Optical Beam Routing for RF-Controlled Indoor Laser Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems in indoor areas face limitations such as restricted coverage, signal attenuation with distance, and the need for costly and complex optical beam deflectors, which are not suitable for indoor use, especially in supporting a large number of IoT devices with high-speed and reliable connectivity.
Innovation Solution
An optical routing device employing RF supervisory links for monitoring and control, using laser beam deflection for multigigabit data rates, with passive optical nodes that create a smart laser-based wireless network, enabling full coverage and high-speed data connectivity without intermediate routers, and allowing for network redundancy and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional Wi-Fi signal broadcast devices are used to extend wireless coverage, then the coverage area can be extended, but signal attenuation with distance and limited coverage area remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional RF-based Wi-Fi mechanical/electromagnetic wave propagation with optical laser beam transmission. The optical routing device uses laser beams to transmit data through free space, substituting the RF electromagnetic field mechanism with optical photon transmission, achieving higher bandwidth and reduced signal attenuation over distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental transmission parameter from RF frequency (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) to optical frequency (laser wavelength). This parameter change enables significantly higher data rates and reduced signal degradation, as optical frequencies carry more information and experience less attenuation in indoor environments compared to RF signals.
2Reliability
If Ethernet cables are used to connect network devices, then reliable connectivity is achieved, but cable installation and reconfiguration become costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical Ethernet cable connections with wireless optical laser beam transmission. Instead of mechanically connecting devices via cables that require wall penetration and physical routing, the system uses directed laser beams to establish wireless optical links, eliminating the mechanical installation complexity while maintaining reliable connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical routing device acts as an intermediary that receives laser beams from one direction and deflects them to multiple destinations. This intermediary component enables wireless optical networking without requiring direct line-of-sight between all devices, similar to how network switches intermediary Ethernet connections, but using optical instead of electrical signals.
3Length of stationary object
If conventional optical beam deflectors are used for laser beam based communication, then range extension is achieved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical routing function into multiple distributed optical routing devices placed throughout the indoor area. Instead of using a single complex deflector to cover the entire area, multiple simpler devices work together in a network, each handling local beam routing and collectively providing area-wide coverage with reduced individual device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network dimension to the optical communication system. Instead of a single point-to-point or point-to-multipoint laser link, the system creates a multi-dimensional network of laser beams that can dynamically route through multiple optical routing devices, adding topological flexibility and reducing the complexity requirement for individual devices.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional Wi-Fi systems are used to support multiple devices, then connectivity is provided, but bandwidth limitations and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from RF electromagnetic waves to optical laser beams. This fundamental parameter change increases the available bandwidth by several orders of magnitude, enabling multigigabit data rates that can support a large number of devices simultaneously without the bandwidth limitations and latency issues of conventional Wi-Fi systems.
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 solution provides ultra-flexible and reliable laser beam-based wireless communication with reduced power consumption, ensuring high signal-to-noise ratio and efficient data transfer rates across indoor areas, supporting a large number of devices with minimal infrastructure and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical routing component that includes one or more laser beam handling regions configured to handle a plurality of laser beams concurrently in which a first laser beam is deflected via a first region of the one or more laser beam handling regions
Data Source
AI summary
An optical routing device that includes a mounting component which includes a rechargeable battery and a processor that communicates over-the-air with a master communication device or one or more service communication devices via RF supervisory links. The processor receives an instruction via the RF supervisory links to control a movement of the mounting component along with the optical routing component such that an angle or a direction of deflection of laser beams from an optical routing component of optical routing device is changed. The optical routing component includes two distinct laser beam handling regions configured to handle plurality of laser beams concurrently in which first laser beam in first wavelength is deflected via first region for downstream data communication in downstream path and second laser beam in second wavelength is deflected via second region for upstream data communication in upstream path for free-space optical communication independent of optical fibers.