Optical Transmitter Array Beam Selection for Wide-Angle OWC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving high data throughput and wide-angle coverage in optical wireless communication systems while maintaining eye-safety and avoiding mechanical reliability issues is challenging due to increased power requirements and limitations in transmission power.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional array of narrow-angle optical transmitters with a wide-angle receiver is used, employing out-of-band beacons for beam selection and feedback to dynamically select the optimal transmitters for communication, eliminating mechanical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transmission power is increased to achieve high data throughput and long range, then communication performance is improved, but eye-safety requirements are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter is divided into multiple optical transmitters arranged in a two-dimensional array, each with a narrow field-of-view. By segmenting the transmission function across multiple directional transmitters, the system achieves wide-angle coverage without requiring excessive power from a single transmitter, thus maintaining eye-safety while improving overall data throughput through spatial diversity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical beam-steering systems are used to adapt beam direction, then communication flexibility is improved, but reliability and cost are worsened due to moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam-steering systems with a static two-dimensional array of optical transmitters, each having a fixed narrow field-of-view. The adaptability previously achieved through mechanical movement is now obtained through electronic selection and combination of multiple fixed transmitters, eliminating moving parts and significantly improving reliability while maintaining beam direction adaptation capability.
3Area of stationary object
If a single wide-angle transmitter is used to achieve wide-angle coverage, then coverage area is improved, but data throughput and range are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single wide-angle transmitter, the system segments the transmission function into multiple narrow-field-of-view transmitters arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each transmitter provides focused high-throughput communication in its specific direction, while the collective array achieves wide-angle coverage. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high data throughput on individual links while providing comprehensive angular coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the output signals from multiple narrow-field-of-view transmitters to create a combined field-of-view that covers a wide angular range. By combining the focused beams from multiple transmitters, the system achieves both wide-angle coverage and high data throughput, as each transmitter contributes its high-rate signal to the overall communication capability across different spatial directions.
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
This approach enhances communication stability and throughput by adaptively selecting transmitters, reducing mechanical reliability issues and power constraints, while maintaining eye-safety.
Implementation Method 1
an optical receiver with at least a photodetector
Implementation Method 2
a Trans-Impedance Amplifier, TIA, for amplifying the signal from the at least one photodetector
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to an Optical Wireless Communication, OWC, transceiver system (600), comprising: an optical receiver (102) with at least a photodetector and a Trans-Impedance Amplifier, TIA, for amplifying the signal from the at least one photodetector, and a two-dimensional array of optical transmitters (103a) each having an individual transmitter field-of-view, and corresponding drivers, the two-dimensional array arranged to create a combined transmitter field of view that is larger than the individual transmitter field of view, the plurality of optical transmitters arranged such that optical axes of the plurality of optical transmitters are evenly distributed within the combined transmitter field of view; a baseband unit (101) configured to modulate outgoing data for transmission and to demodulate incoming data of the optical receiver (102); a beacon generator configured to generate beacons for output by each respective one of the plurality of optical transmitters, wherein the beacon of a respective one of the plurality of optical transmitters comprises an attribute uniquely identifying the respective optical transmitter; a controller (209) configured, to select which of the plurality of optical transmitters in addition to its beacon also transmits the outgoing data.