Light guide tube and light transmitting-receiving assembly

Abstract

The invention provides a light guide pipe. The light guide pipe comprises a pipe body, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens and a spectroscope. The pipe body is provided with a first end, a second end and a third end. The first lens is located at the first end and located on a first light path of the first light beam. The second lens is located at the second end and located on a second light path of the second light beam. The third lens is located at the third end and located on the first light path of the first light beam and the second light path of the second light beam. The spectroscope is located in the tube body and located on the first light path of the first light beam and the second light path of the second light beam. The first light beam enters the tube body from the first end, passes through the spectroscope and leaves the tube body from the third end. And the second light beam enters the tube body from the third end, passes through the spectroscope and leaves the tube body from the second end. The invention also provides an optical transceiver assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light guide tube and a light transceiver assembly. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, a wireless light communication system LiFi (light fidelity) mainly uses two single light wavelength bands (850 nm or 940 nm) to transmit light signals at a light transmitting end. On the other hand, a light receiving element covering a light wavelength band ranging from 400 nm to 1100 nm is used to receive light signals at a light receiving end.

[0003] The disadvantage of this approach is that the light source scattering angle of the light transmitting end is too large, causing the effective radiation distance of the light signal to be limited, and the light signal at the large-angle edge part also produces light loss. On the other hand, since the light receiving end covers a wide light wavelength band receiving range, single wavelength filtering cannot be achieved, and different light source signals of different light wavelength bands are easily received, and the received light signal cannot be focused into a beam. These problems reduce the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the photodiode, thereby affecting the stability of the wireless light communication signal. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure proposes a light guide tube and a light transceiver assembly, so that light signals can be transmitted and received in free space, improving the transmission efficiency of light signals.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a light guide tube, comprising: a tube body having a first end, a second end, and a third end; a first lens located at the first end and located on a first light path of a first light beam; a second lens located at the second end and located on a second light path of a second light beam; a third lens located at the third end and located on the first light path of the first light beam and on the second light path of the second light beam; and a beam splitter located inside the tube body and located on the first light path of the first light beam and on the second light path of the second light beam, the first light beam being incident on the tube body from the first end, passing through the beam splitter and exiting the tube body from the third end, the second light beam being incident on the tube body from the third end, passing through the beam splitter and exiting the tube body from the second end.

[0006] According to some embodiments, wherein the first light beam is incident on the first lens to form a parallel light beam, the first light beam has a divergence angle relative to the optical axis of the first light beam after penetrating the third lens along the first light path, and the second light beam is focused on the beam splitter after being incident on the third lens and focused by the second lens.

[0007] According to some embodiments, wherein the divergence angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

[0008] According to some embodiments, wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens are all double convex lens.

[0009] According to some embodiments, wherein the material of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens is acrylic.

[0010] According to some embodiments, wherein the beam splitter is configured to reflect the first light beam and transmit the second light beam, or transmit the first light beam and reflect the second light beam.

[0011] According to some embodiments, wherein the inside of the tube is filled with optical material, the optical material includes: polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin.

[0012] According to some embodiments, wherein the outside surface of the tube has a light shielding coating, the light shielding coating is configured to reflect the first light beam and the second light beam.

[0013] According to some embodiments, wherein the tube is T-shaped, wherein the first end is opposite to the third end.

[0014] According to some embodiments, wherein the tube is h-shaped, wherein the first end is opposite to the third end.

[0015] The present disclosure provides a light transceiver assembly, comprising: a light guide tube; a light source configured to emit a first light beam having a first wavelength; and a light receiver configured to receive a second light beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the light transceiver assembly further comprises: a zero-degree filter disposed between the light guide tube and the light receiver.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the light transceiver assembly further comprises: a first light shield configured to cover the light source and the first lens; and a second light shield configured to cover the light receiver and the second lens.

[0018] According to some embodiments, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode.

[0019] According to some embodiments, wherein the light receiver is a photodiode.

[0020] According to some embodiments, wherein the first wavelength is one of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers, and the second wavelength is the other of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers.

[0021] Based on the above, the light guide pipe and the optical transceiver assembly according to the present disclosure enable the transmission and reception of optical signals in free space, the emitted optical signals are transmitted with an angle, and the received optical signals are focused to reduce optical loss and improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the existing assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a light guide pipe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a light guide pipe according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] In the drawings, the reference signs are explained as follows:

[0026] 1: optical communication system

[0027] 10: digital signal processing IC

[0028] 20: analog front-end IC

[0029] 30: driving IC

[0030] 40: transimpedance amplifier

[0031] 100, 100A, 100B: optical transceiver assembly

[0032] 110: light source

[0033] 120: light receiver

[0034] 130A, 130B: pipe body

[0035] 131: first end

[0036] 132: second end

[0037] 133: third end

[0038] 134: surface

[0039] 140: beam splitter

[0040] 142: optical film

[0041] 144: mirror

[0042] 151: first lens

[0043] 152: second lens

[0044] 153: third lens

[0045] 160: zero filter

[0046] 171: first light shield

[0047] 172: second light shield

[0048] L1: first light beam

[0049] L2: second light beam DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Fig. 1, an optical communication system 1 includes the following elements: a digital signal processing IC 10, an analog front-end IC 20, a driver IC 30, a transimpedance amplifier 40, and an optical transceiver module 100. Figure 1

[0051] When the optical communication system 1 is to transmit an optical signal, the digital signal processing IC 10 sends a digital control signal to the analog front-end IC 20. In some embodiments, the digital signal processing IC 10 can be a central control unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or other elements having similar functions, without being limited thereto.

[0052] The analog front-end IC 20 converts the received digital control signal into an analog signal through the analog front-end IC and transmits the converted analog signal to the driver IC 30 for controlling the light source 110 of the optical transceiver module 100.

[0053] Specifically, the analog front-end IC 20 is composed of analog circuits and digital-analog hybrid circuits and is used to perform a number of operations, including signal capture, analog filtering, digital-analog conversion (DAC), and power amplification. Through the analog front-end IC 20, the received digital control signal can be converted into an analog signal.

[0054] The driver IC 30 is connected to the light source 110 in the optical transceiver module 100. The driver IC 30 receives the analog signal from the analog front-end IC 20 and is used to control the light source 110 in the optical transceiver module 100, so that the light source 110 emits a fast flashing optical signal in a designated optical wavelength band to transmit optical data into free space.

[0055] In some embodiments, the light source 110 can be a light-emitting diode or a laser diode, or other elements having similar functions, without being limited thereto. ​

[0056] On the other hand, when the optical communication system 1 is to receive an optical signal, the optical receiver 112 of the optical transceiver assembly 100 receives the optical signal from the free space and converts the optical signal reception into an electrical signal, which is then transmitted to the trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) 40.

[0057] In some embodiments, the optical receiver 112 can be a photodiode (PD) or other elements with similar functions, without being limited thereto.

[0058] The trans-impedance amplifier 40 is an amplifier that amplifies an input current signal and converts it into a voltage signal output. Therefore, the trans-impedance amplifier 40 amplifies the current signal from the optical receiver 112 and transmits the amplified electrical signal to the analog front-end IC 20.

[0059] The analog front-end IC 20 converts the electrical signal from the trans-impedance amplifier 40 into a digital signal and transmits it to the digital signal processing IC 10, constituting a wireless optical communication system architecture.

[0060] The structure of the optical transceiver assembly will be described in detail below.

[0061] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an optical transceiver assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 2 . The optical transceiver assembly 100A is Figure 1 an embodiment of the optical transceiver assembly 100 in

[0062] The optical transceiver assembly 100A includes an optical source 110, an optical receiver 112, and a light guide 120A. The light guide 120A includes a tube 130A and a beam splitter 140.

[0063] The optical source 110 is configured to emit a first light beam L1 having a first wavelength. As Figure 1 shown, the optical source 110 is connected to the driver IC 30 and receives a signal from the driver IC 30 to emit the first light beam L1 and transmit information to the outside space. In some embodiments, the optical source 110 can be a light-emitting diode or a laser diode, or other elements with similar functions, without being limited thereto.

[0064] The optical receiver 112 is configured to receive a second light beam L2 having a second wavelength. The second light beam L2 is an optical signal from the free space, and the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first wavelength of the first light beam L1 emitted by the light source 110 is one of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers. The second wavelength of the second light beam received by the light receiver 112 is the other of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers. However, in other embodiments, the first or second wavelength may be other values, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0066] The tube body 130A has a first end 131, a second end 132, and a third end 133. For example... Figure 2 As shown, tube 130A is T-shaped, with the first end 131 and the third end 133 facing each other. The second end 132 is located between the first end 131 and the third end 133. The light source 110 is located outside the first end 131 of tube 130A. The light receiver 112 is located outside the second end 132 of tube 130A.

[0067] Beam splitter 140 is located inside tube 130A, on the first optical path of the first beam L1 and the second optical path of the second beam L2. Specifically, beam splitter 140 is located inside tube 130A.

[0068] Beam splitter 140 includes two right-angled triangular prisms, the hypotenuses of which are bonded together with polyester, polyurethane or epoxy resin to form a cubic beam splitter 140.

[0069] One of the two right-angled triangular prisms has an optical thin film 142 coated on its hypotenuse to filter the light signal wavelength and to reflect or transmit the light signal. In this embodiment, the optical thin film 142 allows the first beam L1 to pass through the beam splitter 140 and reflects the second beam L2, thereby achieving the effect of beam splitting. In another embodiment, depending on the configuration, the optical thin film 142 may also reflect the first beam L1 and allow the second beam L2 to pass through the beam splitter 140.

[0070] In some embodiments, the right-angled triangular prism may be made of glass or acrylic, or other suitable materials, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0071] In some embodiments, an optical thin film 142 of an appropriate material, such as a metal thin film or a thin film with other similar properties, may be selected according to the wavelengths corresponding to the first beam L1 and the second beam L2 and the desired optical characteristics. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0072] like Figure 2 As shown, when the optical transceiver assembly 100A emits an optical signal, the first beam L1 emitted by the light source 110 enters the tube 130A from the first end 131, passes through the beam splitter 140, and exits the tube 130A from the third end 133.

[0073] On the other hand, when the optical transceiver assembly 100A receives an optical signal, the second light beam L2 is incident on the tube 130A by the third end 133, passes through the beam splitter 140, and is reflected by the beam splitter 140 to exit the tube 130A by the second end 132 and be incident on the optical receiver 112.

[0074] According to the above optical path of the first light beam L1 for transmitting and the optical path of the second light beam L2 for receiving, the optical transceiver assembly 100A can transmit and receive optical signals in free space.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 1, the optical transceiver assembly 100A further comprises a first lens 151, a second lens 152, and a third lens 153. Figure 2

[0076] The first lens 151 is located at the first end 131 and on the first optical path of the first light beam L1. The second lens 152 is located at the second end 132 and on the second optical path of the second light beam L2. The third lens 153 is located at the third end 133 and on the first optical path of the first light beam L1 and the second optical path of the second light beam L2.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first lens 151, the second lens 152, and the third lens 153 are all double convex lenses.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first lens 151, the second lens 152, and the third lens 153 are made of acrylic.

[0079] When the optical transceiver assembly 100A transmits an optical signal, the light source 110 emits the first light beam L1, which is incident on the first lens 151 and forms a parallel light beam. The first light beam L1 is incident on and transmitted through the beam splitter 140 along the first optical path. After the first light beam L1 passes through the third lens 153, it has a divergence angle relative to the optical axis of the first light beam L1. According to some embodiments, the divergence angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

[0080] When the first light beam L1 passes through the third lens 153, it exits the optical transceiver assembly 100A and enters free space. Therefore, when the first light beam L1 passes through the third lens 153, it is affected by the third lens 153 and has a divergence angle, which can expand the transmission angle of the first light beam L1 and increase the signal receiving range.

[0081] When the optical transceiver assembly 100A receives an optical signal, the optical signal enters the optical transceiver assembly 100A in the form of the second light beam L2 from the external free space. Therefore, the second light beam L2 can be incident on the optical transceiver assembly 100A at various angles.

[0082] ​When the second beam L2 enters the third lens 153, the second beam L2 is focused by the third lens 153 onto the beam splitter 140. The beam splitter 140 reflects the second beam L2, causing the second beam L2 to enter the second lens 152 along the second optical path, and be focused by the second lens onto the light receiver 112.

[0083] By focusing the second beam L2 using the third lens 153 and the second lens 152, the second beam L2 can be effectively converged onto the optical receiver 112, thereby improving the signal reception efficiency of the optical receiver 112.

[0084] like Figure 2 As shown, the optical transceiver assembly 100A further includes a zero-degree filter 160 disposed between the tube body 130A and the optical receiver. Specifically, the zero-degree filter 160 is disposed between the second lens 152 and the optical receiver 112. When the second beam L2 is incident on the optical transceiver assembly 100A from free space, it may be accompanied by many other wavelengths of light that are different from the wavelength of the second beam L2. When the second beam L2 passes through the zero-degree filter 160, the second beam L2 can be filtered to exclude light of wavelengths unrelated to the optical receiver 112, so that the second beam L2 can be fully absorbed by the optical receiver 112, thereby improving the efficiency of the optical receiver 112.

[0085] The optical transceiver assembly 100A internally includes a first lens 151, a second lens 152, a third lens 153, and a beam splitter 140. After these components are fixed by a mold, the interior of the optical transceiver assembly 100A is filled with optical material to secure the optical components. According to some embodiments, the optical material includes polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin. Therefore, the interior of the optical transceiver assembly 100A is filled with optical material, making it a solid structure.

[0086] When the first beam L1 and the second beam L2 are transmitted in the optical transceiver assembly 100A, a portion of the first beam L1 and the second beam L2 will be scattered by the outer wall of the optical transceiver assembly 100A. To prevent the first beam L1 and the second beam L2 from passing through the optical transceiver assembly 100A, and also to prevent external beams from entering the optical transceiver assembly 100A, the outer surface 134 of the tube body 130A has a light-shielding coating. The light-shielding coating is used to reflect the first beam L1 and the second beam L2, so that the first beam L1 and the second beam L2 will not overflow outside the optical transceiver assembly 100A. On the other hand, the light-shielding coating can also prevent external beams from entering the optical transceiver assembly 100A, thereby interfering with the first beam L1 and the second beam L2.

[0087] To further increase the transmission efficiency of the first beam L1 and the second beam L2, the optical transceiver assembly 100A further includes a first light shield 171 and a second light shield 172.

[0088] The first light shield 171 is used to cover the light source 110 and the first lens 151. The second light shield 172 is used to cover the light receiver 112 and the second lens 152. By the first light shield 171, the light beam overflow of the first light beam L1 when it is incident on the first lens 151 can be avoided, and the external light beam entering the light pipe 120A from the first lens 151 can also be avoided. By the second light shield 172, when the second light beam L2 is incident on the light receiver 112 through the third lens 153, the external light beam entering the light receiver 112 can be avoided, so as to improve the receiving efficiency of the light receiver 112. The second light shield 172 can also avoid the external light beam entering the light pipe 120A from the second lens 152.

[0089] In other embodiments, Figure 2 In the illustrated optical transceiver assembly 100A, the positions of the light source 110 and the light receiver 112 can also be interchanged, i.e., the light source 110 is located at the second end 132 of the pipe body 130A, and the light receiver 112 is located at the first end 131 of the pipe body 130A. At this time, the optical film 142 of the beam splitter 140 reflects the first light beam L1 to be incident on the third lens 153. On the other hand, the second light beam L2 is transmitted through the beam splitter 140 and is incident on the first lens 151.

[0090] Figure 3 is a schematic view of an optical transceiver assembly according to another embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 3 . Figure 3 The optical transceiver assembly 100B illustrated Figure 2 has a similar structure to the optical transceiver assembly 100A illustrated , and thus the same parts will not be described again. The differences between the optical transceiver assembly 100B and the optical transceiver assembly 100A are as follows.

[0091] Figure 3 As illustrated , the optical transceiver assembly 100B has a light pipe 120B, which includes a pipe body 130B, and the pipe body 130B is in an h shape, in which the first end 131 and the third end 133 are opposite to each other. The first end 131 and the second end 132 are located on the left side, and the third end 133 is located on the right side. Therefore, the light source 110 and the light receiver 112 corresponding to the first end 131 and the second end 132, respectively, can be located on the same side of the optical transceiver assembly 100B, which can effectively reduce the volume of the optical transceiver assembly 100B.

[0092] On the other hand, since the pipe body 130B is in an h shape, the pipe body 130B further includes a mirror 144 inside the pipe body 130B, which is located in the light path of the second light beam L2. After being reflected by the beam splitter 140, the second light beam L2 can be reflected by the mirror 144 to enter the light receiver 112.

[0093] Figure 3In the optical transceiver assembly 100B shown, the positions of the light source 110 and the light receiver 112 can also be interchanged, i.e. the light source 110 is located at the second end 132 of the tube 130B and the light receiver 112 is located at the first end 131 of the tube 130B. In this case, the first light beam L1 is reflected by the mirror 144, then enters the optical film 142 of the beam splitter 140, and is reflected by the optical film 142 to enter the third lens 153. On the other hand, the second light beam L2 transmits the beam splitter 140 and enters the first lens 151.

[0094] In summary, the light guide tube and the optical transceiver assembly according to the present disclosure enable the transmission and reception of optical signals in free space. By effectively scattering the light at a certain angle and focusing the received light into a beam and reducing the focusing area, the problems of light source scattering loss and inability to focus are improved, the availability of the light source is increased, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the optical assembly is improved.

Claims

1. A light guide, characterized by The light guide tube comprises: a tube body having a first end, a second end, and a third end; a first lens located at the first end and on a first optical path of a first light beam; a second lens located at the second end and on a second optical path of a second light beam; a third lens located at the third end and on the first optical path of the first light beam and on the second optical path of the second light beam; and a beam splitter located inside the tube body and on the first optical path of the first light beam and on the second optical path of the second light beam, the first light beam is incident into the tube body from the first end, passes through the beam splitter, and exits the tube body from the third end, the second light beam is incident into the tube body from the third end, passes through the beam splitter, and exits the tube body from the second end.

2. The light guide tube of claim 1, wherein the first light beam is incident into the first lens to form a parallel light beam, and the first light beam has a divergence angle relative to an optical axis of the first light beam after passing through the third lens along the first optical path, and the second light beam is focused on the beam splitter after being incident into the third lens and is focused by the second lens. The divergence angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

3. The light guide of claim 2, wherein, The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are all double convex lenses.

4. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are made of acrylic.

5. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, The beam splitter is configured to reflect the first light beam and transmit the second light beam, or transmit the first light beam and reflect the second light beam.

6. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, An interior of the tube body is filled with an optical material, and the optical material comprises polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin.

7. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, An exterior surface of the tube body has a light-shielding coating configured to reflect the first light beam and the second light beam.

8. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, The tube body is T-shaped, wherein the first end and the third end are opposite to each other.

9. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, The tube body is h-shaped, wherein the first end and the third end are opposite to each other.

10. The light guide of claim 1, wherein, The light guide tube of claim 1, 11. An optical transceiver subassembly, comprising: a light source configured to emit the first light beam having a first wavelength, and a light receiver configured to receive the second light beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. Further comprising: a zero-degree filter disposed between the light guide tube and the light receiver.

12. The optical transceiver module of claim 11, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transceiver module. Further comprising: a first light shield configured to cover the light source and the first lens; and 13. The optical transceiver module of claim 11, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transceiver module. a second light shield configured to cover the light receiver and the second lens. The light source is a light-emitting diode or a laser diode. The light receiver is a photodiode.

14. The optical transceiver module of claim 11, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transceiver module. The first wavelength is one of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers, and the second wavelength is the other of 850 nanometers or 940 nanometers.

15. The optical transceiver module of claim 11, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transceiver module. ​ 16. The optical transceiver module of claim 11, wherein the optical subassembly is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transceiver module. ​

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