Light pipe and optical transceiver assembly

Abstract

To provide a light guide tube and an optical transmitter-receiver assembly capable of transmitting and receiving an optical signal in a free space and improving optical signal transmission efficiency.SOLUTION: In the light guide tube, a tube body side 130A has a first end 131, a second end 132, and a third end 133. The first lens 151 is located at the first end and located on the first optical path of the first light beam L1. The second lens 152 is located at the second end and located on the second optical path of the second light beam L2. The third lens 153 is located at the third end, and is located on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam. The beam splitter 140 is located inside the tube body, and is located on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam. The first light beam enters the tube at the first end and leaves the tube at the third end after passing through the beam splitter. The second light beam enters the tube at the third end and leaves the tube at the second end after passing through the beam splitter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a light guiding pipe and a light transceiver assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, in a wireless optical communication system called LiFi (light fidelity), an optical transmitter mainly transmits optical signals using two single optical wavelength bands (850 nm or 940 nm), while an optical receiver receives optical signals using an optical receiving element with a receiving range covering the optical wavelength band from 400 nm to 1100 nm.

[0003] The drawbacks of this method are that the scattering angle of the light source at the optical transmitting end is too large, limiting the effective radiation distance of the optical signal and causing optical loss at the edges with large angles. Meanwhile, the optical receiving end, which covers a wider optical bandwidth, cannot achieve single-wavelength filtering and is prone to receiving light source signals of different optical bandwidths. At the same time, the received optical signal cannot be focused into an optical beam. These problems reduce the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the photodiode and affect the stability of wireless optical communication signals. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a light guide and optical transceiver assembly that allows optical signals to be transmitted and received in free space and improves optical signal transmission efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention provides a light guide tube comprising: a tube having a first end, a second end, and a third end; a first lens located at the first end and on a first optical path of a first light beam; a second lens located at the second end and on a second optical path of a second light beam; a third lens located at the third end and on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam; and a beam splitter located inside the tube and on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam, wherein the first light beam enters the tube at the first end, passes through the beam splitter, and leaves the tube at the third end, and the second light beam enters the tube at the third end, passes through the beam splitter, and leaves the tube at the second end.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first light beam is incident on the first lens to form a parallel light beam, the first light beam has a divergence angle with respect to the optical axis of the first light beam after passing through the third lens along the first optical path, and the second light beam is incident on the third lens, is focused by the beam splitter, and is focused by the second lens.

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

[0008] In some embodiments, the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are all biconvex lenses.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are made of acrylic.

[0010] In some embodiments, the beam splitter is used to reflect the first light beam and transmit the second light beam, or transmit the first light beam and reflect the second light beam.

[0011] In some embodiments, the interior of the tube is filled with an optical material, and the optical material comprises polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin.

[0012] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the tube has a light-blocking coating layer, which is used to reflect the first light beam and the second light beam.

[0013] In some embodiments, the tube is T-shaped, with the first end facing the third end.

[0014] In some embodiments, the tube is h-shaped, and the first end is opposite the third end.

[0015] The present invention provides an optical transceiver assembly including a light guide, a light source adapted to emit the first light beam having a first wavelength, and an optical receiver adapted to receive the second light beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength.

[0016] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver assembly further includes a zero degree filter disposed between the light guide and the optical receiver.

[0017] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver assembly further includes a first optical shield used to cover the light source and the first lens, and a second optical shield used to cover the optical receiver and the second lens.

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

[0019] In some embodiments, the optical receiver is a photodiode.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first wavelength is one of 850 nm or 940 nm, and the second wavelength is the other of 850 nm or 940 nm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] Based on the above, the light guide tube and optical transceiver assembly proposed by the present invention enables optical signals to be transmitted and received in free space, and can achieve angular propagation of emitted optical signals and focusing of received optical signals, thereby reducing optical loss and improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency of conventional assemblies. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a light guide according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a light guide according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of an optical communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention, in some embodiments, the optical communication system 1 includes a digital signal processing IC 10, an analog front-end IC 20, a driver IC 30, a transimpedance amplifier 40, and an optical transceiver assembly 100.

[0024] When the optical communication system 1 emits an optical signal, the digital signal processing IC 10 emits a digital control signal to an analog front-end IC (AFE) 20. In some embodiments, the digital signal processing IC 10 may be a central control unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or other component having similar functionality, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0025] The analog front-end IC 20 converts the received digital control signal to an analog signal via the analog front-end IC and sends the converted analog signal to the driver IC 30 which uses it to control the light source 110 of the optical transceiver assembly 100.

[0026] Specifically, the analog front-end IC 20 is composed of analog circuits and digital-analog hybrid circuits and is used to perform many tasks, including signal capture, analog filtering, digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), and power amplification, and can convert received digital control signals into analog signals.

[0027] The driver IC 30 is connected to the light source 110 in the optical transceiver assembly 100. The driver IC 30 is used to receive an analog signal from the analog front-end IC 20 and control the light source 110 in the optical transceiver assembly 100 so that the light source 110 emits a corresponding fast blinking optical signal in a designated optical band and transmits optical data into free space.

[0028] In some embodiments, the light source 110 may be a light emitting diode or a laser diode, or other element having a similar function, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0029] On the other hand, when the optical communication system 1 receives an optical signal, the optical receiver 112 of the optical transceiver assembly 100 receives the optical signal from free space, converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, and then transmits it to the trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) 40.

[0030] In some embodiments, the optical receiver 112 may be a photodiode (PD) or other element having similar functionality, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] The transimpedance amplifier 40 is a type of amplifier that amplifies an input current signal, converts it into a voltage signal, and outputs it. Therefore, the transimpedance amplifier 40 amplifies the current signal from the optical receiver 112 and transmits the amplified electrical signal to the analog front-end IC 20.

[0032] The analog front-end IC 20 converts the electrical signal from the transimpedance amplifier 40 into a digital signal and sends it to the digital signal processing IC 10, thereby forming a wireless optical communication system architecture.

[0033] The structure of the optical transceiver assembly will now be described in detail.

[0034] 2 is a schematic diagram of an optical transceiver assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, an optical transceiver assembly 100A is one embodiment of the optical transceiver assembly 100 of FIG.

[0035] The optical transceiver assembly 100A includes a light source 110, an optical receiver 112, and a light guide 120A. The light guide 120A includes a tube 130A and a beam splitter 140.

[0036] The light source 110 is used to emit a first light beam L1 having a first wavelength. As shown in FIG. 1 , the light source 110 is connected to the driver IC 30 and receives a signal from the driver IC 30 to emit the first light beam L1 and transmit information to the external space. In some embodiments, the light source 110 may be a light-emitting diode or a laser diode, or other elements having similar functions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0037] The optical receiver 112 is used to receive a second optical beam L2 having a second wavelength, which is an optical signal from free space, and the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first wavelength of the first light beam L1 emitted from the light source 110 is either 850 nm or 940 nm. The second wavelength of the second light beam received by the optical receiver 112 is the other of 850 nm or 940 nm. However, in other embodiments, the first wavelength or the second wavelength may be other values, and the invention is not limited thereto.

[0039] 2, the tube 130A has a first end 131, a second end 132, and a third end 133. As shown in FIG. 2, the tube 130A is T-shaped, with the first end 131 facing the third end 133. The second end 132 is located between the first end 131 and the third end 133. The light source 110 is located outside the first end 131 of the tube 130A. The optical receiver 112 is located outside the second end 132 of the tube 130A.

[0040] The beam splitter 140 is located inside the tube 130A, and is located on the first optical path of the first light beam L1 and the second optical path of the second light beam L2. Specifically, the beam splitter 140 is located inside the tube 130A.

[0041] The beam splitter 140 includes two right-angle triangular prisms, the hypotenuses of which are glued together with polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin to form the cube-shaped beam splitter 140.

[0042] An optical film 142 is coated on one hypotenuse of the two right-angled triangular prisms to filter the optical signal wavelength band and provide a reflection or transmission effect to the optical signal. In this embodiment, the optical film 142 achieves the spectral effect by transmitting the first light beam L1 through the beam splitter 140 and reflecting the second light beam L2. In other embodiments, depending on the configuration, the optical film 142 may reflect the first light beam L1 and transmit the second light beam L2 through the beam splitter 140.

[0043] In some embodiments, the material of the right-angled triangular prism may be glass or acrylic, or other suitable material, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0044] In some embodiments, the optical film 142 may be made of an appropriate material, such as a metal film or other film having similar properties, depending on the wavelengths corresponding to the first light beam L1 and the second light beam L2 and the desired optical properties, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, when the optical transceiver assembly 100A emits an optical signal, the first light beam L1 emitted by the light source 110 enters the tube 130A from the first end 131, passes through the beam splitter 140, and then leaves the tube 130A from the third end 133.

[0046] On the other hand, when the optical transceiver assembly 100A receives an optical signal, the second optical beam L2 enters the tube 130A from the third end 133, passes through the beam splitter 140, is reflected by the beam splitter 140, leaves the tube 130A from the second end 132, and enters the optical receiver 112.

[0047] According to the optical path for emitting the first light beam L1 and the optical path for receiving the second light beam L2, the optical transceiver assembly 100A can emit optical signals in free space and receive optical signals.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the optical transceiver assembly 100A further includes a first lens 151, a second lens 152, and a third lens 153.

[0049] The first lens 151 is located at the first end 131 and is located on the first optical path of the first light beam L1. The second lens 152 is located at the second end 132 and is located on the second optical path of the second light beam L2. The third lens 153 is located at the third end 133 and is located on the first optical path of the first light beam L1 and the second optical path of the second light beam L2.

[0050] In some embodiments, the first lens 151, the second lens 152, and the third lens 153 are all biconvex lenses.

[0051] In some embodiments, the material of the first lens 151, the second lens 152, and the third lens 153 may be acrylic.

[0052] When the optical transceiver assembly 100A emits an optical signal, the light source 110 emits a first light beam L1, which is incident on a first lens 151 to form a parallel light beam. The first light beam L1 travels along a first optical path and enters a beam splitter 140, where it is transmitted through the beam splitter 140. After passing through a third lens 153 along the first optical path, the first light beam L1 has a divergence angle with respect to the optical axis of the first light beam L1. In some embodiments, the divergence angle is 45 degrees or less.

[0053] After the first light beam L1 passes through the third lens 153, the first light beam L1 leaves the optical transceiver assembly 100A and enters free space. Therefore, when the first light beam L1 passes through the third lens 153, a divergence angle is generated in the first light beam L1 due to the effect of the third lens 153, which increases the transmission angle of the first light beam L1 and expands the signal receiving range.

[0054] When the optical transceiver assembly 100A receives an optical signal, the optical signal enters the optical transceiver assembly 100A from external free space in the form of a second optical beam L2. Therefore, the second optical beam L2 may enter the optical transceiver assembly 100A at various angles.

[0055] After the second light beam L2 enters the third lens 153, the second light beam L2 is focused onto the beam splitter 140 via the third lens 153. The beam splitter 140 reflects the second light beam L2, and the second light beam L2 enters the second lens 152 along the second optical path and is focused onto the optical receiver 112 via the second lens.

[0056] As a result, by focusing the second light beam L2 through the third lens 153 and the second lens 152, the second light beam L2 can be effectively focused on the optical receiver 112, thereby improving the signal reception efficiency of the optical receiver 112.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2 , the optical transceiver assembly 100A further includes a zero-degree filter 160 disposed between the tube 130A and the optical receiver. Specifically, the zero-degree filter 160 is disposed between the second lens 152 and the optical receiver 112. When the second light beam L2 enters the optical transceiver assembly 100A from free space, various light beams different in wavelength from the second light beam L2 may be incidentally incident on the optical transceiver assembly 100A. When the second light beam L2 passes through the zero-degree filter 160, the second light beam L2 is filtered to exclude light of wavelengths unrelated to the optical receiver 112, allowing the second light beam L2 to be sufficiently absorbed by the optical receiver 112 and improving the efficiency of the optical receiver 112.

[0058] The interior of the optical transceiver assembly 100A includes a first lens 151, a second lens 152, a third lens 153, and a beam splitter 140. After the above components are fixed by a mold, the interior of the optical transceiver assembly 100A is filled with an optical material to fix the above optical components. In some embodiments, the optical material includes polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin. Thus, the interior of the optical transceiver assembly 100A is filled with the optical material and has a solid structure.

[0059] When the first and second light beams L1 and L2 are transmitted within the optical transceiver assembly 100A, portions of the first and second light beams L1 and L2 are scattered by the outer wall of the optical transceiver assembly 100A. To prevent the first and second light beams L1 and L2 from exiting the optical transceiver assembly 100A and to prevent external light beams from entering the optical transceiver assembly 100A, the outer surface 134 of the tube 130A has a light-shielding coating layer. The light-shielding coating layer is used to reflect the first and second light beams L1 and L2 so that they do not spill out of the optical transceiver assembly 100A. On the other hand, the light-shielding coating layer can also prevent external light beams from entering the optical transceiver assembly 100A and interfering with the first and second light beams L1 and L2.

[0060] In order to further improve the transmission efficiency of the first and second optical beams L1 and L2, the optical transceiver assembly 100A further includes a first optical shield 171 and a second optical shield 172.

[0061] The first light shield 171 is used to cover the light source 110 and the first lens 151. The second light shield 172 is used to cover the optical receiver 112 and the second lens 152. The first light shield 171 can prevent the first light beam L1 from spilling out when it is incident on the first lens 151, and can also prevent an external light beam from entering the light guide tube 120A via the first lens 151. The second light shield 172 can prevent an external light beam from entering the optical receiver 112 when the second light beam L2 is incident on the optical receiver 112 via the third lens 153, thereby improving the reception efficiency of the optical receiver 112. The second light shield 172 can also prevent an external light beam from entering the light guide tube 120A from the second lens 152.

[0062] 2, the positions of the light source 110 and the optical receiver 112 may be swapped. That is, the light source 110 may be located at the second end 132 of the tube 130A, and the optical receiver 112 may be located at the first end 131 of the tube 130A. In this case, the optical film 142 of the beam splitter 140 reflects the first light beam L1 to enter the third lens 153. Meanwhile, the second light beam L2 passes through the beam splitter 140 and enters the first lens 151.

[0063] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an optical transceiver assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. The following description will be made with reference to Fig. 3. The optical transceiver assembly 100B shown in Fig. 3 has a similar structure to the optical transceiver assembly 100A shown in Fig. 2, and therefore a description of the same parts will be omitted. The differences between the optical transceiver assembly 100B and the optical transceiver assembly 100A are as follows:

[0064] 3, the optical transceiver assembly 100B includes a light guide 120B. The light guide 120B includes a tube 130B, which is h-shaped, with a first end 131 facing a third end 133. The first end 131 and the second end 132 are located on the left side, and the third end 133 is located on the right side. Therefore, the light source 110 and the optical receiver 112 correspond to the first end 131 and the second end 132, respectively, and may be located on the same side of the optical transceiver assembly 100B, which can effectively reduce the volume of the optical transceiver assembly 100B.

[0065] Meanwhile, since the tube 130B is h-shaped, the inside of the tube 130B further includes a reflecting mirror 144 located in the optical path of the second light beam L2. After being reflected by the beam splitter 140, the second light beam L2 can be reflected by the reflecting mirror 144 and enter the optical receiver 112.

[0066] 3, the positions of the light source 110 and the optical receiver 112 may be swapped. That is, the light source 110 is located at the second end 132 of the tube 130B, and the optical receiver 112 is located at the first end 131 of the tube 130B. In this case, the first light beam L1 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 144 and then enters the optical film 142 of the beam splitter 140. The optical film 142 reflects the first light beam L1 and makes it enter the third lens 153. Meanwhile, the second light beam L2 passes through the beam splitter 140 and enters the first lens 151.

[0067] In summary, the light guide tube and optical transceiver assembly proposed by the present invention enable optical signals to be transmitted and received in free space, and can more effectively angularly scatter the received optical signal and focus it into a light beam, thereby reducing the focusing area and improving the light source scattering loss and inability to focus, thereby improving the utilization rate of the light source and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the optical assembly. [Industrial Applicability]

[0068] The light guide and optical transceiver assembly provided by the present invention can be applied to optical communication systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1: Optical communication system 10: Digital signal processing IC 20: Analog front-end IC 30: Driver IC 40:Transimpedance amplifier 100, 100A, 100B: Optical transceiver assembly 110: Light source 120: Optical receiver 130A, 130B: Tube body 131:First end 132:Second end 133: Third end 134: Surface 140:Beam splitter 142: Optical film 144:Reflector 151: First lens 152: Second lens 153: Third lens 160: Zero degree filter 171: 1st Light Shield 172: Second Light Shield L1: First light beam L2: Second light beam

Claims

1. a tube having a first end, a second end, and a third end; a first lens located at the first end and on a first optical path of the first light beam; a second lens located at the second end and on a second optical path of the second light beam; a third lens located at the third end and positioned on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam; a beam splitter located inside the tube and positioned on the first optical path of the first light beam and the second optical path of the second light beam; Equipped with the first light beam enters the tube at the first end, passes through the beam splitter, and leaves the tube at the third end; the second light beam enters the tube at the third end, passes through the beam splitter, and leaves the tube at the second end. light guide tube.

2. the first light beam is incident on the first lens to form a parallel light beam, the first light beam having a divergence angle with respect to an optical axis of the first light beam after passing through the third lens along the first optical path; and the second light beam is incident on the third lens, then focused on the beam splitter, and then focused by the second lens; The light guide of claim 1 .

3. The divergence angle is 45 degrees or less. The light guide of claim 2 .

4. The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are all biconvex lenses. The light guide of claim 1 .

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

6. the beam splitter is used to reflect the first light beam and transmit the second light beam, or transmit the first light beam and reflect the second light beam; The light guide of claim 1 .

7. The inside of the tube is filled with an optical material, The optical material includes polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin. The light guide of claim 1 .

8. the outer surface of the tube has a light-blocking coating layer; the light-shielding coating layer is used to reflect the first light beam and the second light beam; The light guide of claim 1 .

9. The tube is T-shaped, and the first end faces the third end. The light guide of claim 1 .

10. The tube is h-shaped, and the first end faces the third end. The light guide of claim 1 .

11. The light guide tube of claim 1; a light source used to emit the first light beam having a first wavelength; an optical receiver adapted to receive the second optical beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength; an optical transceiver assembly comprising:

12. a zero-degree filter disposed between the light guide and the optical receiver; The optical transceiver assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

13. a first light shield used to cover the light source and the first lens; a second optical shield used to cover the optical receiver and the second lens; The optical transceiver assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

14. The light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode.

12. The optical transceiver assembly of claim 11.

15. the optical receiver is a photodiode; 12. The optical transceiver assembly of claim 11.

16. the first wavelength is one of 850 nm or 940 nm; the second wavelength is the other of 850 nm or 940 nm; 12. The optical transceiver assembly of claim 11.

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