the features of the independent claim. This may be the technical solution of the independent claim, a divisional application, or a subsequent application. The same applies to the technical teachings described in the specification, which may constitute an invention independent of the features of the independent claim.

[0005] According to one aspect, an optical signal cable for transmitting data via optical signals is described. The signal cable extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. Each conductor, layer, and / or sheath can extend along the longitudinal axis (from the first end to the second end). The signal cable can have a length (along the longitudinal axis) of 5 cm or more, 10 cm or more, 20 cm or more, or 50 cm or more.

[0006] The optical signal cable comprises an optical center conductor (e.g., a fiber) extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable. Furthermore, the optical signal cable comprises at least one optical ring conductor extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable and arranged annularly (in particular circularly) around the center conductor.

[0007] The signal cable may optionally include multiple ring conductors, each with an increasing diameter. For example, the signal cable may include a first optical ring conductor annularly surrounding a central conductor and a second optical ring conductor annularly surrounding the first optical ring conductor. One or more additional ring conductors may be arranged in a corresponding manner.

[0008] The central conductor and the at least one ring conductor are usually each composed of a light-conducting and / or transparent material, in particular plastic or glass.

[0009] Furthermore, the signal cable comprises an insulating sleeve arranged between the central conductor and the ring conductor, the insulating sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable and forming an optical insulating layer between the central conductor and the ring conductor.

[0010] Furthermore, the signal cable can comprise an outer protective sheath which extends along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable and surrounds the ring conductor (and optically shields the ring conductor from the environment of the signal cable).

[0011] The signal cable can be configured such that a first optical signal can be transmitted in the center conductor from a first end to a second end of the signal cable, and a second signal independent of the first signal can be transmitted in the at least one ring conductor from the first end to the second end of the signal cable.

[0012] Thus, a signal cable is described which has one or more optical ring conductors for transmitting optical signals (and the data encoded therein). A signal cable constructed in this manner allows for particularly reliable and robust data transmission (particularly in the presence of vibrations).

[0013] The signal cable can have a cross-section in which the central conductor is arranged centrally; in which the insulating sheath (particularly circular) is arranged around the central conductor; in which the ring conductor (particularly circular) is arranged around the insulating sheath; and / or in which the protective sheath (particularly circular) is arranged around the ring conductor. Signal cables constructed in this manner enable particularly reliable and robust data transmission.

[0014] According to another aspect, a transmitting unit for transmitting first and second signals via an optical signal cable as described herein is described. The transmitting unit includes a first transmitting module and a first (optical) signal conductor. The first transmitting module is configured to generate a first optical signal based on first data, and the first signal conductor can be configured to guide the first optical signal from the first transmitting module to a center conductor at one end of the signal cable and couple it into the center conductor.

[0015] The transmitting unit further includes at least one second transmitting module and a second optical signal line (for each ring conductor). The second transmitting module is configured to generate a second optical signal based on the second data. Furthermore, the second signal line is configured to guide the second optical signal from the second transmitting module to the ring conductor at the end of the signal cable and couple it into the ring conductor.

[0016] The first and / or second transmitting modules can each be configured to change the color of the corresponding optical signal at a defined clock frequency in order to encode corresponding data into the corresponding optical signal. For example, 100 or more, or 200 or more different colors can be generated. For this purpose, the first and / or second transmitting modules can each include at least one light-emitting diode, in particular an RGB (red, green, blue) diode.

[0017] Thus, the color change in the individual conductors of the signal cable can be caused at a specific clock frequency (approximately 60 Hz). This allows for efficient, reliable and robust data transmission.

[0018] The first and / or second optical lines of the transmitter unit can be configured so that the end of the signal cable is held in a defined position by the transmitter unit. In particular, the end face of the signal cable can be held above the circuit board on which the transmitter unit is arranged. This allows for particularly efficient and robust data transmission.

[0019] According to another aspect, a receiving unit for receiving first and second signals via an optical signal cable described herein is described. The receiving unit comprises a receiving module, in particular having a camera, which is arranged in front of an end face of one end of the signal cable. The receiving module can be arranged on a circuit board, and the signal cable can be held above the receiving module via a corresponding transmitting unit (see above).

[0020] The receiving module is configured to detect a first optical signal transmitted via the center conductor so that first data can be determined based on the first optical signal. In addition, the receiving module is configured to detect a second optical signal transmitted via the ring conductor so that second data can be determined based on the second optical signal.

[0021] The receiving unit can be configured to capture images of the end faces of the signal cables at a predefined clock frequency (using the receiving module). The first and second optical signals can then be identified in the respective images. The annular shape of the second optical signal can be taken into account to achieve particularly robust reception of the first and second optical signals. Furthermore, first data can be extracted from the first optical signal, and second data can be extracted from the second optical signal. This can be done, in particular, based on the color of the respective optical signals in the respective clock cycles.

[0022] According to a further aspect, a combined transmitting / receiving unit is described, comprising the transmitting unit described and the receiving unit described.

[0023] According to another aspect, a (communication) system is described, comprising a signal cable as described herein and further comprising a transmitting and / or receiving unit at each end of the signal cable.

[0024] According to another aspect, an electronic assembly is described, which comprises a circuit board with a transmit / receive unit as described herein.

[0025] According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle, in particular a car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle, is described, which comprises a signal cable as described herein and / or a transmitting and / or receiving unit as described herein.

[0026] It should be noted that the devices and systems described herein can be used alone or in combination with other devices and systems described herein. Furthermore, any aspects of the devices and systems described herein can be combined with each other in various ways. In particular, features of the claims can be combined with each other in various ways. Furthermore, features listed in parentheses should be understood to be optional features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention is described in detail below with the aid of examples.

[0028] Figure 1 An exemplary vehicle having a plurality of electronic components is shown;

[0029] Figure 2a An exemplary optical signal cable is shown;

[0030] Figure 2b shows an exemplary cross section of an optical signal cable;

[0031] Figure 3a shows an exemplary transmit / receive unit for transmitting data via an optical signal cable; and

[0032] Figure 3b The exemplary coupling of an optical signal into different lines of an optical signal cable is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] As mentioned at the outset, this article relates to reliable and robust data transmission, in particular in the presence of relatively strong vibrations, such as in vehicles. Figure 1 An exemplary vehicle 100 is shown, which has a drive motor 105, such as an internal combustion engine. Vehicle 100 includes a first electronic component 101 and a second electronic component 102, which can be excited to vibrate by drive motor 105. A signal cable 103 for data transmission is arranged between these two components 101, 102.

[0034] Due to vibrations, contact problems can occur, in particular at the contact points between the signal cable 103 and the respective component 101 , 102 , and thus adversely affect the data transmission between the two components 101 , 102 .

[0035] Figure 2a and 2b An optical signal cable 103 is shown, which can be used for a particularly reliable and robust data transmission between the (vibrating) components 101 , 102 . Figure 3a and 3b A transmitting and / or receiving unit 300 is shown, which can be used in both components 101 , 102 , in particular on a printed circuit board 310 of both components 101 , 102 , for coupling optical signals into or out of optical lines of a signal cable 103 .

[0036] Figure 2a An exemplary extension of the optical signal cable 103 along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable 103 is shown, wherein the signal cable 103 can be enclosed by a hollow cylindrical protective sheath 205. A (ring-shaped) sealing element 210 can be arranged on the protective sheath 205, which can be used, for example, to protect the corresponding components 101, 102 from environmental influences.

[0037] Figure 2b An exemplary cross-section and / or an exemplary end face 200 of an optical signal cable 103 are shown. The signal cable 103 has an optical center conductor 201, which extends, for example, along the central longitudinal axis of the signal cable 103. The optical center conductor 201 can be configured as a glass fiber. The center conductor 201 is surrounded by a (hollow cylindrical) insulating sheath 203, which optically isolates the center conductor 201 from an optical ring conductor 202 arranged annularly around the center conductor 201. The optical ring conductor 202 can be configured as a hollow cylindrical (e.g., having a circular cross-section). Furthermore, the optical ring conductor 202 can be composed of an optically conductive material (e.g., glass).

[0038] exist Figure 2b In the example shown, the signal cable 103 has a plurality of (particularly two) ring conductors 202, which are optically isolated from one another by an insulating sleeve 203. The diameter of each ring conductor 202 can increase continuously, so that a first ring conductor 202 is surrounded, in particular, surrounded by a second ring conductor 202, which in turn can be surrounded, in particular, surrounded by a third ring conductor 202, and so on.

[0039] The central conductor 201 and the one or more ring conductors 202 can each be used to transmit optical signals, in particular light signals. A first optical signal can be transmitted via the central conductor 201 , and one or more corresponding second optical signals can be transmitted via the one or more ring conductors 202 .

[0040] Figure 3aThe figure shows an exemplary transceiver unit 300, by means of which data can be transmitted via an optical signal cable 103. The transceiver unit 300 can be arranged, in particular soldered, on a printed circuit board 310 of the components 101, 102. The transceiver unit 300 includes, for each line 201, 202 of the signal cable 103, an optical transceiver module 301, for example, including a light-emitting diode (LED), which is designed to generate an optical signal, in particular, a light signal. The transceiver unit 300 also includes, for each transceiver module 301, an optical signal line 302, which is designed to conduct the signal generated by the respective transceiver module 301 to one of the lines 201, 202 of the signal cable 103 and couple it into the respective line 201, 202 of the signal cable 103.

[0041] The transmitting / receiving unit 300 further includes at least one receiving module 305, which is configured to couple one or more signals from one or more corresponding conductors 201, 202 of the optical signal cable 103. The receiving module 305 can be arranged on the end face 200 of the signal cable 103. The receiving module 305 can include one or more optical sensors. In particular, the receiving module 305 can include a camera having an optical sensor matrix.

[0042] The transmit / receive unit 300 can be configured such that the signal cable 103 is held above the circuit board 310 by the transmit / receive unit 300, such that the end face 200 of the signal cable 103 faces the circuit board 310, in particular, the receiving module 305 arranged on the circuit board 310. Furthermore, the signal conductors 302 can be bent between each transmit module 301 and the signal cable 103, such that each signal conductor 302 begins at the circuit board 310 (on which each transmit module 301 is arranged) and extends to the protective sheath 205 of the signal cable 103.

[0043] Figure 3b It is shown how the individual signal conductors 302 pass through the protective sheath 205 into the signal cable 103 and are guided within the signal cable 103 to the individual conductors 201 , 202 of the signal cable 103 .

[0044] Thus, an optical (multilayer) cable 103 is described, which alternately comprises different layers 201, 202 made of transparent material (especially plastic) and opaque layers 203 made of opaque material (especially plastic). Each transparent layer 201, 202 can be used for data transmission. The opaque layer 203 is used to isolate the data channels in two directly adjacent transparent layers 201, 202.

[0045] The cable 103 can be designed so that the optical channels in the different layers or conductors 201, 202 do not affect each other. The amount of data that can be transmitted can be changed and / or set by one or more of the following parameters:

[0046] - the clock frequency of the optical sensor, in particular the camera, of the receiving module 305 for receiving data;

[0047] - the clock frequency of the RGB (red, green, blue) LEDs of the transmitter module 301;

[0048] - the color resolution of the RGB-LED of the transmitting module 301;

[0049] - the color resolution of the optical sensor of the receiving module 305;

[0050] - tolerance range; and / or

[0051] - The number of conductors 201 , 202 of the cable 103 .

[0052] The spatial range and / or frequency range of the light scanned by the light sensor (ie, by the receiving module 305 ) may be limited in software to reduce material influence during data transmission.

[0053] For example, when three wires 201, 202 are used in the signal cable 103, when a clock frequency of 60 Hz is used for the transmitting module 301 and the receiving module 305, and when a transmitting module 301 and a receiving module 305 with an 8-bit color resolution are used, approximately 1.44 Kbps of data can be transmitted.

[0054] The optical data transmission described herein is particularly robust with respect to vibrations. This is achieved in particular by using one or more ring conductors 202 surrounding the central conductor 201, since this allows unambiguous identification of different optical signals in the individual ring conductors 201, 202 of the signal cable 103 even in the event of local displacement of the end face 202 of the signal cable 103 relative to the receiving module 305 of the transmitting / receiving unit 300.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and drawings are intended only to illustrate the principles of the proposed devices and systems.

Claims

1. An optical signal cable (103) for transmitting data by means of optical signals, wherein: The optical signal cable (103) comprises: - an optical center conductor (201), said optical center conductor extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103); - at least one optical ring conductor (202) extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and arranged in a ring shape around the central conductor (201); - an insulating sleeve (203) arranged between the central conductor (201) and the ring conductor (202), the insulating sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and forming an optical insulating layer between the central conductor (201) and the ring conductor (202); and - an outer protective sheath (205) extending along the longitudinal axis of the signal cable (103) and surrounding the annular conductor (202).

2. The optical signal cable (103) according to claim 1, wherein The signal cable (103) comprises: - a first optical ring wire (202) that annularly surrounds the central wire (201); and - a second optical ring line (202), which surrounds the first optical ring line (202) in a ring-shaped manner.

3. The optical signal cable (103) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The central conductor (201) and the at least one ring conductor (202) are respectively made of a light-conducting and / or transparent material, in particular plastic or glass.

4. The optical signal cable (103) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The signal cable (103) has a cross section (200) in which: - The center conductor (201) is arranged centrally; - an isolating sleeve (203) is arranged circularly around the central conductor (201); - the ring conductor (202) is arranged circularly around the spacer sleeve (203); and The protective sheath (205) is arranged circularly around the ring conductor (202).

5. The optical signal cable (103) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The signal cable (103) is constructed such that: - a first optical signal can be transmitted in the center conductor (201) from the first end to the second end of the signal cable (103); and In the at least one ring line (202), a second signal, which is independent of the first signal, can be transmitted from a first end to a second end of the signal cable (103).

6. Transmitting unit (300) for transmitting a first and a second signal via an optical signal cable (103) constructed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The transmitting unit (300) comprises: - a first transmitting module (301) and a first signal line (302), wherein the first transmitting module (301) is configured to generate a first optical signal based on first data, and the first signal line (302) is configured to guide the first optical signal from the first transmitting module (301) to a central line (201) at one end of the signal cable (103) and couple it into the central line; and - a second transmitting module (301) and a second signal line (302), wherein the second transmitting module (301) is configured to generate a second optical signal based on second data, and the second signal line (302) is configured to guide the second optical signal from the second transmitting module (301) at the end of the signal cable (103) to the ring line (202) and couple it into the ring line.

7. The transmitting unit (300) according to claim 6, wherein The first and / or second conductor (302) is configured such that the end of the signal cable (103) is held in a defined position by the transmitting unit (300).

8. The transmitting unit (300) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein: The first and / or second transmitting module (301) is respectively configured to change the color of the corresponding optical signal at a defined clock frequency in order to encode the corresponding data into the corresponding optical signal.

9. The transmitting unit (300) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein: The first and / or second transmitting module (301) respectively comprises at least one light emitting diode, in particular an RGB diode.

10. A receiving unit (300) for receiving a first and a second signal via an optical signal cable (103) constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The receiving unit (300) comprises a receiving module (305), in particular a camera, which is arranged in front of an end face (200) of one end of the signal cable (103) and is configured to - detecting a first optical signal transmitted via the central conductor (201), so that first data can be determined based on the first optical signal; and - detecting a second optical signal transmitted via the ring conductor (202) so as to enable determination of second data based on the second optical signal.

11. The receiving unit (300) according to claim 10, wherein: The receiving unit (300) is configured to - detecting images of the end faces (200) of the signal cables (103) respectively by means of the receiving modules (305) at a predefined clock frequency; - identifying the first optical signal and the second optical signal in the corresponding image, in particular based on the annular shape of the second optical signal; and - extracting first data from the first optical signal and extracting second data from the second optical signal, in particular based on the colors of the respective optical signals.

12. A combined transmitting / receiving unit (300), comprising: - a transmitting unit (300) according to any one of claims 6 to 9; and - A receiving unit (300) according to any one of claims 10 to 11.

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