Free-Space Optical Beam Switching for Secure Mobile Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in achieving high-throughput data connections, especially for mobile devices, and secure communication methods are needed to protect sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A mobile apparatus using microelectromechanical actuated lenses and mirrors to adjust a divergent beam of light into a collimated beam for precise directionality, enabling secure communication through a free-space interface with a retroreflector for alignment and encryption keys transmitted in a single-photon regime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collimated beam is used for communication, then the communication security and precision are improved, but the ease of alignment and operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the beam collimation state based on operational requirements. During alignment phase, the beam is kept divergent for easy tracking and positioning. Once aligned, the beam is switched to collimated state for secure communication. This dynamic transition resolves the contradiction between ease of alignment and communication security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment using a divergent beam before establishing secure communication with a collimated beam. The alignment process is completed in advance while the beam remains easy to manipulate, then the system transitions to the secure collimated state for data transmission.
2Length of stationary object
If a collimated beam is used for communication, then the communication distance and precision are improved, but the beam directionality control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical beam steering mechanisms with electro-optical phase modulation. By using phase control elements to manipulate the collimated beam direction, the system achieves precise beam steering without complex mechanical moving parts, thus maintaining communication distance while reducing control complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a divergent beam is used for communication, then the ease of alignment is improved, but the communication security and precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions the beam from divergent state during alignment to collimated state during secure communication. This temporal separation of beam characteristics allows easy alignment when needed while ensuring security when transmitting data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between divergent and collimated beam states according to operational phases. During alignment phases, the beam is divergent for ease of positioning. During communication phases, the beam becomes collimated for security and precision.
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
Facilitates high-throughput, secure communication by adapting beam directionality for precise alignment and encryption, enhancing data transfer efficiency and security.
Implementation Method 1
means for causing a light emitter and an adjustable optical equipment to output from an apparatus a divergent beam of light diverging by more than 2mrad
Implementation Method 2
the adjustable optical equipment comprising a lens actuated by microelectromechanical actuation and adjustable along an axis along which the beam of light propagates in order to change a level of collimation
Implementation Method 3
an adjustable mirror actuated by microelectromechanical actuation which is tiltable along at least one angular degree of freedom to control a direction of the outputted beam of light
Implementation Method 4
means for determining a location of a light signal on a position sensitive photodetector
Implementation Method 5
with a retroreflector for alignment
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus (201) comprising adjustable optical equipment (290), a position sensitive photodetector (280), at least one light emitter (220), and control circuitry (104) configured to cause the light emitter (220) and the adjustable optical equipment (290) to output from the apparatus (201) a divergent beam of light, to determine a location of a light signal on the position sensitive photodetector (280) and to cause at least one of the at least one light emitter (220) and the adjustable optical equipment (290) to output from the apparatus (201) a collimated beam of light to a direction selected based at least in part on the location of the light signal on the position sensitive photodetector (280).