Optical Beam Routing With RF Supervision for Indoor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems in indoor areas face challenges such as limited coverage, signal attenuation, and inability to handle a large number of IoT devices with high-speed data connectivity and quality-of-service requirements.
Innovation Solution
An optical routing device that employs radio frequency supervisory links for monitoring and control, and laser beam deflection for high-speed data communication, forming a laser beam based wireless network with enhanced coverage, reliability, and power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If Wi-Fi signals are used to extend wireless coverage in indoor areas, then the coverage area can be extended, but signal attenuation occurs with increasing distance and a large number of access points are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional RF-based Wi-Fi mechanical wave transmission with optical laser beam transmission. This substitution enables higher frequency operation and reduced signal attenuation, allowing coverage extension without the energy loss characteristics of conventional Wi-Fi systems. The optical communication system achieves this by using laser diodes and photodetectors to transmit data through light beams instead of radio waves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental transmission parameter from radio frequency (RF) to optical frequency. By operating in the optical domain with laser beams, the system achieves higher bandwidth and reduced attenuation compared to Wi-Fi signals. This parameter change allows for extended coverage areas without requiring proportional increases in the number of access points.
2Reliability
If Ethernet cables are used to connect network devices, then reliable connectivity is achieved, but cable installation and reconfiguration are costly and require damage to walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical Ethernet cable connections with wireless optical communication. By using laser beams for data transmission, the system eliminates the need for physical cable infrastructure, enabling deployment without wall penetration or complex installation procedures. This maintains reliable connectivity while dramatically simplifying installation and reconfiguration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical routing devices as intermediary nodes that relay laser beams between endpoints. These devices enable flexible network topology creation without requiring direct line-of-sight between all nodes, providing reliable connectivity similar to Ethernet while maintaining wireless flexibility and ease of deployment.
3Length of moving object
If conventional optical beam deflectors are used to extend range, then the range can be extended, but the devices are bulky, power intensive, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical beam deflection systems with electro-optical modulation techniques. By using modulated laser diodes and phased arrays, the system achieves beam steering and range extension without mechanical moving parts. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity, size, and power consumption while maintaining extended communication range capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering through electronic control of laser phase and amplitude rather than mechanical movement. This allows real-time adjustment of beam direction and focus to extend communication range while keeping the device structure fixed and simple, avoiding the bulk and complexity of mechanical deflector 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 ultra-reliable laser beam based wireless communication, achieving full coverage with high signal-to-noise ratio in indoor areas, supporting high-speed data connectivity and data security without the need for intermediate routers.
Implementation Method 1
employs laser beam deflection for high-speed data communication
Data Source
AI summary
A first optical routing device that includes a mounting component and an optical routing component attached to the mounting component. The mounting component includes a rechargeable battery to power operations of the first optical routing device 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 processor performs a range measurement to compute a distance between the first optical routing device and an optical node. The optical node is one of a second optical routing device, the master communication device or one of the one or more service communication devices.