Lens module, optical wireless transceiver and optical wireless system

Abstract

The invention relates to a lens module comprising a first surface and a second surface that is inclined relative to the first surface, which are optically coupled to one another via a third surface that is inclined relative to the first surface and the second surface. Each of the first surface, the second surface and the third surface has a first surface sub-section and a second surface sub-section, wherein the first surface sub-sections are associated with one another and the second surface sub-sections are associated with one another a form a respective optical arrangement.

Description

[0001] Lens module, optical wireless transceiver and optical wireless system

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a lens module for redirecting optical wireless signals, to an optical wireless transceiver comprising such a lens module, and to an optical wireless system comprising an optical wireless transceiver described herein.

[0004] The present invention particularly relates to providing optical wireless communication in rotating systems with angled lens modules and to transceivers with an internal deflection surface that provides total internal reflection. The invention also relates to an optical design for a rotatable optical short-range transceiver for optical wireless or optical-to-wireless data transmission based on the principle of deflection by reflection.

[0005] A typical optical data link consists of two optical wireless transceivers. Such a scenario is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b. The transceivers 1000i and 10002 each contain a transmitting unit TX 1002i or 10022 and a receiving unit RX 1004i or 10042. Typically, a transmitting unit is always positioned opposite a receiving unit, as shown in Fig. 8a with the notation "Rotation 0°." A respective transmit beam 1000i or 100062 hits the receiver 10022 or 1002i, respectively, and the data link functions. However, if the transceiver rotates 180° around a rotation axis 1008, as shown in Fig. 8b, line of sight is lost and the data link is interrupted. The problem occurs especially when the distance between two transceivers is on the order of the transceiver size.

[0006] In the illustrated rotation of a conventional wireless transceiver, Fig. 8a shows a 0° initial position in which the data link is intact and Fig. 8b shows a state after 180° rotation in which the data link is interrupted because there is no longer any mutual line of sight.

[0007] Another problem is that transceivers are usually designed to radiate perpendicularly from the substrate / circuit board surface along the surface normal. For example, to radiate tangentially along the surface, an additional reflector is required or the component must be positioned at an angle, which is complex. Typical application examples are printed circuit boards (PCBs), data connections, optical slip ring replacements on rotating machine parts, or the like. In these cases, the transceiver is arranged on the rotation axis. For galvanic coupling on a circuit board, for example, communication tangential to the circuit board surface is required, such as for high-speed optocouplers.

[0008] Regardless of this, a transceiver link in optical-wireless or optical-cable data transmission has a transmitting unit 1002 with a light source. The radiation profile can be shaped using the transmitting optics. At the same time, a transceiver has a receiving unit 1004 with a photodiode, which in turn can have its own receiving optics to collect the light signal. These two elementary components are usually arranged next to each other. If the distance between the two transceivers is small compared to their size, they cannot be rotated relative to each other around the optical axis without interrupting the transmission, since the transmitter and receiver are no longer facing each other, as shown in Fig. 8b. Furthermore, the radiation angle and reception angle are limited along the preferred direction of the circuit board or substrate.

[0009] There is a need for optical wireless data links that allow rotation of two transceivers relative to each other, require little additional effort compared to existing solutions, and offer a high degree of adaptability.

[0010] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a lens module, an optical wireless transceiver and an optical wireless system which enables rotation of transceivers relative to one another, offers little additional effort compared to known concepts and a high degree of adjustability with regard to the optical wireless signal routing.

[0011] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims.

[0012] A core idea of ​​the present invention is the recognition that a lens module can be designed in such a way that it both deflects one direction of the optical wireless signals and at least two beam paths of optical wireless signals can be deflected by the lens module. This allows for the use of a modified optic compared to existing optics with little effort, while simultaneously offering a high degree of adjustability with regard to a deflection angle. Based on this, it can be designed to provide rotation capability for a transceiver having a corresponding lens module.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a lens module is provided having a first surface and a second surface inclined relative to the first surface. The first surface and the second surface are optically coupled to one another via a third surface inclined relative to the first surface and the second surface. Each of the first, second, and third surfaces has a respective first surface portion and a second surface portion. The first surface portions of the first, second, and third surfaces are associated with one another, and the second surface portions of the first, second, and third surfaces are associated with one another and form a respective optical arrangement.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the lens module is designed to provide light exit from the first surface portion of the second surface based on light entering the first surface portion of the first surface by means of total reflection at the first surface portion of the third surface, or vice versa. Alternatively or additionally, the lens module is designed to provide light exit from the second surface portion of the second surface based on light entering the second surface portion of the first surface by means of total reflection at the second surface portion of the third surface, or vice versa. This enables full-duplex communication between two transceivers or data transmission via two optical wireless channels operated in parallel but designed with low interference.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first surface is a combinatorial lens surface of a first and a second lens. The second surface is a combinatorial lens surface of the first and second lens, and the third surface is a combinatorial deflection surface of the first and second lens. A reflection surface is particularly suitable for the implementation of such a third surface. The combinatorial configuration of lens surfaces offers a space-saving option for arranging the optical emitters or detectors, while accepting the corresponding design effort. According to one embodiment, the first surface is configured in a transition region between the first surface section and the second surface section, or within the first or second surface section, such that it has a discontinuous surface shape.Alternatively or additionally, the second surface has a discontinuous surface shape in a transition between the first surface section and the second surface section, or within the first or second surface section. Alternatively or additionally, the third surface has a discontinuous surface shape in a transition between the first surface section and the second surface section, or within the first or second surface section. The discontinuous surface shapes enable the lens geometries to be adapted to both optical wireless transmission channels while simultaneously allowing the use of a common lens module.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the first surface section and the second surface section of the first surface are arranged laterally adjacent to one another. Alternatively or additionally, the second surface section of the second surface is arranged to enclose the first surface section of the second surface. Alternatively or additionally, the second surface section of the third surface is arranged to enclose the first surface section of the third surface. While the arrangement of the surface sections of the first surface laterally adjacent to one another enables a laterally adjacent arrangement of optical receivers and / or emitters, an enclosing arrangement of surface sections relative to one another makes it possible to provide a high optical wireless transmission quality during rotation.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first surface section of the second surface is rotationally symmetrical about a rotation axis, and the second surface section of the second surface is rotationally symmetrical about the rotation axis. This enables precise beam deflection during rotation of the lens module, for example, while it is installed in a transceiver.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface are inclined relative to one another in order to deflect a main beam direction of a first optical arrangement of the lens module, in particular approximately at a right angle, i.e. with a deflection angle of 90° within a tolerance range of ±30°. The essentially right-angled deflection enables precise arrangement of the components of different transceivers relative to one another. According to one embodiment, the first surface sections of the first, second, and third surfaces form a first optical arrangement for a first beam shaping for a first optical channel. The second surface sections of the first, second, and third surfaces combinatorially form a second optical arrangement for a second beam shaping for a second optical channel. The first beam shaping is independent of the second beam shaping.This enables individual design of the beam-forming optics of different optical channels in one module.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first optical channel and the second optical channel are substantially free of channel crosstalk, which enables high transmission quality.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first optical channel and the second optical channel are arranged spatially disjointly from one another on the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface by means of the first surface sections and the second surface sections. This spatial separation enables a high degree of avoidance of channel crosstalk.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the second surface section of the first surface is formed contiguously, and the second surface section of the second surface has a plurality of spatially disjoint subregions. The second surface section of the third surface is simultaneously configured to convert an optical signal between the contiguous second surface section of the first surface and the spatially disjoint subregions of the second surface section of the second surface. Beamforming implemented for this purpose to split the beam into the spatially disjoint subregions or to combine them into the contiguous region enables a high degree of flexibility in determining the directions of the optical wireless channels.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each of the first, second, and third surfaces has at least one respective third surface section, for example, to provide a third optical channel. The lens module effects individual beam shaping between the at least three optical channels. This enables a high degree of adaptation to the respective application area. According to one embodiment, the lens module is monolithic or formed in one piece. This enables precise manufacturing of the lens module and precise operation.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the lens module is formed from a plastic material, preferably a high-temperature plastic that supports a reflow process. The material Sabic EXTEM™ has proven particularly suitable for this purpose. The use of such a suitable plastic material allows the lens module to be manufactured by injection molding in a time- and cost-saving manner. By supporting a reflow process, the lens module can also be used in automated soldering processes, which saves time and money.

[0024] According to one embodiment, an optical wireless transceiver is provided. It has a lens module described herein and is further equipped with an optical receiver and an optical transmitter. The optical receiver is aligned with the second partial area of ​​the first surface and configured to receive a first optical wireless signal arriving at the second partial area of ​​the second surface from the first partial area of ​​the first surface. The optical transmitter is aligned with the first partial area of ​​the first surface and configured to transmit a second optical wireless signal to the first partial area of ​​the first surface. The lens module is configured to direct and shape the second optical signal onto the first partial area of ​​the second surface.This enables optical-wireless transceivers with a small footprint that are also well suited for rotating applications, especially with regard to the deflection by the third surface of the lens module.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the optical receiver and the optical transmitter are arranged on a common substrate. The optical wireless transceiver has a support structure arranged on the substrate and configured to hold the lens module relative to the optical receiver and the optical transmitter. This enables combinatorial alignment of the lens module relative to the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, which is advantageously low-cost.

[0026] According to one embodiment, a main receiving direction for receiving the first optical signal and a transmitting direction, which describes a main radiation direction of the transmitted second optical-wireless signal, run parallel to each other, which is particularly advantageous in two-way point-to-point communication.

[0027] According to one embodiment, an optical wireless system is provided that includes at least two of the optical wireless transceivers described herein. The first optical wireless transceiver is configured to receive the first optical wireless signal and transmit the second optical wireless signal. Conversely, the second optical wireless transceiver is configured to receive the second optical wireless signal and transmit the first optical wireless signal.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the respective second sides of the lens modules of the optical wireless transceivers face each other. This, and especially in an arrangement such that the lenses are congruent when projecting onto a common projection surface, enables high data transmission quality when the transceivers rotate relative to each other.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the first optical wireless transceiver is configured to rotate relative to the second optical wireless transceiver about a main transmission direction along which the second optical wireless signal is transmitted through the second side of the first lens module. Alternatively or additionally, the second optical wireless transceiver is configured to rotate relative to the first optical wireless transceiver about a main transmission direction along which the first optical wireless signal is transmitted through the second side of the second lens module. This means that one or both transceivers can be moved in a rotational manner.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the optical wireless system is configured for full-duplex communication between the first optical wireless transceiver and the second optical wireless transceiver. The lens modules of the optical wireless transceivers are configured for optical separation of opposing optical wireless signals.

[0031] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent patent claims.

[0032] Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic side sectional view of a lens module according to one embodiment;

[0033] Fig. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a lens module according to an embodiment, as part of an optical wireless transceiver according to an embodiment;

[0034] Fig. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of an optical wireless system with two optical wireless transceivers according to an embodiment;

[0035] Fig. 4a-c are schematic views of the optical wireless transceiver of Fig. 2 from different directions according to an embodiment;

[0036] Fig. 4d a comparison of the different viewing directions of Fig. 4a-c;

[0037] Fig. 5a-c show views comparable to Fig. 4a-c of an optical wireless transceiver according to an embodiment in which two receiving optics are assigned to an optical receiver;

[0038] Fig. 6a-c show representations comparable to Figs. 4a-c and 5a-c of an optical wireless transceiver according to an embodiment, which has a lens module according to an embodiment that enables a transmission signal to be divided into several partial signals;

[0039] Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the functioning of a beam-splitting or beam-combining surface or partial surface area according to an embodiment; and

[0040] Fig. 8a-b schematic representations of a known data link.

[0041] Before exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, it is pointed out that identical, functionally equivalent or equivalent elements, objects and / or structures in the different figures are provided with the same reference numerals, so that the description of these elements shown in different exemplary embodiments is interchangeable or can be applied to one another.

[0042] The embodiments described below are described in conjunction with numerous details. However, embodiments may also be implemented without these detailed features. Furthermore, for clarity, embodiments are described using block diagrams instead of detailed illustrations. Furthermore, details and / or features of individual embodiments may be readily combined with one another, unless explicitly described otherwise.

[0043] The following embodiments relate to optical wireless signal transmission or data transmission. In the context of the embodiments described herein, this is also referred to as LiFi (Light Fidelity). The term "LiFi" refers to terms such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association) or OWC (Optical Wireless Communication). This means that the terms "optical wireless data transmission," "optical wireless data transmission," and "LiFi" are used synonymously. Optical wireless data transmission is understood to mean the transmission of an electromagnetic signal through a free transmission medium, such as air or another gas or fluid.For this purpose, wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) range of at least 53 nm and the infrared range, for example, at most 1550 nm, can be used, although other wavelengths that differ from those used for radio standards are also possible. Optical wireless data transmission can also comprise the use of one or more optical fibers, for example by using a fiber for an emitter and / or receiver, from which or into which a signal is coupled / coupled. Fiber-based optical data transmission, implemented, for example, using fiber optic cables or optical fibers, is optional.

[0044] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side sectional view of a lens module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The lens module 10 comprises three surfaces 12, 14, and 16. Each of the surfaces 12, 14, and 16 comprises at least a first and a second surface section 12a and 12b, 14a and 14b, and 16a and 16b, respectively. The surface sections of different surfaces 12, 14, and / or 16 can be formed continuously or discontinuously and / or connected to one another continuously or discontinuously. The lens module 10 can provide the function of a lens, in which the surface 12 and the surface 14 can function, at least in a respective surface section, as an entrance surface or exit surface of a respective optical channel.

[0045] Surfaces 12, 14, and 16 are exaggerated to indicate an uneven configuration. However, at least the first surface 12 and the second surface 14 can be understood as defining a surface plane 18 and 22, respectively, and may be uneven relative to surface planes 18 and 22, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, surface planes 18 and 22 can be understood as being perpendicular to the respective main viewing direction of optical channels. While a conventional lens, for example, can focus or defocus light as a light beam passes through, the lens module 10 can also significantly redirect the direction.This can be at least 20°, at least 30° or at least 45°, preferably a deflection of at least one main beam direction 24 and / or 26 of an optical arrangement of the lens module by approximately 90° within a tolerance range of ±30°, ±20° or ±10° or less.

[0046] Surface sections 16a and 16b of surface 16 can optically couple surfaces 12 and 14. Thus, surface sections 16a and 16b can provide a deflecting surface to deflect incoming light arriving from side 12 or side 14. Reflective surfaces are particularly suitable for this purpose, for example, to achieve total internal reflection. Compared to a conventional lens, a deflection of direction can thus also be achieved by means of a deflecting surface. Conversely, if a prism or a beam splitter is used as a comparison object, additional beam shaping can be achieved by means of sides 12 and / or 14.At the same time, due to the intended assignment of the respective surfaces 12a, 14a and 16a to one another, as well as the assignment of the surface sections 12b, 14b and 16b to one another to form a respective optical arrangement, independent optical channels 28 and 32 can be implemented, which can be independent of one another both in the direction along which light is sent through the lens module 10 and with regard to the beam shaping implemented.

[0047] In particular, when combining different directions of optical channels 28 and 32 with respect to transmission signals and reception signals of a transceiver having such a lens module, a combined transmission-reception optic or transceiver optic can be implemented by the lens module 10, as opposed to a pure transmission optic and a pure reception optic.

[0048] Corresponding optical channels 28 and 32 are, for example, via the main beam directions 24 and 26, respectively, which are deflected by means of the surface sections 16a and 16b with a deflection angle 34 for the optical channel 28 and with an angle 36 for the optical channel 32, respectively.

[0049] According to one embodiment, light entry at a surface section 12a or 12b of surface 12 can be provided by means of total internal reflection at the associated surface section 16a or 16b of surface 16, and light exit at the respectively associated surface section 14a or 14b, or vice versa. This can be understood as light passing from side 12 to side 14 or light passing from side 14 to side 12. As just mentioned, different optical channels 28 and 32 can be configured independently of one another with regard to beam-shaping properties and preferred light flow directions.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of a lens module 20 according to one embodiment. The lens module 20 can, for example, be part of an optical wireless transceiver 25, at least parts of which are also shown. For example, an optical receiver 38, such as a photodetector (PD), and an optical transmitter 42 (light source, LS) can be arranged on a common or individual substrate 44, such as a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0051] The optical receiver 38, like the optical transmitter 42, can optionally have an active region 39 of the optical receiver. Beam-shaping optics can optionally be arranged near the active region, for example, to pre-converge the emitter beam and thus facilitate the design of the transceiver optics. Likewise, additional optics on the PD can be useful to maximize the light conductance (etendue) of the entire optical receiver channel. The reception angle of a possible photodetector can be close to 90°. A practical implementation of such an approach can be achieved within the framework of a semiconductor process, for example, to apply a silicon (Si) lens to a laser diode and / or photodiode.The arrangement of the optical receiver 38 and / or the optical receiver 42 on the substrate 44, which may have a normal vector or a normal direction 46, can lead to preferred directions of the optical receiver 38 and / or the optical transmitter 42 parallel to the normal direction 46. An orientation of the surface 16 or of the surface sections 16a and 16b can influence or determine an angle α at which the optical channels are deflected. For example, due to an assignment of the surface sections 12a, 14a, and 16a to an optical arrangement, a first optical channel can be formed that is enclosed by a second optical channel beyond the side 14. For this purpose, for example, the surface section 14b can be arranged to enclose the surface section 14a of the surface 14. Alternatively, but preferably in combination, the surface section 16b of the surface 16 is arranged to enclose the surface section 16a of the surface 16.Independently of this, but preferably in combination, the surface sections 12a and 12b are arranged laterally adjacent to one another, which enables a laterally adjacent arrangement of the optical receiver 38 and the optical transmitter 42.

[0052] A first optical signal 48, for example, a received beam directed at the optical receiver 38, can thus be directed independently but also simultaneously to a second optical signal 52, for example, a transmitted beam, using the lens module 20. The exemplary transmitted signal 52 can be shaped by the lens module 20 into a shaped transmitted signal 53; an exemplary received signal 48 can be shaped by the lens module 20 into a shaped signal 49.

[0053] The illustrated configuration makes it possible to establish a symmetrical transmission and reception field relative to a possible rotation axis 54, while the field of view of the optical receiver 38, as well as the illuminated field of the optical transmitter 42, is tilted or even arranged perpendicular to the normal vector 46 in space. Independent of the mechanical rotation, the axis 54 can also be understood as the main reception direction for receiving an optical signal and / or as the main transmission direction or main emission direction of a transmitted optical wireless signal. The main reception direction and the main transmission direction can preferably run parallel to each other and / or be congruent.

[0054] According to one embodiment, in particular in the case of an optional arrangement of the optical receiver 38 and the optical transmitter 42 on a common substrate 44, a holding structure 56 can be arranged in the optical wireless transceiver 25, such as a frame, a holder or fastening or a spacer, wherein the fastening structure 56 can be arranged on the substrate 44 and can be designed to hold the lens module, such as the lens module 10 or 20, with respect to the optical receiver 38 and the optical transmitter 42, that is to say to fix it locally.

[0055] Embodiments described herein can be implemented particularly advantageously if at least one, but also several, or even all of the surfaces 12, 14, and / or 16 are formed discontinuously. For example, the surface 12 can have a discontinuous surface shape in a transition region between the surface section 12a and the surface section 12b or within the surface section 12a and / or 12b. This is illustrated by way of example in the surface section 12a, which is arranged opposite the optical receiver 38. Alternatively or additionally, a discontinuity can also be present in the transition region between the surface section 12b arranged with the optical transmitter 42 and the section 12a.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, a discontinuity 58 is arranged, for example, between or in the transition region of the surface sub-regions 14a and 14b. Surface 16 is also shown as an example with a discontinuity 62, which can be used, for example, due to different inclinations relative to the substrate 44 and / or the normal vector 46, to implement different deflection angles within the lens module 20.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, surface 14 thus has the discontinuous surface shape in a transition between surface sections 14a and 14b. Alternatively or additionally, a discontinuity can also be arranged within a surface section 14a and / or 14b. The same applies to surface 16, where a discontinuous surface shape can be formed both between surface sections 16a and 16b and, alternatively or additionally, within surface section 16a and / or surface section 16b.

[0058] As indicated in the schematic side sectional view of Fig. 2, analogously to the lens module 10, some of the surface sections are arranged to enclose one another, and in other surfaces, surface sections are arranged laterally adjacent to one another. Depending on the implementation, the respective configuration can be freely selected; however, it is preferred, particularly with regard to rotation about the rotation axis 54, if the surface section 14b is arranged to enclose the surface section 14a in the surface 14 and / or if the surface section 16b is arranged to enclose the surface section 16a of the surface 16. This can be combined particularly advantageously if the surface sections 12a and 12b are arranged laterally adjacent to one another.

[0059] It is particularly preferred, especially with regard to rotation about the rotation axis 54, if the surface section 14a of the surface 14 is rotationally symmetrical about the rotation axis 54 and the surface section 14b of the surface 14 is also rotationally symmetrical about the rotation axis 54. In combination with the enclosing arrangement, this can mean, for example, a concentric arrangement of the surface sections 14a and 14b.

[0060] Fig. 2 also shows, with reference to the angle a between the normal vector 46 and the rotation axis 54, that a preferred embodiment of a lens module described herein is that the surfaces 12 and 14 as well as the surface 16 are inclined relative to one another at an angle in such a way as to effect a deflection of a main ray direction of the optical arrangement of the surface sections 12a, 14a and 16a on the one hand and / or the optical arrangement comprising the surface sections 12b, 14b and 16b on the other hand by 90° within a tolerance range of ±30°, ±20° or ±10°, preferably less.

[0061] The respective optical arrangements comprising the surface sections 12a, 14a and 16a on the one hand and 12b, 14b and 16b on the other hand can each be used for arrangement-specific beam shaping of incoming or outgoing optical wireless signals and form a respective optical channel. Such independent beam shaping can be used, for example, to collimate an outgoing beam path as much as possible, while an incoming beam is focused on an optical receiver. If, for example, multiple optical receivers are used, different surface sections can be adapted to the local differences in the lens module and set for a same function, such as focusing. If, for example, multiple optical transmitters are used, a respective section or optical channel can be configured such that the lens module sends several collimated output signals that are as disjoint as possible.

[0062] It is preferred if the different optical channels are substantially free of channel crosstalk, for example if a maximum of 1%, a maximum of 0.1%, a maximum of 0.01% of the optical power of the respective channel or less crosstalks into the other respective optical channel. Crosstalk is understood to mean the impingement of a part of a first transmitted signal 52 on the other photodetector in addition to a second received beam 49, which takes into account the acceptance angle of the surface sections used for reception and internal crosstalk due to Fresnel reflections. Although the transmission of light in itself can be problem-free, it can lead to quality losses at the location of the respective optical receiver, which is why channel crosstalk is preferably avoided.

[0063] The lens module 10 and / or the lens module 20 provides a good starting point for this, in that the optical channels on the surfaces 12, 14 and 16 are arranged spatially disjointly from one another by means of the respective different surface sections 12a, 12b; 14a, 14b and 16a, 16b.

[0064] Although the lens modules 10 and 20 are described such that the respective surfaces 12, 14, and 16 have exactly two surface sections, further embodiments provide lens modules in which each of the surfaces 12, 14, and 16 has more than two surface sections, i.e., at least a third and possibly a fourth or more surface sections. This allows an even greater number of optical channels to be formed and redirected by the same lens module.

[0065] It should be noted at this point that it is possible, but not necessary, for all optical channels to be formed with an identical number of, for example, one surface section on each of the surfaces 12, 14, and 16. According to other embodiments, it is possible for optical channels, independently of one another, to have a number of surface sections in at least one of the surfaces 12, 14, and / or 16 that differs from other surfaces and / or other optical channels. Examples are discussed in Figs. 5a-c, 6a-c, and 7. Returning to Figs. 1 and 2, the lens modules 10 and 20 are described such that the number of respective surface sections that are spatially connected is identical. Other embodiments relate to the fact that, in particular, the surface section 14b of the surface 14 can comprise several spatially disjoint sub-regions, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0066] The lens module 10 and / or 20, like other lens modules described herein, can be formed monolithically or in one piece, meaning that the implementation of joints or the like can be dispensed with. For example, lens modules described herein are ground, milled, or cast from a transparent material. A preferred material for forming lens modules described herein is a plastic material. Plastic materials that can be referred to as high-temperature plastics and, for example, support a reflow process are preferred. This means that an overall structure, of which the lens module may be a part, can be heated to a temperature at which a solder material, for example comprising tin or the like, is liquefied in order to form stable solder joints after cooling.Enabling the reflow process means that the lens module experiences no or negligible deterioration in optical quality during this process, such as would occur due to surface melting and / or deformation. Sabic EXTEM™ material, for example, is suitable for a reflow process and for the lens modules described herein.

[0067] In other words, embodiments provide for the integration of a transmitting optic comprising the surface portions 12a, 14a, and 16a and a receiving optic comprising the surface portions 12b, 14b, and 16b into one another to create a single, complex transceiver optic, the lens module 10 and / or 20, or other lens modules described herein. For example, Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through such a transceiver or a section thereof. The transceiver optic 20 is connected to a substrate 44 via a support structure 56. The electrical components are arranged on this substrate. These include a transmitting element 42 and a receiving element 38.

[0068] In other words, the complex transceiver optics 20 can integrate both the transmitting optics 12a, 14a, 16a and a receiving optics 12b, 14b, 16b, each of which can comprise its own optically active surfaces. The beam shaping and beam guidance consists of or at least comprises two optically refractive interfaces 12a, 12b on the one hand and 14a, 14b on the other hand, and a reflective surface 16a, 16b arranged therebetween. The first two optically refractive interfaces 12a, 12b form at least parts of the input surface 12 of the complex optics. The two reflective surfaces 16a, 16b at least partially form the deflection surface 16 of the complex optics. The second two optically refractive interfaces 14a, 14b at least partially form the output surface 14 of the complex optics. The optical surfaces 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b are arranged such that they emit a transmission beam 52 / 53 symmetrically to the rotation axis 54 (12a, 14a) or.receive a receive beam 48 / 49 (12b, 14b). An output beam 52 of a first transceiver becomes the receive beam of another, second transceiver. The same applies in reverse for a bidirectional, rotatable transceiver link, which is described in more detail in connection with Fig. 3. The compact transceiver optics enable the ability to rotate 360° even at very short distances.

[0069] The rotation axis 54 is tilted by an angle α around the normal vector 46 of the transceiver substrate 44. This angle is preferably in the range of 0° « α « 180°. For such an analysis, it is assumed that the transceiver substrate 44 is essentially flat. If this is not the case, the deflection angle refers to the respective main transmission / reception axes. A deviation from this is also possible but not advantageous from a manufacturing and design perspective. In the illustration in Fig. 2, an angle of 90° is shown as an example. This present embodiment of the invention enables communication tangential to the substrate surface or the circuit board on which the transceiver has been placed, without the transceiver itself having to be placed at an angle on the circuit board. Such a structure can manage without additional mirrors. Depending on the choice of angle α, a different direction can also be implemented.

[0070] Figs. 1 and 2 show exemplary representations of a lens module or, in the case of Fig. 2, of such a transceiver. Such a transceiver can consist of several mutually independent transmitting optics 12a, 14a, 16a and / or receiving optics 12b, 14b, 16b. These can then be arranged adjacent to one another in the complex transceiver optics and each have the two optically refractive interfaces as partial surfaces of surfaces 12, 14, as well as a reflective interface arranged between them as a partial area of ​​surface 16.

[0071] According to one exemplary embodiment, these n multiple transmitting optics or receiving optics 12, 14 are each assigned m transmitting elements or receiving elements 38, 42. Preferably, 1 < m < n applies, where n > 1. Thus, each transmitting element is assigned at least one transmitting optic 12a, 14a, 16a consisting of two optically refractive interfaces 12a, 14a and the reflective interface 16a arranged therebetween in the beam path. Likewise, each receiving element 38 is assigned at least one receiving optic 12b, 14b, 16b comprising two optically refractive interfaces 12b, 14b and the reflective interface 16b arranged therebetween in the beam path. The number of assigned optics between the transmitting element and the receiving element can also differ from this.For example, it may be useful to divide the transmitting optics into several parts to divide the total output power into several parts and thus improve the eye safety of an optical transceiver by arranging the output surfaces at distributed points on the output surface. Symmetrical distribution around the rotation axis 54 is preferred to maintain the transceiver's rotation capability, for example, by ensuring that a transmitting beam always hits an optical receiver.

[0072] The exemplary embodiment explained above refers to an advantageous design. However, it is readily possible to deviate from this by assigning only one transmitting optics to two or more transmitting elements and / or assigning only one receiving optics to two or more receiving elements. While such a design increases the electrical complexity, which may run counter to the optimization goal when optimizing the system design toward simpler systems, it does enable the use or achievement of higher transmitting powers, which is advantageous, for example, for achieving long transmission distances, for which the increased complexity can be accepted.

[0073] In Fig. 2, the electrical receiver element 38 is arranged adjacent to the electrical transmitter element 42 on the carrier 44. The electrical receiver element 38 can comprise, for example, a PIN diode, an avalanche diode, a metal-semiconductor-metal diode, or the like. The electrical transmitter element 42 can comprise, for example, a laser diode (LD) or a light-emitting diode (LED). The wavelength can be in any wavelength range, preferably in an ultraviolet wavelength range, a visible wavelength range, and / or an infrared wavelength range.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 2, in accordance with embodiments, an optical wireless transceiver comprises a lens module as described herein, as well as an optical receiver 38 and an optical transmitter 42. The optical receiver 38 is aligned with the partial area 12b of the first surface 12 and is configured to receive a first optical wireless signal 48 arriving at the partial area 14b of the surface 14 from the partial area 14b of the surface 14. The optical transmitter 42 is aligned with the partial area 12a of the surface 12 and is configured to transmit the second optical wireless signal 52 to the first partial area 12a of the surface 12. The lens module is configured to direct and shape the optical wireless signal 52 onto the partial area 14a of the surface 14.

[0075] In other words, Fig. 2 shows a basic structure of the transceiver with beam guidance of the output beam 52 towards the transmission beam 53 as well as the beam guidance of an incident transmission beam 48 towards the reception beam 49 on the detector 38.

[0076] Fig. 3 shows a schematic side sectional view of an optical wireless system with two optical wireless transceivers 25i and 252 configured and aligned for mutual communication. Each of the optical wireless transceivers 25i and 252 can be configured as a transceiver according to Fig. 2, although other optical wireless transceivers with lens modules described herein can also be used.

[0077] The reception of the optical signal 52 or 53 transmitted by the optical wireless transceiver 25i at the optical wireless transceiver 252 is shown as an example. As long as a light cone 64 of the shaped signal 53 hits at least parts of the surface section 14b2 of the transceiver 252, a corresponding light component can be directed to an optical receiver 382 of the optical wireless transceiver 252. This is where the preferred design of the lens module comes into play, according to which surface sections assigned to the reception of an optical wireless signal are arranged to enclose a surface section of the surface 14 used for transmission. The increasing divergence of the beam can thus be effectively utilized on the receiver side.

[0078] In the optical wireless system 30, both optical wireless transceivers 25i and 252 are, for example, mounted for rotation about rotation axes 54i and 542, respectively. For example, the optical wireless transceiver 25i is configured to perform a rotation 681 about the rotation axis 54i, which may correspond to a main transmission direction along which the optical wireless signal 53 is transmitted through side 14 of the lens module 20i. Alternatively or additionally, the optical wireless transceiver 252 may be configured to perform a rotation 682 with respect to the optical wireless transceiver 25i about a main transmission direction, which may correspond to the rotation axis 542 and along which the transmission signal of the optical wireless transceiver 252 may be transmitted. It should be noted that the rotation axis can also be tilted relative to a main transmission direction and / or main reception direction, ie, the rotations can occur on a parallel or congruent axis, but the transmitting and / or receiving directions can differ.

[0079] The rotation axis 54i, around which the optical wireless transceiver 25i can be rotated, is arranged, for example, parallel to a z-direction in space. Tilting and / or displacement 66 of the rotation axis 542 of the optical wireless transceiver 252 along and / or around an x-axis and / or y-axis can be tolerated as long as the respective signal to be received still hits the lens module within the reception angle of the respective receiver lens.

[0080] Although the optical wireless transmitter / receiver pairs 42i and 38i or 422 and 38i do not have to be directed towards each other, the corresponding optical wireless signals can be redirected accordingly by the direction redirection by means of the lens modules 20i and 202, wherein it is preferred that the sides 14i and 142 are arranged facing each other, which does not exclude tilting and / or displacement 66.

[0081] The optical wireless system 30 can be configured for full-duplex communication between the optical wireless transceivers 25i and 252. Due to the spatial separation of the respective transmit and receive signals, interference-free communication operation can be maintained even if both optical wireless transceivers 25i and 252 are transmitting simultaneously. This is achieved by the fact that the lens modules 20i and 202 can be configured for optical separation of opposing optical wireless signals.

[0082] It should be noted that the rotations 681 and 682 are each considered advantageous, but that only one of the two components can easily be arranged in a rotational manner relative to the other, possibly stationary, component. It should also be noted that the inventive advantages of directional redirection and optical separation can also be utilized if both transceivers 25i and 252 are stationary or at least do not rotate.

[0083] In other words, Fig. 3 shows an example of a complete data link. A first transceiver 25i transmits the beam shifted to the rotation axis 54i of the first transceiver 25i in the direction of a second transceiver 252. The transmitted beam is focused by the second transceiver 252 onto the electrical receiver element 382 by means of the receiving optics 142, 162, 122. The two transceivers can be tilted and / or shifted relative to one another within a certain range, as shown by the shift / tilt 66. This results in the transceiver 252 having a second rotation axis 542. The area of ​​the second transmitting surface 12a2, 16a2, 14a2 is not used for focusing. During data transmission, one or both transceivers 25i and / or 252 can be permanently rotated against each other.

[0084] In other words, Fig. 3 shows a complex data link consisting of two transceivers. One transmission direction is shown as an example. An example of tilt and translation is represented combinatorially by reference numeral 66.

[0085] Figs. 4a-c show schematic views of the optical wireless transceiver 25 from Fig. 2. For better clarity, Fig. 4d shows a comparison of different viewing directions or viewing positions 72i, 722, and 723 on the transceiver 25, with the viewing direction 72i being shown in Fig. 4a, the viewing direction 722 in Fig. 4b, and the viewing direction 72a in Fig. 4c. Figs. 4b and 4c show the enclosing arrangement of the surface sub-region 16b around the surface sub-region 16a and of the surface sub-region 14b around the surface sub-region 14a, while the laterally adjacent arrangement of the surface sub-regions 12a and 12b is clearly visible in Fig. 4a.

[0086] In other words, Fig. 4a shows a bottom view, with the substrate 44 only indicated at the edge for illustrative purposes. Visible are the transmitting element 42 and the receiving element 38 with the complex optics 20 and the support structure 56 arranged above them. The first optically refractive interface 12a of the transmitting optics and the first optically refractive interface 12b of the receiving optics are highlighted.

[0087] Fig. 4b shows a top view showing the complex optics 20, the support structure 56, and the substrate 44. The reflective optical interface of the transmitting optics 16a and the reflective optical interface of the receiving optics 16b are highlighted. Fig. 4c shows a front view showing the complex optics 20, the support structure 56, and the substrate 44. The second optically refractive interface 14a of the transmitting optics and the second optically refractive interface 14b of the receiving optics are highlighted.

[0088] In other words, Figs. 4a-d show exemplary top views of the respective optical interfaces of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 to illustrate their shape. Figs. 4a-c show top views of the optical interfaces of a first embodiment with a transmitting optics and a receiving optics.

[0089] Figs. 5a-c show views of an optical wireless transceiver 25' comparable to Figs. 4a-c, in which the optical receiver 38 is assigned two receiving optics 12b-1, 16b-1 and 14b-1 on the one hand and 12b-2, 16b-2 and 14b-2 on the other. In other words, the receiving optics can be divided into two parts compared to the lens module 20. A higher division into more than two elements is also conceivable. In the case shown, the transmitting optics is placed, for example, as a circular ring element 16a or 14a between the two receiving areas 16b-1 and 16b-2 and 14b-1 and 14b-2. It is entirely conceivable that each receiving optics is assigned its own optical receiver. This can be easily adjusted via a corresponding deflection on the surface 16. In other words, Fig. 5a-c show exemplary top views of the respective optical interfaces of a further embodiment with one transmitting optics and two receiving optics.

[0090] In other words, Fig. 5a-c show top views of the optical interfaces of a second embodiment with one transmitting optics and two receiving optics.

[0091] Fig. 6a-c show representations of an optical-wireless transceiver 25" comparable to Fig. 4a-c and Fig. 5a-c, which has a lens module 20" which, compared to the embodiments of Fig. 5a-c, enables a division of a transmission signal into several partial signals. While the lens module 20' arranged in the optical-wireless transceiver 25' can be formed such that the surface section 14b of the surface 14 and / or the surface section 16b of the surface 16 is divided into several spatially disjoint and spaced-apart sub-regions 14b-1, 14b-2 or 16b-1 and 16b-2, in the case of Fig. 6a-c the surface sections 14a of the surface 14 and 16a of the surface 16 can be divided, wherein the number of four sub-regions 14a-1-14a-4 and 16a-1-16a-4 is selected as an example.Even if the number of sub-regions in the respective surface sub-regions 14a and 16a is preferably identical, the number of four is, for example, one, as in the lens module 10 or 20, two, three or more than four.

[0092] The surface partial region 12a can be formed contiguously or likewise subdivided into disjoint partial regions. Particularly in an embodiment in which the surface partial section 12a of the surface 12 is formed contiguously, it is preferred that the surface partial section 16a of the surface 16 is designed to convert an optical signal between the contiguous surface partial section 12a of the surface 12 and the spatially disjoint partial regions 14a-1-14a-4 of the surface 14. This means, for example, splitting in the transmission case, wherein, with reference to Figs. 5a-c, a merging of disjoint partial signals can be carried out accordingly in the reception case. In other words, a contiguous but non-continuous surface can be used or even required for the splitting. In the case of four partial beams, there can be quarter surfaces, each with four discontinuous regions, as shown by way of example in Fig. 7.

[0093] With reference to Figs. 6a-c, exemplary top views of the respective optical interfaces of a further exemplary embodiment with four transmitting optics 12a-1-12a-4, 14a-1-14a-4 and 16a-1-16a-4 as well as a receiving optic 12b, 14b, 16b are shown. Four transmitting optics are assigned to the transmitting unit 42, or the transmitted beam is split or divided into four segments at the surface 12a. This means that multiple transmitting elements can be used and / or a transmitted beam can be split. The reflective surfaces 16a-1-16a-4 and / or the refracting surfaces 14a-1-14a-4 can each be arranged within the receiving surfaces 14, 16. The shape of the surfaces in the drawings shown in the exemplary embodiments shown here is to be understood as an example. The area of ​​application can influence the actual design.In principle, all possible geometric surface shapes and / or free forms are possible. The respective complexity or the willingness to invest the necessary effort may set limits.

[0094] In other words, Figs. 6a-c show top views of the optical interface of a third embodiment with four transmitting optics and one receiving optic. Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective representation of the mode of operation of a beam-splitting or beam-combining surface or partial surface area 12a or 12b, which shows that the optical mode of operation is reversible with respect to its direction. For example, the optical receiver 38 can be used in the same way as the optical transmitter 42. The respectively assigned partial surface areas 12b-1 to 12b-4 or 12a-1 to 12a-4 can be connected to adjacent areas by means of discontinuities 76-1 to 76-4, for example, in order to join different curvatures together.

[0095] The illustrated division surface can be arranged in area 12 and / or area 14. Both are conceivable. Such a division can also be implemented alternatively or additionally in the deflection surface, area 16.

[0096] The merging or division by means of the surface 16 can then be carried out in such a way that one of the two surface subsections 12a or 12b or 14a or 14b of one of the two surfaces 12 or 14 is formed contiguously and the associated surface subsection of the other surface is subdivided into several, i.e., at least two, spatially disjoint subsections. The associated surface subsection of the third surface 16 is designed to convert, i.e., to divide or merge, the optical signal between the associated contiguous surface subsection and the associated spatially disjoint subsections of the other surface subsection.

[0097] Even if the embodiments described herein consider the case of rotation, even when utilizing the deflection of optical-wireless signals tangential to the circuit board surface, rotation capability is not absolutely necessary; it is still possible to benefit from a compact design through the integration of transmitting optics and receiving optics, each with its integrated deflection surface. Another example is remote controls for optical-wireless remote control of devices. In this case, for example, the PCB lies flat in the hand and one wants to radiate perpendicular to the PCB normal. In many cases, the direction in which signals are to be radiated or from which direction signals are to be received depends on the integration of the overall electronics in the final product. In the idea described here, the radiation angle, for example referred to as angle a in Fig. 2, can be set variably but in a defined manner.Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is understood that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or component of a device can also be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block, detail, or feature of a corresponding device.

[0098] Depending on specific implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or a FLASH memory, a hard disk, or other magnetic or optical storage device storing electronically readable control signals that can interact or cooperate with a programmable computer system to perform the respective method. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer-readable.Some embodiments according to the invention thus comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals capable of interacting with a programmable computer system such that one of the methods described herein is carried out.

[0099] In general, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, wherein the program code is effective to perform one of the methods when the computer program product is run on a computer. The program code can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable medium.

[0100] Other embodiments include the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable carrier.

[0101] In other words, one embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a computer program comprising program code for performing one of the methods described herein when the computer program runs on a computer. Another embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein is recorded.

[0102] A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data stream or a sequence of signals that represents the computer program for carrying out one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals can be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example, via the Internet.

[0103] A further embodiment comprises a processing device, for example a computer or a programmable logic device, which is configured or adapted to carry out one of the methods described herein.

[0104] A further embodiment comprises a computer on which the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein is installed.

[0105] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (e.g., a field-programmable gate array, an FPGA) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field-programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor to perform any of the methods described herein. In general, in some embodiments, the methods are performed by any hardware device. This may be general-purpose hardware such as a computer processor (CPU) or method-specific hardware such as an ASIC.

[0106] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It is understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the following claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A lens module having a first surface (12) and a second surface (14) inclined relative to the first surface (12), which are optically coupled to one another via a third surface (16) inclined relative to the first surface and the second surface (14); wherein each of the first surface (12), the second surface (14), and the third surface (16) has a first surface section (12a, 14a, 16a) and a second surface section (12b, 14b, 16b); wherein the first surface sections (12a, 14a, 16a) are associated with one another; and wherein the second surface sections (12b, 14b, 16b) are associated with one another and form a respective optical arrangement.

2. The lens module according to claim 1, which is designed to provide a light exit from the first surface portion (14a) of the second surface (14) based on a light entry at the first surface portion (12a) of the first surface (12) by means of total reflection at the first surface portion (16a) of the third surface (16), or vice versa; and / or to provide a light exit from the second surface portion (14b) of the second surface (14) based on a light entry at the second surface portion (12b) of the first surface (12) by means of total reflection at the second surface portion (16b) of the third surface (16), or vice versa.

3. The lens module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first surface (12) is a combinatorial lens surface of a first and a second lens; and the second surface (14) is a combinatorial lens surface of the first and second lens; and the third surface (16) is a combinatorial deflection surface, such as a reflection surface, of the first and second lens.

4. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface (12) has a discontinuous surface shape in a transition region between the first surface section (12a) and the second surface section (12b) or within the first or second surface section (12a-b); and / or wherein the second surface (14) has a discontinuous surface shape in a transition between the first surface section (14a) and the second surface section (14b) or within the first or second surface section (14a-b); and / or wherein the third surface (16) has a discontinuous surface shape in a transition between the first surface section (16a) and the second surface section (16b) or within the first or second surface section (16a-b).

5. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface portion (12b) of the first surface (12) is arranged laterally adjacent to the first surface portion (12a) of the first surface (12).

6. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface portion (14b) of the second surface (14) is arranged to enclose the first surface portion (14a) of the second surface (14b).

7. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface portion (16b) of the third surface (16) is arranged to enclose the first surface portion (16a) of the third surface (16).

8. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface portion (14a) of the second surface (14) is formed rotationally symmetrically about a rotation axis (54) and the second surface portion (14b) of the second surface (14) is formed rotationally symmetrically about the rotation axis (54).

9. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface (12), the second surface (14) and the third surface (16) are inclined relative to each other are designed to cause a deflection of a main beam direction of a first optical arrangement of the lens module.

10. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface sections (12a, 14a, 16a) of the first surface (12), the second surface (14), and the third surface (16) form a first optical arrangement for a first beam shaping for a first optical channel (28); and wherein the second surface sections (12b, 14b, 16b) of the first surface (12), the second surface (14), and the third surface (16) form a second optical arrangement for a second beam shaping for a second optical channel (32); wherein the first beam shaping is independent of the second beam shaping.

11. The lens module of claim 10, wherein the first optical channel (28) and the second optical channel (32) are substantially free of channel crosstalk.

12. The lens module according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first optical channel (28) and the second optical channel (32) are spatially disjoint from one another at the first surface (12), the second surface (14) and the third surface (16) by means of the first surface sections (12a, 14a, 16a) and the second surface sections (12b, 14b, 16b).

13. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second surface portion (12b) of the first surface (12) is formed contiguously; and the second surface portion (14b) of the second surface (14b) comprises a plurality of spatially disjoint partial regions (14b-1, 14b-2); wherein the second surface portion (16b) of the third surface (16) is designed to convert an optical signal between the contiguous second surface portion (12b) of the first surface (12) and the spatially disjoint partial regions (14a-1, 14a-2) of the second surface portion (14a) of the second surface (14).

14. The lens module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first surface (12), the second surface (14), and the third surface (16) has at least a respective third surface portion; and the lens module effects individual beam shaping of at least three optical channels.

15. The lens module according to any one of the preceding claims, which is formed monolithically or in one piece.

16. The lens module according to one of the preceding claims, which is formed comprising a plastic material, preferably a high-temperature plastic that supports a reflow process, in particular a Sabic EXTEM™ material.

17. An optical wireless transceiver (25; 25'; 25") comprising: a lens module (10; 20; 20'; 20") according to one of the preceding claims; an optical receiver (38) which is aligned with the second (12b) partial area of ​​the first surface (12); and which is configured to receive a first optical wireless signal (49) arriving at the second partial area (14b) of the second surface (14) from the second partial area (12b) of the first surface (12); and an optical transmitter (42) which is aligned with the first partial area (12a) of the first surface (12); and which is configured to transmit a second optical wireless signal (52) to the first partial area (12a) of the first surface (12); and the lens module is configured to direct and shape the second optical-wireless signal (52) onto the first partial surface area (14a) of the second surface (14).

18. The optical wireless transceiver of claim 17, wherein the optical receiver (38) and the optical transmitter (42) are disposed on a common substrate (44); and the optical wireless transceiver comprises a support structure (56) disposed on the substrate (44); and configured to support the lens module relative to the optical receiver (38) and the optical transmitter (42).

19. The optical wireless transceiver according to claim 17 or 18, wherein a main receiving direction for receiving the first optical signal (48) and a transmitting direction which describes a main radiation direction of the transmitted second optical wireless signal (53) run parallel to each other.

20. An optical wireless system (30) comprising: a first optical wireless transceiver (25i) according to any one of claims 17 to 19, configured to receive the first optical wireless signal (48) and to transmit the second optical wireless signal (53); and a second optical wireless transceiver (252) according to any one of claims 17 to 19, configured to receive the second optical wireless signal (53) and to transmit the first optical wireless signal (48).

21. The optical wireless system of claim 20, wherein the lens module of the first optical wireless transceiver is a first lens module and the lens module of the second optical wireless transceiver is a second lens module; wherein the second side (14i) of the first lens module and the second side (142) of the second lens module face each other.

22. The optical wireless system according to claim 21, wherein the first optical wireless transceiver (25i) is designed to perform a rotation (681) with respect to the second optical wireless transceiver (252) about a main transmission direction along which the second optical wireless signal (53) is transmitted through the second side (14i) of the first lens module, and / or; wherein the second optical wireless transceiver (252) is designed to perform a rotation (682) with respect to the first optical wireless transceiver (25i) about a main transmission direction along which the first optical wireless signal (48) is transmitted through the second side (142) of the second lens module.

23. The optical wireless system according to any one of claims 20 to 22, configured for full-duplex communication between the first optical wireless transceiver (25i) and the second optical wireless transceiver (252); wherein the lens modules of the optical wireless transceivers are configured for optical separation of opposing optical wireless signals.

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