Device for optical transmission of analog signals

Abstract

An assembly for transmitting an analog signal (11) comprising an optical transmitter (10) for transmitting an analog signal (11) in a first frequency band below 20 kHz. The optical transmitter (10) comprises a transmitter unit (12) together with an excitation unit (14) configured to excite the transmitter unit (12), wherein a frequency or duration of the excitation is determined as a function of the value of the analog signal (11), and wherein the excitation frequency is included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz. The transmitter assembly also comprises an optical receiver (30) configured to generate an output analog signal (11).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] In a known manner, US Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0218807 describes a communication system comprising a light source for generating light, broadband light emitting element control electronics for modulating an optical signal using the light source to provide a broadband optical data transmission network, broadband optical receiving control electronics for demodulating an optical signal received from the broadband optical data transmission network, and a wired network transceiver coupled to an optical transmitter / receiver for receiving and transmitting data between the optical data transmission network and a wired circuit.

[0002] However, these solutions are not entirely satisfactory.

[0003] Indeed, the communication system of US Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0218807 requires not only a light-emitting control device with high computing power but also a similar receiving control device for its operation, which results in high energy consumption.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome all or some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0005] The present invention also aims to provide an alternative to the communication system described in US Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0218807. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To this end, the present invention provides an optical transmitter for transmitting analog signals in a first frequency band lower than 20 kHz, said optical transmitter comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit an optical signal in the visible light range; an excitation unit configured to generate an excitation, the excitation is configured to excite the transmitting unit; an excitation unit; Equipped with the frequency or duration of said excitation is determined according to the value of said analog signal; the excitation frequency is included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz; This invention relates to an optical transmitter.

[0007] Such a configuration, and more particularly an excitation frequency included in the second frequency band greater than 1 MHz, makes it possible to ensure illumination that is acceptable to the human eye. Within the context of the present invention, the term "acceptable to the human eye" means having a frequency that is high enough that the human eye cannot detect flickering.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the excitation frequency is equal to 2 MHz. Such an excitation frequency makes it possible to obtain a better quality analog signal without requiring a high-performance excitation unit and therefore consuming less energy. In fact, the higher the excitation frequency, the more precisely the emitted optical signal is varied.

[0009] Such an arrangement allows the transmission of optical signals with variable intensities, and therefore allows the transmission of analog optical signals.

[0010] Within the context of the present invention, the visible light range includes electromagnetic waves with wavelengths comprised between 380 nm and 780 nm.

[0011] According to certain embodiments, such an arrangement makes it possible to use existing transmission units in, for example, a lighting network, and is therefore ecologically efficient.

[0012] Such an arrangement makes it possible to obtain the transmission of analog signals by light without the need for guides such as optical fibres.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the transmitting unit comprises a phosphorescent light emitting diode. According to a preferred embodiment, the phosphorescent light emitting diode is a white phosphorescent light emitting diode.

[0014] Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain a transmitter unit that is able to emit light for a longer period of time between two excitations compared to, for example, an incandescent lamp.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the excitation unit is configured to excite the transmitting unit when said transmitting unit is in a decreasing transient state or in a steady state where the light intensity is zero.

[0016] Within the context of the present invention, a decreasing transient state is a transient state in which the intensity of the light emitted by the radiation unit is decreasing. Such a transient state is obtained between two excitation groups.

[0017] According to an embodiment, an optical transmission device comprises a first communication unit configured to communicate with a remote second communication unit according to an electromagnetic communication protocol.

[0018] Within the context of the present invention, an electromagnetic signal is a radio signal.

[0019] Such a configuration allows the transmitting device to transmit data using analog optical signals and also to receive data using electromagnetic signals.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the first communication unit is configured to communicate according to any of the electromagnetic communication protocols such as "RFID", "Bluetooth" or even "BLE".

[0021] The present invention relates to an optical receiving apparatus configured to generate an output analog signal, said optical receiving apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive the optical signal emitted by the optical transmitting device, the receiving unit having a latency time of less than 1 μs; an intensity measurement unit configured to measure the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit and to generate an output analog signal in a first frequency band below 20 kHz; The present invention also relates to an optical receiving device comprising the above.

[0022] Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain an optically transmitted analog signal.

[0023] It allows a receiving unit with a latency time of less than 1 μs to receive an optical signal emitted by a transmitting unit excited by an exciting unit at a frequency greater than 1 MHz.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the receiving unit comprises a solar cell.

[0025] Such a configuration, and more particularly the phosphorescent properties of the diodes associated with the latency of the solar cell, allows for smoothing of the output generated by the analog signal, which does not require demodulation.

[0026] According to certain embodiments, such a configuration makes it possible to obtain a receiving unit that is passive with respect to energy, or even generates energy.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the solar cell is an organic thin-film solar cell known as OPV (Organic Photovoltaics).

[0028] According to one embodiment, such a configuration makes it possible to obtain a high reception gain and thus a good reception quality even when the strength of the received optical signal is much lower than the strength of the ambient light. For example, a device according to the invention can receive a signal of 40 lux in an ambient light of more than 10,000 lux.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the optical receiving device comprises a second communication unit configured to communicate with a remote first communication unit according to an electromagnetic communication protocol.

[0030] Such an arrangement allows the receiving device to receive data using analog optical signals and also to transmit data using electromagnetic signals.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the second communication unit is configured to communicate according to any of the electromagnetic communication protocols such as "RFID", "Bluetooth" or even "BLE".

[0032] The present invention relates to an assembly for transmitting an analog signal, said assembly comprising: 1. An optical transmitter for transmitting analog signals in a first frequency band below 20 kHz, said optical transmitter comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit an optical signal in the visible light range; an excitation unit configured to excite the transmitting unit; Equipped with a frequency or duration of the excitation is determined as a function of the value of the analog signal, the excitation frequency being included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz; an optical transmitter; 1. An optical receiving apparatus configured to generate an output analog signal, said optical receiving apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive the optical signal emitted by the optical transmitting device, the receiving unit having a latency time of less than 1 μs; an intensity measurement unit configured to measure the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit and to generate an output analog signal in the first frequency band; an optical receiving device comprising: The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising:

[0033] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting an analog signal in a first frequency band below 20 kHz, said method comprising: exciting a transmitting unit configured to transmit an optical signal in the visible light range, wherein a frequency or duration of the excitation is determined as a function of the value of the analog signal, and wherein the excitation frequency is included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz; emitting an optical signal by the excited transmitting unit; receiving an optical signal by a receiving unit; using an intensity measurement unit to measure the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit, and the receiving unit generating an output analog signal in the first frequency band having a latency time of less than 1 μs; The present invention also relates to a method comprising:

[0034] The various compatible aspects defined above may be combined. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] The present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an assembly for transmitting analog signals, comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, according to the invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a first example of the steady state as well as transient state according to the invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a second example of steady state as well as transient conditions according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the intensity of an analog optical signal as a function of time, where the analog signal is transmitted by an optical transmission device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an assembly for transmitting an analog signal 11, comprising an optical transmitter device 10 and an optical receiver device 30.

[0037] The optical transmitting device 10 is configured to transmit an analog signal 11 in a first frequency band below 20 kHz and comprises a transmitting unit 12 configured to transmit an optical signal 20 in the visible light range. Within the context of the present invention, the visible light range includes electromagnetic waves with wavelengths comprised between 380 nm and 780 nm. According to an embodiment, such a configuration makes it possible to use existing transmitting units 12, for example in a lighting network. Such a configuration is therefore environmentally efficient.

[0038] The transmitting unit 12 comprises a phosphorescent light-emitting diode, which makes it possible to obtain a transmitting unit 12 that can emit light between two excitations 13 for a longer time compared to, for example, an incandescent lamp.

[0039] The optical transmitting device 10 also comprises an excitation unit 14 configured to excite the transmitting units 12. Such an arrangement allows the transmission of optical signals with variable intensity, and thus the transmission of analog optical signals, as shown in Fig. 4. Within the context of the present invention, the excitation 13 is an electrical signal sent to the transmitting units 12. The frequency of this excitation corresponds to the number of excitations 13 sent during a given time.

[0040] The frequency or duration of the excitation is determined as a function of the value of the analog signal 11, where this excitation frequency is included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz. Such a configuration, more particularly an excitation frequency included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz, makes it possible to ensure illumination that is acceptable to the human eye. Within the context of the present invention, the term "acceptable to the human eye" means having a frequency that is high enough that the human eye cannot detect flashing.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the excitation frequency is constant, preferably equal to 2 MHz. Such an excitation frequency allows obtaining a better-quality analog signal without requiring a high-performance excitation unit 14 and thus consuming more energy. In fact, the higher the excitation frequency, the more precisely the emitted optical signal varies. The generation of the analog optical signal 11 is thus possible by adjusting the duration of each excitation 13, as shown in FIG. 4. By adjusting this duty cycle, it is possible to obtain a precise analog signal 11. Such a configuration also makes it possible to avoid any strobing or flickering effects that the transmitting unit 12 may cause. In fact, if the excitation frequency is constant, the impedance of the transmitting unit 12, which is a light-emitting diode, remains constant. Therefore, changes in light intensity corresponding to the analog signal 11 are not visible to the naked eye. In other words, the excitation unit 14 performs pulse-width modulation, and the pulses correspond to the excitations 13.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the excitation unit 14 is configured to excite the transmitting unit 10 when the transmitting unit 12 is in a transient state 52, as opposed to a steady state 50, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. According to a preferred embodiment, the excitation unit 14 is configured to excite the transmitting unit 10 when the transmitting unit 12 is in a decreasing transient state 52 or in a steady state with zero light intensity. Within the context of the present invention, the decreasing transient state 52 is a transient state in which the intensity of light emitted by the emitting unit 12 is decreasing. Such a transient state is obtained between two excitation groups 13.

[0043] The optical receiving device 30 comprises a receiving unit 32 configured to generate an output analog signal 11 and having a latency time of less than 1 μs. The receiving unit 32 is configured to receive an optical signal 20 emitted by the optical transmitting device 10. The receiving unit 32 having a latency time of less than 1 μs makes it possible to receive an optical signal emitted by the transmitting unit 12 excited by the excitation unit 14 at a frequency greater than 1 MHz.

[0044] The receiving unit 32 includes an organic thin-film solar cell. Such a configuration, and more specifically, the phosphorescence characteristics of the diode associated with the latency of the thin-film solar cell, allows for smoothing of the power generated by the analog signal 11, which does not require demodulation. This configuration allows for an energy-passive, or even energy-generating, receiving unit 32. According to one embodiment, the organic thin-film cell allows for a high reception gain and good reception quality, even when the intensity of the received optical signal is much lower than the intensity of the ambient light. For example, a device according to the present invention can receive a signal of 40 lux in an ambient light of more than 10,000 lux.

[0045] The optical receiving device 30 also comprises an intensity measuring unit 34 configured to measure the intensity of the optical signal 20 received by the receiving unit 32 and to generate an output analog signal 11 in a first frequency band below 20 kHz.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the optical transmitting device 10 comprises a first communication unit 16 configured to communicate with a second communication unit 36. The second communication unit 36 ​​is included in the optical receiving device 30. The first communication unit 16 and the second communication unit 36 ​​communicate with each other according to an electromagnetic communication protocol, i.e., a wireless protocol such as, for example, "RFID," "Bluetooth," or even "BLE." Such a configuration allows the transmitting device 10 to transmit data using analog optical signals and also to receive data using electromagnetic signals. Conversely, such a configuration allows the receiving device 30 to receive data using analog optical signals and also to transmit data using electromagnetic signals.

[0047] The invention also relates to a method for transmitting an analog signal 11 in a first frequency band below 20 kHz, comprising the following steps: - exciting a transmitting unit 12 configured to transmit an optical signal 20 in the visible light range, wherein the frequency or duration of the excitation is determined as a function of the value of the analog signal 11, the excitation frequency being included in a second frequency band greater than 1 MHz; emitting an optical signal 20 by the excited transmitting unit 12; receiving the optical signal 20 by a receiving unit 32; using an intensity measurement unit 34 to measure the intensity of the optical signal 20 received by the receiving unit 32 and generate an output analog signal 11 in a first frequency band, where the receiving unit 32 has a latency time of less than 1 μs; Includes.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the transmission method is performed using the aforementioned optical transmission device 10. Therefore, the various features and embodiments described with reference to the optical transmission device 10 also apply to the transmission method.

[0049] Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described above, but rather extends to all its variants.

Claims

1. An optical transmitter for transmitting an analog signal, the optical transmitter comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit an optical signal in the visible light range; an excitation unit configured to generate an excitation signal, the excitation signal is configured to excite the transmitting unit only when the transmitting unit is in a transient state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is decreasing or when the transmitting unit is in a steady state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is zero; an excitation unit; Equipped with the excitation signal has a frequency or duration determined as a function of the analog signal; the frequency of the analog signal is included in a first frequency band lower than 20 kHz; the frequency of the excitation signal is included in a second frequency band above 1 MHz; Optical transmitter.

2. the transmitting unit comprises a phosphorescent light emitting diode; 2. The optical transmitter according to claim 1.

3. The optical transmitting device comprises a first communication unit configured to communicate with a second remote communication unit according to an electromagnetic communication protocol; 3. The optical transmitter according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An optical receiving device, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the optical transmitting device, the receiving unit having a latency time of less than 1 μs; an intensity measurement unit configured to measure an intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit and to generate an output analog signal based on the intensity of the received optical signal; the frequency of the output analog signal is included in a first frequency band below 20 kHz; an intensity measurement unit; Equipped with the optical signal is generated by exciting a transmitting unit with an excitation signal; the excitation signal is configured to excite the transmitting unit only when the transmitting unit is in a transient state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is decreasing or in a steady state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is zero; the frequency of the excitation signal is included in a second frequency band above 1 MHz; Optical receiving device.

5. The receiving unit is equipped with a solar cell.

5. The optical receiving device according to claim 4.

6. The solar cell is an organic thin-film solar cell.

6. The optical receiving device according to claim 5.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a second communication unit configured to communicate with the first remote communication unit according to an electromagnetic communication protocol; 7. The optical receiving device according to claim 5 or 6.

8. 1. An assembly for transmitting an analog signal, said assembly comprising:

1. An optical transmitter for transmitting analog signals in a first frequency band below 20 kHz, said optical transmitter comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit an optical signal in the visible light range; an excitation unit configured to excite the transmitting unit according to an excitation signal, the excitation signal is configured to excite the transmitting unit only when the transmitting unit is in a transient state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is decreasing or when the transmitting unit is in a steady state in which the optical intensity of the optical signal is zero; an excitation unit; Equipped with the excitation signal has a frequency or duration of excitation that varies as a function of the analog signal, the frequency of the excitation signal being included in a second frequency band above 1 MHz; an optical transmitter; 1. An optical receiving apparatus configured to generate an output analog signal, said optical receiving apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive the optical signal emitted by the optical transmitting device, the receiving unit having a latency time of less than 1 μs; an intensity measurement unit configured to measure an intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit and to generate an output analog signal in the first frequency band based on the intensity of the received optical signal; an optical receiving device comprising: Assembly with.

9. 1. A method for transmitting an analog signal, the method comprising: exciting a transmitting unit according to an excitation signal having a frequency or duration of excitation that varies as a function of said analog signal only when the optical signal is in a transient state in which the optical intensity is decreasing or when the optical signal is in a steady state in which the optical intensity is zero; the frequency of the analog signal is included in a first frequency band lower than 20 kHz; the frequency of the excitation is included in a second frequency band above 1 MHz; Exciting emitting an optical signal in the visible light range by the transmitting unit excited by the excitation signal; receiving an optical signal by a receiving unit having a latency time of less than 1 μs; measuring the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit using an intensity measuring unit; generating an output analog signal in the first frequency band based on the intensity of the received optical signal; A method comprising:

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