Optical signal emission direction control device and optical signal emission direction control method

Abstract

An optical signal emission-direction control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is configured as follows: a transparent member (15) is disposed so as to extend between water (50) and air (60); from the water (50), an optical signal (LS) is caused to enter the transparent member (15) via a surface (25) of a water section (17) of the transparent member (15), such water section being immersed in the water (50); and the optical signal (LS) which entered the transparent member (15) is caused to be emitted to the air (60) via a surface (26) of an air section (18) of the transparent member (15), such air section being exposed to the air.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical signal emission direction control device and an optical signal emission direction control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Since radio wave absorption is high underwater, such as in the ocean, wireless communication has rarely been realized in the underwater area, and it has been one of the unexplored areas of wireless communication. However, due to the remarkable progress of science and technology up to now and the future progress of science and technology in various fields, it is possible that, for example, human activity bases will be established underwater. If such activity bases are used for entertainment purposes, a communication method is required that enables stable signal communication between the signal source or receiver and the activity base. If at least a part of communication between underwater and the air such as the ground or the sky, or space, is wireless, a system that is more flexible, maintainable, and available than a system in which the entire communication is wired is constructed. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an analytical model of optical wireless communication from underwater to air.

[0003] Conventional methods of communication underwater have been wired communication methods using electric signal lines, etc. Communication using electric signal lines, etc., is highly stable. On the other hand, signals suitable for wireless communication include radio waves, sound waves, and light waves. Radio waves are highly attenuated underwater, and light is scattered due to turbidity of the water, so the reach of light waves is short, at about 10 m. When using sound waves, it is possible to achieve communication over longer distances than radio waves or light waves, but because sound waves are compressional waves, their transmission speed is slower than that of light waves. In general, the transmission speed of sound waves is about 1500 m / s, while the transmission speed of light waves is about 3 × 10 9 When using sound waves, the propagation speed of sound waves varies depending on the depth from the water surface, water pressure, water temperature, and salinity, and the effects of high latency and the Doppler effect on communications cannot be ignored. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] P. Nabavi,et al. “Empirical Modeling and Analysis of Water-to-Air Optical Wireless Communication Channels,” 2019 IEEE International Conference on Communications Workshops(ICC Workshops), May 2019,pp. 1-6. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In wireless communication from underwater to the air or space, the use of optical signals instead of radio waves reduces signal attenuation caused by water and enables long-distance communication. However, because the water surface is turbulent due to waves, the emission angle of the optical signal from the water surface changes to various angles, making it difficult to control the emission direction of the optical signal and thus difficult to radiate a stable optical signal that achieves the desired gain.

[0006] The present invention provides an optical signal emission direction control method and an optical signal emission direction control device that can avoid the effects of fluctuations in the water surface, control the emission direction of an optical signal, and realize stable wireless communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The optical signal emission direction control device according to this embodiment includes a transparent member disposed across water and air. In the optical signal emission direction control device according to this embodiment, the inclination angle of the surface of the aerial portion of the transparent member exposed to the air is changeable. An optical signal transmitted from underwater to air enters the transparent member from underwater through the surface of the underwater portion of the transparent member that is immersed in water, and is then emitted into the air through the surface of the aerial portion.

[0008] In the optical signal emission direction control device described above, the transparent member includes a plurality of small members in a height direction. The number of the small members stacked in the height direction can be changed according to fluctuations in the water surface, and the height of the transparent member can be adjusted by the number of the small members.

[0009] In the optical signal emission direction control device described above, at least one of a refractive index and a polarization characteristic of the transparent member may be changed by application of a voltage.

[0010] In the above-mentioned optical signal emission direction control device, the emission direction of the optical signal emitted from the surface of the aerial portion into the air may be controlled by adjusting at least one of the incidence angle of the optical signal incident from underwater on the surface of the underwater portion and the inclination angle of the surface of the portion of the aerial portion onto which the optical signal is irradiated.

[0011] In the above-mentioned optical signal emission direction control device, the transparent member may have a plurality of small regions having different refractive indices, and the emission direction of the optical signal emitted from the surface of the aerial portion into the air may be controlled by changing at least one of the refractive index of each of the plurality of small regions and the relative positioning of the plurality of small regions.

[0012] In the optical signal emission direction control device described above, the color of at least a part of the transparent member may be the same as the color of the environment surrounding the transparent member.

[0013] In the optical signal emission direction control method according to this embodiment, a transparent member is positioned across both water and air, and an optical signal is made to enter the transparent member from underwater via the surface of the underwater portion of the transparent member that is submerged in water, and the optical signal that has entered the transparent member is emitted into the air via the surface of the aerial portion of the transparent member that is exposed to the air. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, there is provided an optical signal emission direction control method and an optical signal emission direction control device that can avoid the influence of fluctuations in the water surface, control the emission direction of an optical signal, and realize stable wireless communication. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical signal emission direction control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an optical signal emission direction control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an optical signal emission direction control device according to a modified example of the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an optical signal emission direction control device and an optical signal emission direction control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] (First embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, an optical signal emission direction control device 11 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is provided to emit an optical signal LS from underwater 50 into the air 60 in the sky in a desired emission direction D5. The optical signal emission direction control device 11 includes a transparent member 15. The transparent member 15 preferably has a total light transmittance of, for example, 90% or more at the center wavelength of the optical signal LS. The transparent member 15 according to the first embodiment is composed of an optical fiber (transparent member) 20 made mainly of quartz. When viewed in a cross section intersecting the axis, the optical fiber 20 has a core 21 in the center and a cladding 22 provided around the core 21. The refractive index of the cladding 22 is lower than that of the core 21. The optical signal LS propagates through the core 21 along the axis of the optical fiber 20 while repeatedly being totally reflected at the interface between the core 21 and the cladding 22.

[0018] A facility 101 for any purpose such as recreation is constructed on the bottom 40 of the water 50. A signal source 110 is provided in the facility 101, and a lifeline 105 is connected to the facility 101 for supplying oxygen, materials, etc. required for activities in the facility 101 from the ground. An input end 27 of the optical fiber 20 is connected to the signal source 110. The optical fiber 20 connected to the signal source 110 leaves the facility 101, passes through the inside of the lifeline 105, and is discharged from the lifeline 105 into the water 50 near the water surface 52 in the depth direction and at a predetermined position in the lateral direction. An output side portion of the optical fiber 20 is open from the lifeline 105 toward the water surface 52. An output side end 28 of the optical fiber 20 is supported by a buoy 70 installed on the water surface 52, and protrudes from the water 50 into the air 60. An output side end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 is exposed to the air 60. In other words, the output side end 28 of the optical fiber 20 is disposed across the water 50 and the air 60. As shown in FIG. 1, the water surface 52 is almost always swaying and fluctuating, but the output end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 is supported at a position higher than the maximum height of the water surface 52 .

[0019] By arranging and supporting the optical fiber 20 as described above, the optical signal output from the signal source 110 is transmitted to the output end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 with almost no loss. This reduces most of the attenuation and scattering of the optical signal LS in the water 50, so that a stable optical signal LS is output from the output end face 26 of the optical fiber 20. The buoy 70 can change the inclination angle θ26 of the end face (surface) 26 of the aerial portion 18 of the optical fiber 20 exposed in the air 60 with respect to the horizontal direction. Although not shown, for example, the buoy 70 may be provided with a height holding mechanism so that a stable optical signal LS is output. The height holding mechanism detects the maximum height of the water surface 52 and maintains the output end of the optical fiber 20 higher than the maximum height of the water surface 52 detected as described above. By maintaining the output end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 higher than the maximum height of the water surface 52, the influence of waves occurring on the water surface 52 can be avoided. The optical signal LS is stably output in the output direction D5 into the air 60.

[0020] The first method for adjusting the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS in real time is to move the position of the buoy 70 in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions on the water surface 52 to change the angle of the output end 28 of the optical fiber 20 with respect to the vertical direction. The second method for adjusting the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS in real time is to change the incidence angle when the optical signal LS is incident from the signal source 110 to the core 21 at the input end 27 of the optical fiber 20. Another method for adjusting the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS is to cut the output end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 in advance so as to be inclined at a desired angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the optical fiber 20. By using these methods, the emission direction D5 when the optical signal LS is emitted into the air 60 can be easily controlled.

[0021] The optical signal LS emitted from the output end 28 of the optical fiber 20 is received by the receiver 160 of the flying object 150 flying, for example, above the water surface 52, i.e., in the air 60. When the transparent member 15 is the optical fiber 20, the transparent member 15 looks extremely thin when viewed from the flying object 150. Even if the optical fiber 20 extending from the lifeline 105 into the water 50 is close to the water surface 52, or even if it extends into the air 60 from the water surface 52 like the output end 28, it is difficult to visually confirm it from the same water surface, far away on the ground, or from the sky or outer space. If the scattering of the optical signal LS in the water 50 is ignored, the secrecy of the communication by the optical signal LS is increased. In other words, if a person other than the intended recipient of the optical signal LS does not notice the optical fiber 20, it is difficult to notice that the communication by the optical signal LS is being carried out on the ground in the air 60 or in outer space.

[0022] The optical signal output direction control method of the first embodiment is a method of controlling the output direction D5 of the optical signal LS output from the transparent member 15 using the optical signal output direction control device 11 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, in the optical signal output direction control method of the first embodiment, an optical fiber 20 is arranged as the transparent member 15 spanning underwater 50 and air 60. An optical signal LS is input from a signal source 110 installed in a facility 101 in the underwater 50 to the optical fiber 20 in the underwater 50 via an end face 25 on the input side of the optical fiber 20. The optical signal LS input to the optical fiber 20 and propagated in the core 21 of the optical fiber 20 in the underwater 50 is output in the output direction D5 to the air 60 via an end face 26 on the output side of the optical fiber 20 exposed in the air 60. The part of the optical fiber 20 that exists in the facility 101 and underwater 50 corresponds to the underwater part 17 of the transparent member 15 that is immersed in the underwater 50. The portion of optical fiber 20 that exists in air 60 corresponds to aerial portion 18 of transparent member 15 that is exposed to air 60 .

[0023] The optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment described above includes an optical fiber (transparent member) 20 arranged across the water 50 and the air 60. The inclination angle θ26 of the end face 26 of the end 28 (aerial portion) of the optical fiber 20 exposed to the air 60 can be changed by using, for example, a buoy 70 as described above. In the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, an optical signal LS transmitted from the water 50 to the air 60 enters the optical fiber 20 from a signal source 110 installed in the water 50 via an end face (surface) 25 of an input side end (underwater portion of the transparent member immersed in water) 27 of the optical fiber 20, and is then emitted into the air 60 via an end face (surface) 26 of an output side end (aerial portion of the transparent member exposed to air) 28 of the optical fiber 20. According to the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS does not fluctuate even if waves are generated on the water surface 52, so it is possible to avoid the influence of fluctuations in the water surface 52, control the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS, and realize stable optical communication and wireless communication in the air 60. This makes it possible to realize stable wireless communication using the optical signal LS from underwater 50, which was previously an unexplored area, to a base station on the ground or a satellite.

[0024] In the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS emitted from the end face 26 of the optical fiber 20 into the air 60 is controlled by adjusting at least one of the incidence angle θ1 (not shown in FIG. 1 because it is approximately 0°) of the optical signal LS incident on the end face 25 of the optical fiber 20 from underwater 50 with respect to the vertical direction and the inclination angle θ25 (not shown in FIG. 1 because it is approximately 0°) of the end face 25 of the optical fiber 20 with respect to the horizontal direction. The optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment can easily control the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS without using a large and complicated configuration while avoiding the influence of fluctuations in the water surface 52.

[0025] In the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, the color of at least a part of the optical fiber 20 may be the same as the environmental color around the optical fiber 20. The environmental color includes, for example, the color of water or seawater, the color of the ocean bottom surface, the color of the ground, and the like. For example, the part of the optical fiber 20 that is immersed in the water 50, i.e., the part that is in direct contact with the water, may be colored blue like the water. Since the optical fiber 20 is the same color as the environmental color in this way, it is difficult for non-target people other than the intended recipient of the optical signal LS to notice the optical fiber 20, and therefore the secrecy of the communication by the optical signal LS can be improved. Note that, among the core 21 and the clad 22 of the optical fiber 20, the clad 22 may be colored the environmental color according to the environment.

[0026] In the optical signal emission direction control method of the first embodiment, an optical fiber 20 is arranged across underwater 50 and air 60, and an optical signal LS is input from a signal source 110 underwater 50 to the optical fiber 20 via an end face 25 of the optical fiber 20, and is emitted into air 60 via an end face 26 of the optical fiber 20. According to the optical signal emission direction control method of the first embodiment, as with the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS is controlled to a predetermined direction even if waves are generated on the water surface 52, so that the influence of fluctuations in the water surface 52 can be avoided and stable optical communication and wireless communication in the air 60 can be realized.

[0027] In the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment, a part of the optical fiber 20 may not be housed in the lifeline 105, and the optical fiber 20 may be in direct contact with water outside the facility 101 and underwater 50. As long as there is no effect of impeding the propagation of the optical signal LS in the core 21 of the optical fiber 20, the exposed amount and supporting form of the optical fiber 20 underwater 50 are not particularly limited and may be changed as appropriate.

[0028] Second embodiment Next, an optical signal emitting direction control device 12 and an optical signal emitting direction control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the optical signal emitting direction control device 12 and the optical signal emitting direction control method according to the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the optical signal emitting direction control device 11 and the optical signal emitting direction control method according to the first embodiment are used for contents common to those of the optical signal emitting direction control device 11 and the optical signal emitting direction control method according to the first embodiment, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment includes a resin pillar 30 made of acrylic resin or the like as the transparent member 15 instead of the optical fiber 20. The resin pillar 30 has a uniform refractive index. The resin pillar 30 is disposed across the water 50 and the air 60, and is supported by two buoys 70, 70. The part of the resin pillar 30 that exists in the water 50 corresponds to the underwater part 17 of the transparent member 15 that is immersed in the water 50. The part of the resin pillar 30 that exists in the air 60 corresponds to the aerial part 18 of the transparent member 15 that is exposed to the air 60.

[0030] An optical signal emitting mechanism 80 is provided below the underwater portion 17 of the resin pillar 30, i.e., on the bottom 40 side. The optical signal emitting mechanism 80 includes a light source 32 and a reflecting mirror 34. The optical signal emitting mechanism 80 may include a waterproof wall (not shown) to waterproof the light source 32 and the reflecting mirror 34, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2. The light source 32 emits an optical signal LS, similar to the signal source 110 in the first embodiment. Information on the optical signal LS is transmitted to the light source 32 by wire or wirelessly from a transmitter 115 provided in the facility 101, for example. The optical signal LS emitted from the light source 32 enters the reflecting mirror 34, is specularly reflected, and enters the bottom surface (surface) of the resin pillar 30 at an incident angle θ1 with respect to the vertical direction. The optical signal LS incident on the resin pillar 30 at an incident angle θ1 is refracted at a refraction angle θ2 in accordance with the refractive index of the resin pillar 30 based on Snell's law, and exits from the top surface (surface) of the resin pillar 30 in an exit direction D5 that forms an exit angle θ3 with respect to the vertical direction.

[0031] In FIG. 2, a resin columnar body 30 having a rectangular shape in a side view is illustrated as the transparent member 15, but the transparent member 15 in the second embodiment may be a so-called rigid body having a large thickness, or a large acrylic rod or transparent column. As the transparent member 15, even if a thin linear member such as the optical fiber of the first embodiment is not used, by using a rigid body or the like as described above, it is possible to reduce the influence of attenuation and transmit the optical signal LS to near the water surface 52, or to avoid the influence of waves and emit the optical signal LS into the air 60, as in the optical signal emission direction control device 11 of the first embodiment. When the transparent member 15 is a rigid body, the influence of waves on the highly transparent material itself can be almost ignored. That is, when a linear member such as the optical fiber 20 is used, the influence of damage, etc. due to a tsunami or a large wave equivalent thereto is expected. However, in the case of a rigid body, the possibility of such damage, etc. can be reduced.

[0032] When the resin pillar 30 as the transparent member 15 is made of a material larger than the optical fiber 20, etc., applying a voltage to the resin pillar 30 changes the refractive index and polarization in the resin pillar 30, and changes the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS. As in the first embodiment 1, the emission direction D1 of the optical signal LS can also be changed ultimately by physically changing the direction or orientation of the rigid material itself (i.e., the resin pillar 30) using, for example, buoys 70, 70, and by changing the orientation of the light source 32 that inputs the optical signal LS.

[0033] The resin column 30 includes a number of small regions 31 having different refractive indices. By changing at least one of the refractive index of each of the small regions 31 and the relative arrangement of the small regions 31, the propagation speed of the optical signal LS inside the resin column 30 changes, and the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS is controlled.

[0034] Since a highly transparent material such as the resin pillar 30 transmits light, an advantage of the optical signal emission direction control device 12 is that it is difficult to visually confirm the resin pillar 30 from a distance such as the sky or outer space. Also, by changing the color of the resin pillar 30 to match the surrounding color, the visibility of the resin pillar 30 decreases, making it difficult to see. The color of the entire resin pillar 30 may match the surrounding color, and for example, the color of the part that transmits the optical signal LS may remain transparent, and the surface color of the outer part that covers it may be the same as the surrounding surrounding color.

[0035] The optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment described above includes a resin pillar 30 as a transparent member 15 arranged across the water 50 and the air 60. The inclination angle θ36 (not shown in FIG. 2 because it is approximately 0°) of the surface 36 of the aerial part 18 of the resin pillar 30 with respect to the horizontal direction can be changed by the buoys 70, 70 or an inclination angle control mechanism (not shown). In the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, the optical signal LS transmitted from the water 50 to the air 60 enters the resin pillar 30 through the surface 35 of the underwater part 17 of the resin pillar 30, and is then emitted to the air 60 through the surface 36 of the aerial part 18 of the resin pillar 30. According to the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, even if waves are generated on the water surface 52, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS does not fluctuate, so that the effect of the fluctuation of the water surface 52 can be avoided, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS can be controlled, and stable optical communication and wireless communication in the air 60 can be realized. This makes it possible to realize stable wireless communication using optical signals LS from underwater 50 or under the sea to a base station on the ground or a satellite.

[0036] In the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, the resin pillar body 30 includes a plurality of small members 30-1, ..., 30-m (m is a natural number of 2 or more) in the height direction, and a drive mechanism for moving these small members in the height direction. FIG. 2 shows a configuration example in which m=3. According to the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, the number of small members 30-1, ..., 30-m stacked in the height direction can be changed by the drive mechanism described above in accordance with the fluctuation of the water surface 52, and the height of the transparent member may be adjusted depending on the number of the small members. For example, if the waves of the water surface 52 are small, only two small members 30-1 and 30-2 may be stacked in the height direction using the drive device.

[0037] In the optical signal output direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, at least one of the refractive index and the polarization characteristics of the resin pillar 30 changes when a voltage is applied. The refractive index and the polarization characteristics of the resin pillar 30 are not easily understood even if a person to whom the optical signal LS is not intended visually recognizes the resin pillar 30. Therefore, the optical signal output direction control device 12 of the second embodiment can improve the confidentiality of communication by the optical signal LS.

[0038] In the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, for example, by adjusting the inclination angle of the reflecting mirror 34 with respect to the horizontal direction, the incidence angle θ1 of the optical signal LS incident on the surface 35 of the underwater portion 17 from the underwater 50 can be changed. In addition, by using the buoy 70 or cutting out the aerial portion 18 of the resin columnar body 30 according to a desired inclination angle, the inclination angle θ36 (not shown in FIG. 2 because it is approximately 0°) of the surface 36 of the aerial portion 18, which is irradiated with the optical signal LS, with respect to the horizontal direction can be changed. As described above, by adjusting at least one of the incidence angle θ1 of the optical signal LS to the underwater portion 17 and the inclination angle θ36 of the surface 36 of the aerial portion 18, the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS emitted from the surface 36 of the aerial portion 18 to the air 60 can be easily controlled.

[0039] In the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, the resin columnar body 30 includes a plurality of small regions 31 having different refractive indexes. In FIG. 2, only the small member 30-1 of the resin columnar body 30 includes a plurality of small regions 31, but each of the small members 30-2 and 30-3 may include a plurality of small regions 31, or the entire resin columnar body 30 may include a plurality of small regions 31. By changing at least one of the refractive index of each of the plurality of small regions 31 and the relative arrangement of the plurality of small regions 31, the effective refractive index of the resin columnar body 30 can be adjusted. This makes it possible to freely control the emission direction D5 of the optical signal LS emitted from the surface 36 of the aerial portion 18 into the air 60, compared to when the resin columnar body 30 does not include a plurality of small regions 31.

[0040] In the optical signal emission direction control device 12 of the second embodiment, it is preferable that at least a part of the resin pillar 30 is the same color as the ambient color around the resin pillar 30. By making the resin pillar 30 the same color as the ambient color, it is difficult for non-target people other than the target person of receiving the optical signal LS to notice the resin pillar 30, and therefore the secrecy of communication by the optical signal LS can be improved.

[0041] In the optical signal output direction control method of the second embodiment, a transparent member 15 is provided that spans between underwater 50 and air 60, and a resin pillar 30 is arranged as the transparent member 15, as in the optical signal output direction control method of the first embodiment. In the optical signal output direction control method of the second embodiment, an optical signal LS is made to enter the resin pillar 30 from underwater 50 through a surface 35 of the underwater part 17 of the resin pillar 30, and the optical signal LS that has entered the resin pillar 30 is made to exit into air 60 through a surface 36 of the air part 18. According to the optical signal output direction control method of the second embodiment, the output direction D5 of the optical signal LS can be controlled while avoiding the influence of fluctuations in the water surface 52, and stable optical communication and wireless communication in air 60 can be realized.

[0042] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. In addition, the configurations of the different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0043] For example, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, a facility 101 is provided on the bottom 40 of the water 50, a signal source 110 is provided within the facility 101, and an optical signal LS is emitted from the signal source 110. In the above-mentioned second embodiment, a signal related to the optical signal LS is emitted from an emitter 115 of the facility 101 to a light source 32 in the water 50. That is, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the optical signal LS or information required for the optical signal LS is transmitted from the facility 101 fixed in the water 50. However, as a modification of the second embodiment, a signal LX related to the optical signal LS may be transmitted to the light source 32 from an emitter 125 of a moving body 120 such as a submarine moving in the water 50, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0044] In the optical signal emission direction control device and the optical signal emission direction control method according to the present invention, the type, form, and installation position of the signal source 110 and the light source 32 in the water 50 or in the air 60 are not particularly limited as long as the optical signal LS can be incident on the transparent member 15 through the surface 35 of the underwater part 17 of the transparent member 15, and are appropriately determined based on the environmental conditions required for wireless communication. Furthermore, the receiver 160 of the optical signal LS does not necessarily have to be provided on the aircraft 150, and may be provided in a ground facility or the like in the air 60. In other words, the type, form, and installation position of the receiver 160 in the air 60 are not particularly limited as long as the optical signal LS emitted from the surface 36 of the aerial part 18 of the transparent member 15 along the emission direction D5 can be received, and are appropriately determined based on the environmental conditions required for wireless communication.

[0045] In the optical signal emission direction control device and the optical signal emission direction control method according to the present invention, the transparent member is not limited to an optical fiber in which an optical signal propagates along an axis within a core while repeatedly undergoing total reflection at an interface between the core and the cladding, as described above, or a resin column in which an optical signal propagates inside while refracting based on Snell's law. The transparent member may be a member in which at least a portion that propagates an optical signal has a suitable total light transmittance, can be arranged across water and air, is not affected by fluctuations in the water surface, and allows an optical signal to propagate inside in a direction based on optical principles, etc., and is emitted in an emission direction based on optical principles, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 11, 12 Optical signal emission direction control device 15 Transparent materials 20 Optical Fiber 30 Resin column

Claims

1. A transparent member is provided across the water and the air, the inclination angle of the surface of the aerial portion of the transparent member exposed to the air is variable; an optical signal transmitted from underwater into the air enters the transparent member through a surface of the underwater portion of the transparent member that is immersed in water, and is then emitted into the air from the surface of the air portion; The transparent member includes a plurality of small members in a height direction, The number of small members stacked in the height direction can be changed according to the fluctuation of the water surface, and the height of the transparent member is adjusted according to the number of small members. Optical signal emission direction control device.

2. A transparent member is provided across the water and the air, the inclination angle of the surface of the aerial portion of the transparent member exposed to the air is variable; an optical signal transmitted from underwater into the air enters the transparent member through a surface of the underwater portion of the transparent member that is immersed in water, and is then emitted into the air from the surface of the air portion; At least one of a refractive index and a polarization characteristic of the transparent member is changed by application of a voltage. Optical signal emission direction control device.

3. A transparent member is provided across the water and the air, the inclination angle of the surface of the aerial portion of the transparent member exposed to the air is variable; an optical signal transmitted from underwater into the air enters the transparent member through a surface of the underwater portion of the transparent member that is immersed in water, and is then emitted into the air from the surface of the air portion; the transparent member includes a plurality of small regions having different refractive indices; At least one of the refractive index of each of the plurality of small regions and the relative arrangement of the plurality of small regions is changed, thereby controlling the emission direction of the optical signal emitted into the air from the surface of the aerial portion. Optical signal emission direction control device.

4. a surface of the underwater portion is disposed underwater, and a surface of the aerial portion is supported at a position higher than a maximum height of the water surface in accordance with the swaying of the water surface and the emission angle of the optical signal; The optical signal emission direction control device according to claim 1 .

5. At least one of an incident angle of the optical signal incident from underwater onto the surface of the underwater portion and an inclination angle of the surface of the portion of the aerial portion onto which the optical signal is irradiated is adjusted, thereby controlling an emission direction of the optical signal emitted from the surface of the aerial portion into the air. The optical signal emission direction control device according to claim 1 .

6. The color of at least a portion of the transparent member is the same as the color of the surrounding environment of the transparent member. The optical signal emission direction control device according to claim 1 .

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