Free Space Optical Diffusion Bypassing Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications face limitations due to obstruction blocking and limited bandwidth in the crowded radio-frequency spectrum, which existing technologies fail to effectively bypass.
Innovation Solution
An optical communication system utilizing a transmitter and receiver setup where a laser beam is encoded with data and transmitted onto a feature in the outdoor environment, diffusing the beam to bypass obstructions, employing line filters and arbitrators for wavelength control and access allocation, allowing data decoding from the diffused light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communications are used to enable easy communication between mobile nodes, then communication flexibility is improved, but the communication is blocked by obstructions and bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary medium (atmospheric particles, aerosols, or diffusing elements) that the laser beam interacts with to achieve diffusion. This intermediary enables the beam to bypass obstructions by scattering light in multiple directions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication flexibility and overcoming obstruction blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct line-of-sight communication to three-dimensional volumetric communication by diffusing the laser beam through atmospheric media. This creates multiple propagation paths through the atmospheric volume, allowing receivers to capture signals from different angles and positions, thereby bypassing obstructions while maintaining communication flexibility.
2Reliability
If laser beam is transmitted directly to maintain signal strength, then communication reliability is improved, but the beam cannot bypass obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses atmospheric particles, aerosols, or intentionally introduced diffusing elements as intermediaries to scatter the laser beam. This diffusion process maintains signal strength by distributing energy across multiple paths while enabling the communication system to bypass obstructions that would block direct beam transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation parameter of the laser beam from direct transmission to diffused transmission by introducing scattering media. This parameter change allows the beam to adapt to obstructed environments while maintaining sufficient signal strength through increased spatial distribution of optical energy.
3Productivity
If multiple transceivers share a common feature to improve resource utilization, then system efficiency is improved, but access coordination becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wavelength as a distinguishable parameter to differentiate between multiple transceivers sharing the same atmospheric feature. Each transceiver operates at a unique wavelength, and receivers use spectral filtering to selectively detect specific wavelengths. This parameter-based differentiation enables efficient resource sharing while keeping access coordination relatively simple through wavelength-division multiple access.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables wireless communication to bypass obstructions and avoid radio-frequency spectrum congestion by diffusing laser beams in outdoor environments, providing a robust and efficient data transmission method.
Implementation Method 1
a laser emitting a beam of light pulses
Implementation Method 2
a diffusion of the beam from the feature
Implementation Method 3
a line filter blocking light not having the wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
An optical communication system includes a transmitter and at least one receiver employing a feature of an outdoor environment, or includes a transmitter and a receiver in each of multiple transceivers employing a respective or shared feature of the outdoor environment. The transmitter includes a laser emitting a beam of laser pulses having a wavelength. The transmitter encodes data into the laser pulses in the beam, and transmits the beam of laser pulses through free space of the outdoor environment and then onto a feature of the outdoor environment. Each receiver includes a line filter blocking light not having the wavelength. The receiver decodes data from the light that passes through the line filter and includes a diffusion of the beam from the feature.