Optical communication device, optical communication system and light radiation element

Abstract

To facilitate axis matching of signal light to be communicated in a bidirectional manner.SOLUTION: A first optical communication device 10 comprises: a light radiation element 11 which radiates transmission signal light (first communication light L1) toward a second optical communication device 20 of a communication target; a lens 12 on which reception signal light (second communication light L2) from the second optical communication device 20 of the communication target is incident; and a light-receiving element 13 which receives the reception signal light that is condensed by the lens 12. A through hole 12a is provided in the lens 12. The light radiation element 11 is disposed on a virtual line L0 along the through hole 12a so as to perform the radiation while making an axis of the transmission signal light parallel with an optical axis Op of the lens 12 in such a manner that the lens 12 is not irradiated with the transmission signal light, and the light-receiving element 13 is disposed at a position where the reception signal light condensed by the lens 12 can be received in a case where an axis of a center of the transmission signal light radiated from the light radiation element 11 overlaps an axis of a center of the reception signal light incident on the lens 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical communication device, an optical communication system, and a light irradiation element. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication systems have been developed that use optical communication devices that include an optical transmitter that irradiates a signal light toward a communication target and an optical receiver that receives the signal light from the communication target. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for performing bidirectional communication between a pair of optical communication devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-6338 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When performing two-way communication as in Patent Document 1 above, there are two communication paths between a pair of optical communication devices: a path of signal light in a first direction from one optical communication device to the other optical communication device, and a path of signal light in a second direction from the other optical communication device to the one optical communication device, so it is necessary to align the axes of the signal light in both directions. In such optical communication devices, when the optical transmitter and optical receiver are fixed to the same base, aligning the axis of one signal light and then attempting to align the axis of the other signal light results in the axis of the previously aligned signal light becoming misaligned, making the task of aligning the axes of both signal lights cumbersome.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to facilitate the axial alignment of signal light for bidirectional communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The optical communication device according to the present disclosure comprises: a light emitting element for emitting a transmission signal light toward a communication target device; a lens onto which a received signal light from the device to be communicated with is incident; a light receiving element that receives the received signal light collected by the lens; Equipped with the light emitting element is disposed at a position where it can irradiate the transmission signal light so that the axis of the transmission signal light is parallel to the optical axis of the lens, so as not to irradiate the lens with the transmission signal light; The light receiving element is disposed in a position where it can receive the received signal light focused by the lens when the central axis of the transmitted signal light irradiated from the light irradiating element and the central axis of the received signal light incident on the lens overlap.

[0007] An optical communication system according to the present disclosure includes a pair of the optical communication devices described above, The optical communication device is configured so that the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from one optical communication device toward the other optical communication device overlaps with the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from the other optical communication device toward the one optical communication device and incident on the lens of the one optical communication device as the received signal light.

[0008] The light irradiation element according to the present disclosure is provided in the optical communication device, The light emitting element is disposed in the through hole and is integral with the lens. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it becomes easy to align the axes of signal light for bidirectional communication. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a modified example of the optical communication system of the first embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing a modified example of the optical communication system of the second embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A, 10B, and 10C are schematic diagrams showing an optical communication system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. This disclosure describes an optical communication system that performs bidirectional communication between a pair of optical communication devices.

[0012] [First embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, the optical communication system 1 of the first embodiment includes a first optical communication device 10 and a second optical communication device 20. The first optical communication device 10 includes a light emitting element 11, a lens 12, a light receiving element 13, and a communication control unit . Similarly, the second optical communication device 20 includes a light emitting element 21, a lens 22, a light receiving element 23, and a communication control unit 24. In this way, the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 have the same configuration. The first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 are communication targets with each other.

[0013] The light emitting element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 irradiates the first communication light L1 as a transmission signal light toward the second optical communication device 20 with which communication is to be performed. The second communication light L2 from the second optical communication device 20, which is the communication target, is incident on the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 as received signal light. The light receiving element 13 of the first optical communication device 10 receives the second communication light L2 as the received signal light collected by the lens 12. The communication control unit 14 controls each unit of the first optical communication device 10 . The light emitting element 11, the lens 12, and the light receiving element 13 are provided in the first optical communication device 10 so that they behave as a single unit without changing their mutual arrangement or posture.

[0014] Similarly, the light emitting element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 irradiates the first optical communication device 10, which is the communication target, with the second communication light L2 as a transmission signal light. The first communication light L1 from the first optical communication device 10, which is the communication target, is incident on the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 as received signal light. The light receiving element 23 of the second optical communication device 20 receives the first communication light L1 as the received signal light collected by the lens 22. The communication control unit 24 controls each unit of the second optical communication device 20 . The light emitting element 21, the lens 22, and the light receiving element 23 are provided in the second optical communication device 20 so that they behave as a single unit without changing their mutual arrangement or posture.

[0015] The light emitting elements 11 and 21 are semiconductor lasers for signals. The light receiving element 13 and the light receiving element 23 are signal photodiodes.

[0016] The communication control unit 14 performs a process of modulating the laser light emitted by the light emitting element 11 based on the first transmission data and outputting it as the first communication light L1, and a process of demodulating the second communication light L2 received by the light receiving element 13 into an electrical signal and extracting the second transmission data. Similarly, the communication control unit 24 performs a process of modulating the laser light emitted by the light emitting element 21 based on the second transmission data and outputting it as the second communication light L2, and a process of demodulating the first communication light L1 received by the light receiving element 23 into an electrical signal and extracting the first transmission data.

[0017] The lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 are convex lenses of the same size and with the same magnification. The lens 12 is provided with a through hole 12a that is parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 12. The lens 22 is provided with a through-hole 22 a parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 22 . The through holes 12a and 22a of the lenses 12 and 22 in the first embodiment are provided in the central portions of the lenses 12 and 22 so as to be aligned with the optical axes Op of the lenses 12 and 22. The lens 12 only needs to be able to focus the second communication light L2 emitted by the second optical communication device 20 onto the light receiving element 13 of the first optical communication device 10. The lens 22 only needs to be able to focus the first communication light L1 emitted by the first optical communication device 10 onto the light receiving element 23 of the second optical communication device 20. The lenses 12 and 13 do not need to be the same size and / or have the same magnification.

[0018] The light emitting element 11 is located on an imaginary line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is disposed at a position where it can emit the first communication light L1 without irradiating the lens 12 with the first communication light L1. The light emitting element 11 emits the first communication light L1 so that the axis of the first communication light L1 is parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 12. The light emitting element 11 here is disposed in a through hole 12a of the lens 12, and is disposed so as to emit the first communication light L1 from the first optical communication device 10 toward the outside. Similarly, the light irradiating element 21 is located on an imaginary line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is disposed at a position where it can irradiate the second communication light L2 without irradiating the lens 22 with the second communication light L2. The light irradiating element 21 irradiates the second communication light L2 so that the axis of the second communication light L2 is parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 22. The light emitting element 21 here is disposed in a through-hole 22a of the lens 22, and is disposed so as to emit the second communication light L2 from the second optical communication device 20 toward the outside.

[0019] The light receiving element 13 is disposed inside the first optical communication device 10, at a position closer to the optical axis Op of the lens 12. Specifically, the light receiving element 13 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 12 or in the vicinity of the focal point. The light receiving element 13 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 12 or in the vicinity of the focal point so as to be positioned so as to easily receive the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12. In particular, the light receiving element 13 is arranged in a position where it can receive the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 when the central axis of the first communication light L1 emitted from the light emitting element 11 overlaps with the central axis of the second communication light L2 from the second optical communication device 20 that enters the lens 12. Similarly, the light receiving element 23 is disposed inside the second optical communication device 20, at a position closer to the optical axis Op of the lens 22. Specifically, the light receiving element 23 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 22 or in the vicinity of the focal point. The light receiving element 23 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 22 or in the vicinity of the focal point so as to be positioned so as to easily receive the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22. In particular, the light receiving element 23 is arranged in a position where it can receive the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 when the central axis of the second communication light L2 emitted from the light emitting element 21 overlaps with the central axis of the first communication light L1 from the first optical communication device 10 that enters the lens 22.

[0020] It is preferable that the light receiving element 13 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 12 , and the light receiving element 23 is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 22 . If the light receiving element 13 is arranged at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens 12, the second communication light L2 as the received signal light focused by the lens 12 can be efficiently received, enabling good optical communication. Similarly, if the light receiving element 23 is arranged at a position corresponding to the focus of the lens 22, the first communication light L1 as the received signal light focused by the lens 22 can be efficiently received, enabling good optical communication.

[0021] The light receiving elements 13 and 23 do not have to be located at positions corresponding to the focal points of the lenses 12 and 22, as long as they are located near the focal points. If the light receiving element 13 is disposed near the focal point of the lens 12 and can receive the second communication light L2 as the received signal light collected by the lens 12, optical communication becomes possible. Similarly, if the light receiving element 23 is disposed near the focal point of the lens 22 and can receive the first communication light L1 as the received signal light collected by the lens 22, optical communication becomes possible.

[0022] Next, a mode in which the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 perform bidirectional communication in the optical communication system 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0023] The first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 that make up this optical communication system 1 are arranged so that their lenses 12, 22 face each other, and are adjusted so that the optical axis Op of the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the optical axis Op of the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 are aligned in a straight line. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, if the optical axis Op of the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the optical axis Op of the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 are aligned in a straight line, two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 becomes possible.

[0024] In the optical communication system 1 of the first embodiment, when the optical axis Op of the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the optical axis Op of the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 are aligned in a straight line, the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 will overlap with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 and incident on the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10. In other words, the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 overlaps with the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 and incident on the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20.

[0025] In this way, if the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 overlaps with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 will be received by the light receiving element 23 of the second optical communication device 20, and the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 will be received by the light receiving element 13 of the first optical communication device 10.

[0026] However, since the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 are installed at locations far apart from each other and are intended for two-way communication, it is difficult to adjust the optical axis Op of the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the optical axis Op of the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 so that they are aligned in a straight line. Therefore, by checking whether two-way communication is possible or not, the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 is overlapped with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 and incident on the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10, and by checking whether the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 is overlapped with the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 and incident on the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20, the central axis of the first communication light L1 is overlapped with the central axis of the second communication light L2.

[0027] For example, the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 that constitute the optical communication system 1 are arranged so that their lenses 12, 22 face each other, and the first optical communication device 10 irradiates the first communication light L1 toward the second optical communication device 20, and the second optical communication device 20 irradiates the second communication light L2 toward the first optical communication device 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a first communication light L1 having a divergence angle is irradiated from the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20, and the first communication light L1 is made incident on the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20, and a second communication light L2 having a divergence angle is irradiated from the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, and the second communication light L2 is made incident on the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10.

[0028] In this state, the attitude of at least one of the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 is adjusted, and the attitude is fine-tuned until the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 is received by the light receiving element 23 and the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 is received by the light receiving element 13. When the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 is received by the light receiving element 23 and the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 is received by the light receiving element 13, the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 and the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 overlap, making two-way communication possible.

[0029] In other words, the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 overlaps with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, so that the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 is received by the light receiving element 13, and the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 is received by the light receiving element 23, making two-way communication possible.

[0030] In this way, in the optical communication system 1 of the first embodiment, the first communication light L1 is irradiated from the light emitting element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 towards the second optical communication device 20 and enters the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20, and is focused by the lens 22 and received by the light receiving element 23, thereby enabling communication from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the second communication light L2 is irradiated from the light emitting element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 towards the first optical communication device 10 and enters the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10, and is focused by the lens 12 and received by the light receiving element 13, thereby enabling communication from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20.

[0031] In this optical communication system 1, the central axis of the first communication light L1, which is the signal light traveling from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the central axis of the second communication light L2, which is the signal light traveling from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, are overlapped to form a single communication path, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20. With such an optical communication system 1, it is easier to align the axes of the signal light for two-way communication compared to the communication system having two communication paths exemplified as the prior art, which requires axial alignment of the signal light on both communication paths.

[0032] Furthermore, as in the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 of the optical communication system 1 described above, if the light irradiation elements 11, 21 are arranged in the through holes 12a, 22a of the lenses 12, 22 and are provided integrally with the lenses 12, 22, the light irradiation elements 11, 21 are held by the lenses 12, 22, so that no members are required to assemble the light irradiation elements 11, 21 into the device, and the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, the light emitting elements 11, 21 and the lenses 12, 22 can be handled as a single unit, which makes it easier to assemble the light emitting elements 11, 21 and the lenses 12, 22 into a device, for example. Furthermore, by arranging the light emitting elements 11 and 21 in the through holes 12a and 22a of the lenses 12 and 22, space can be saved, making it easier to arrange other members.

[0033] However, the optical communication system 1 of the first embodiment is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the optical communication system 1 may be such that the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is arranged behind the lens 12, and the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is arranged behind the lens 22. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the optical communication system 1 may be such that the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through hole 12a of the lens 12 and is disposed in front of the lens 12, and the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through hole 22a of the lens 22 and is disposed in front of the lens 22. The rear of the lenses 12 and 22 refers to an arrangement on the inner surface side of the lenses 12 and 22, and the front of the lenses 12 and 22 refers to an arrangement on the outer surface side of the lenses 12 and 22.

[0034] Even in such an optical communication system 1, the first communication light L1 is irradiated from the light emitting element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 towards the second optical communication device 20 and enters the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20, and is collected by the lens 22 and received by the light receiving element 23, thereby enabling communication from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the second communication light L2 is irradiated from the light emitting element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 towards the first optical communication device 10 and enters the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10, and is collected by the lens 12 and received by the light receiving element 13, thereby enabling communication from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20.

[0035] In other words, even in such an optical communication system 1, the central axis of the first communication light L1, which is the signal light traveling from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the central axis of the second communication light L2, which is the signal light traveling from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, are overlapped to form a single communication path, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20.

[0036] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described first embodiment. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0037] [Second embodiment] As shown in FIG. 3, the optical communication system 1 of the second embodiment includes a first optical communication device 10 and a second optical communication device 20. The first optical communication device 10 includes a light emitting element 11, a lens 12, a light receiving element 13, and a communication control unit 14, and the second optical communication device 20 includes a light emitting element 21, a lens 22, a light receiving element 23, and a communication control unit 24. The first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 have the same configuration, and the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 are communication targets with each other.

[0038] The lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 and the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 are convex lenses of the same size and with the same magnification. The lens 12 only needs to be able to focus the second communication light L2 emitted by the second optical communication device 20 onto the light receiving element 13 of the first optical communication device 10. The lens 22 only needs to be able to focus the first communication light L1 emitted by the first optical communication device 10 onto the light receiving element 23 of the second optical communication device 20. The lenses 12 and 13 do not need to be the same size and / or have the same magnification. The lenses 12 and 22 are provided with through holes 12a and 22a that are parallel to the optical axes Op of the lenses 12 and 22. In the second embodiment, the through holes 12a and 22a of the lenses 12 and 22 are provided at positions offset from the optical axis Op of the lenses 12 and 22 so as to be aligned with the optical axis Op of the lenses 12 and 22. The through holes 12a and 22a are provided at positions near the outer edges of the lenses 12 and 22.

[0039] The light emitting element 11 is located on an imaginary line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12, and is disposed in the through-hole 12a of the lens 12. This light irradiating element 11 is arranged in a position where it can irradiate the first communication light L1 without hitting the lens 12, and the light irradiating element 11 irradiates the first communication light L1 outward from the first optical communication device 10 so that the axis of the first communication light L1 is parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 12. Similarly, the light emitting element 21 is located on an imaginary line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22, and is disposed in the through-hole 22a of the lens 22. This light irradiation element 21 is arranged in a position where it can irradiate the second communication light L2 without hitting the lens 22, and the light irradiation element 21 irradiates the second communication light L2 outward from the second optical communication device 20 so that the axis of the second communication light L2 is parallel to the optical axis Op of the lens 22.

[0040] Next, a mode in which the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 perform bidirectional communication in the optical communication system 1 of the second embodiment will be described.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, a first communication light L1 having a divergence angle is irradiated from the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20, and the first communication light L1 is made incident on the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20, and a second communication light L2 having a divergence angle is irradiated from the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, and the second communication light L2 is made incident on the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10.

[0042] In this state, the attitude of at least one of the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 is adjusted, and the attitude is fine-tuned until the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 is received by the light receiving element 23 and the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 is received by the light receiving element 13. When the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 is received by the light receiving element 23 and the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 is received by the light receiving element 13, the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 and the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10 overlap, making two-way communication possible.

[0043] In this way, even in the optical communication system 1 of the second embodiment, by overlapping the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 is received by the light receiving element 13, and the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 is received by the light receiving element 23, thereby enabling two-way communication.

[0044] In other words, in the optical communication system 1 of the second embodiment, the central axis of the first communication light L1, which is the signal light traveling from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the central axis of the second communication light L2, which is the signal light traveling from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, are overlapped to form a single communication path, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20, and therefore axial alignment of the signal light for two-way communication can be easily performed.

[0045] The optical communication system 1 of the second embodiment is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the optical communication system 1 may be such that the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is arranged behind the lens 12, and the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is arranged behind the lens 22. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the optical communication system 1 may be such that the light irradiating element 11 of the first optical communication device 10 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is disposed in front of the lens 12, and the light irradiating element 21 of the second optical communication device 20 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is disposed in front of the lens 22. The rear of the lenses 12 and 22 refers to an arrangement on the inner surface side of the lenses 12 and 22, and the front of the lenses 12 and 22 refers to an arrangement on the outer surface side of the lenses 12 and 22.

[0046] Even in such an optical communication system 1, the central axis of the first communication light L1, which is the signal light traveling from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the central axis of the second communication light L2, which is the signal light traveling from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, can be overlapped to form a single communication path, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20.

[0047] [Third embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 5(a), (b), and (c), the optical communication system 1 of the third embodiment includes a first optical communication device 10 and a second optical communication device 20. The first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20 are communication targets with each other.

[0048] The first optical communication device 10 includes a light emitting element 11, a lens 12 having a through hole 12a, a light receiving element 13, and a communication control unit 14. The through hole 12a of the lens 12 is provided in the center of the lens 12. That is, this first optical communication device 10 is the first optical communication device 10 in the above-described first embodiment.

[0049] The second optical communication device 20 includes a light emitting element 21, a lens 22 having a through-hole 22a, a light receiving element 23, and a communication control unit 24. The through-hole 22a of the lens 22 is positioned away from the optical axis Op of the lens 22 and is located near the outer edge of the lens 22. That is, this second optical communication device 20 is the second optical communication device 20 in the second embodiment described above.

[0050] In the optical communication system 1 shown in FIG. 5(a), the light emitting element 11 is disposed in a through-hole 12a of the lens 12, and the light emitting element 21 is disposed in a through-hole 22a of the lens 22. In the optical communication system 1 shown in Figure 5(b), the light-emitting element 11 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is arranged behind the lens 12, and the light-emitting element 21 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is arranged behind the lens 22. In the optical communication system 1 shown in Figure 5(c), the light-emitting element 11 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 and is arranged in front of the lens 12, and the light-emitting element 21 is located on a virtual line L0 along the through-hole 22a of the lens 22 and is arranged in front of the lens 22.

[0051] Even in such a third embodiment of the optical communication system 1, by overlapping the central axis of the first communication light L1 irradiated from the first optical communication device 10 toward the second optical communication device 20 with the central axis of the second communication light L2 irradiated from the second optical communication device 20 toward the first optical communication device 10, the second communication light L2 focused by the lens 12 of the first optical communication device 10 is received by the light receiving element 13, and the first communication light L1 focused by the lens 22 of the second optical communication device 20 is received by the light receiving element 23, thereby enabling two-way communication.

[0052] In other words, in the optical communication system 1 of the third embodiment, the central axis of the first communication light L1, which is the signal light traveling from the first optical communication device 10 to the second optical communication device 20, and the central axis of the second communication light L2, which is the signal light traveling from the second optical communication device 20 to the first optical communication device 10, are overlapped to form a single communication path, thereby enabling two-way communication between the first optical communication device 10 and the second optical communication device 20, and therefore axial alignment of the signal light for two-way communication can be easily performed.

[0053] As described above, the optical communication system 1 of the present disclosure makes it possible to easily align the axes of signal light for bidirectional communication.

[0054] The above describes the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the content of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The details shown in the embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0055] For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, when the light irradiating element 11 is disposed in front of the lens 12 (see FIGS. 2(b), 4(b), and 5(c)), the through-hole 12a does not have to be provided in the lens 12. The light irradiating element 11 only needs to be disposed on a virtual line L0 that would be formed if the through-hole 12a were present.

[0056] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, when the light irradiation element 11 is disposed in the through-hole 12a of the lens 12 (see FIGS. 1, 3, and 5(a)), the through-hole portion behind the light irradiation element 11 may be blocked. In other words, the light irradiation element 11 may be disposed in a recess provided on the front side of the lens 12. The light irradiation element 11 may be disposed on an imaginary line L0 when the recess is regarded as the through-hole 12a.

[0057] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. (1) Optical communication equipment: a light emitting element for emitting a transmission signal light toward a communication target device; a lens onto which a received signal light from the device to be communicated with is incident; a light receiving element that receives the received signal light collected by the lens; Equipped with the light emitting element is disposed at a position where it can irradiate the transmission signal light so that the axis of the transmission signal light is parallel to the optical axis of the lens, so as not to irradiate the lens with the transmission signal light; The light receiving element is disposed in a position where it can receive the received signal light focused by the lens when the central axis of the transmitted signal light irradiated from the light irradiating element and the central axis of the received signal light incident on the lens overlap.

[0058] (2) In the optical communication device described in (1), The lens has a through hole, The light emitting elements are arranged on an imaginary line that extends along the through-holes.

[0059] (3) In the optical communication device described in (2) above, the through hole is provided in the center of the lens, The light receiving element is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens.

[0060] (4) In the optical communication device of (2), the through-hole is provided at a position offset from the optical axis of the lens, The light receiving element is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens.

[0061] (5) In the optical communication device according to any one of (1) to (4), The light receiving element is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal point of the lens.

[0062] (6) In the optical communication device according to any one of (2) to (5), The light emitting element is disposed in the through hole and is integral with the lens.

[0063] (7) An optical communication system includes a pair of optical communication devices according to (1), The optical communication device is configured so that the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from one optical communication device toward the other optical communication device overlaps with the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from the other optical communication device toward the one optical communication device and incident on the lens of the one optical communication device as the received signal light.

[0064] (8) In the optical communication device described in (7), The lens has a through hole, The light emitting elements are arranged on an imaginary line that extends along the through-holes.

[0065] (9) In the optical communication system described in (8), the through-holes of the lenses of the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are provided in central portions of the lenses, The light receiving elements provided in the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are disposed near the optical axis of the lens.

[0066] (10) In the optical communication system described in (8), the through holes of the lenses of the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are provided at positions offset from the optical axes of the lenses, The light receiving elements provided in the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are disposed near the optical axis of the lens.

[0067] (11) In the optical communication system described in (8), the through-hole of the lens of the one optical communication device is provided in a center portion of the lens, the light receiving element of the one optical communication device is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens, the through-hole of the lens of the other optical communication device is provided at a position offset from the optical axis of the lens, The light receiving element of the other optical communication device is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens.

[0068] (12) The light emitting element is provided in the optical communication device according to any one of (1) to (5), The light emitting element is disposed in the through hole and is integral with the lens. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Optical communication systems 10 First optical communication device 11 Light emitting element 12 Lenses 12a Through hole 13 Photodetector 14 Communication control section 20 Second optical communication device. 21 Light emitting element 22 Lens 22a Through hole 23 Photodetector 24 Communication control section L1 First communication light (transmitted signal light, received signal light) L2 Second communication light (transmitted signal light, received signal light) L0 Virtual Line Op optical axis

Claims

1. a light emitting element for emitting a transmission signal light toward a communication target device; a lens onto which a received signal light from the device to be communicated with is incident; a light receiving element that receives the received signal light collected by the lens; Equipped with the light emitting element is disposed at a position where it can irradiate the transmission signal light so that the axis of the transmission signal light is parallel to the optical axis of the lens, so as not to irradiate the lens with the transmission signal light; An optical communication device characterized in that the light receiving element is arranged in a position where it can receive the received signal light focused by the lens when the central axis of the transmitted signal light irradiated from the light emitting element and the central axis of the received signal light incident on the lens overlap.

2. The lens has a through hole, 2. The optical communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is disposed on an imaginary line along the through hole.

3. the through hole is provided in the center of the lens, 3. The optical communication device according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving element is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens.

4. the through-hole is provided at a position offset from the optical axis of the lens, 3. The optical communication device according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving element is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens.

5. 5. The optical communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving element is disposed at a position corresponding to a focal point of the lens.

6. 5. The optical communication device according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting element is disposed in the through hole and is provided integrally with the lens.

7. An optical communication system comprising a pair of optical communication devices according to claim 1, An optical communication system characterized in that the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from one optical communication device toward another optical communication device overlaps with the central axis of the transmission signal light irradiated from the other optical communication device toward the one optical communication device and incident on the lens of the one optical communication device as the received signal light.

8. The lens has a through hole, 8. The optical communication system according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting elements are arranged on an imaginary line along the through-hole.

9. the through-holes of the lenses of the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are provided in central portions of the lenses, 9. The optical communication system according to claim 8, wherein the light receiving elements provided in the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are disposed near the optical axis of the lens.

10. the through holes of the lenses of the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are provided at positions offset from the optical axes of the lenses, 9. The optical communication system according to claim 8, wherein the light receiving elements provided in the one optical communication device and the other optical communication device are disposed near the optical axis of the lens.

11. the through-hole of the lens of the one optical communication device is provided in a center portion of the lens, the light receiving element of the one optical communication device is disposed at a position close to the optical axis of the lens, the through-hole of the lens of the other optical communication device is provided at a position offset from the optical axis of the lens, 9. The optical communication system according to claim 8, wherein the light receiving element of the other optical communication device is disposed at a position closer to the optical axis of the lens.

12. A light emitting element provided in the optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The light emitting element is disposed in the through hole and is provided integrally with the lens.

Images