Optical Bridge for Millimeter Wave Building Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave transmissions face significant challenges in building penetration due to high signal degradation when passing through building materials like glass, brick, and concrete, limiting their implementation in indoor environments.
Innovation Solution
The use of an optical bridge system that converts millimeter wave signals to a frequency range that can easily penetrate through windows and walls, utilizing VCSELs and optical focusing circuitry to transmit signals across the window, and employing multiple level overlay modulation and orbital angular momentum techniques to enhance spectral efficiency and signal strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If millimeter wave transmissions are used to provide increased bandwidth availability, then bandwidth capability is improved, but building penetration capability deteriorates due to high signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical bridge as an intermediary device that receives millimeter wave signals and converts them to lower frequency signals that can penetrate buildings. This mediator resolves the contradiction by allowing the high bandwidth of millimeter waves to be utilized while overcoming their poor penetration through frequency conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the frequency parameter of the transmission signal. By converting millimeter wave frequencies (30-300 GHz) to lower frequencies suitable for building penetration, the system maintains bandwidth availability while improving penetration reliability through parameter transformation.
2Reliability
If signal frequency is reduced to improve building penetration, then penetration capability is improved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multiple level overlay modulation to transmit multiple data streams across different signal layers or dimensions. This allows the system to achieve high spectral efficiency by utilizing vertical dimension (multiple layers) rather than relying solely on high frequency, thus maintaining productivity while improving penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical bridge segments the transmission process into multiple stages: receiving millimeter wave signals, converting frequencies, applying multiple level overlay modulation, and retransmitting. This segmentation allows optimization at each stage, maintaining spectral efficiency through advanced modulation while achieving penetration through frequency conversion.
3Reliability
If optical bridge conversion is implemented to enable building penetration, then signal penetration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical bridge is designed as a universal device that performs multiple functions: frequency conversion, signal amplification, multiple level overlay modulation, and orbital angular momentum application. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical bridge autonomously performs frequency conversion and signal processing without requiring external intervention. The device self-manages the complex tasks of converting millimeter waves to penetrable frequencies and applying advanced modulation techniques, reducing the need for additional control systems and simplifying overall system architecture.
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 significantly improves signal penetration and spectral efficiency, enabling reliable indoor communication by converting millimeter wave signals to a penetrable frequency and using advanced modulation techniques to maintain signal integrity and strength.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing VCSELs and optical focusing circuitry to transmit signals across the window
Implementation Method 2
utilizing VCSELs and optical focusing circuitry to transmit signals across the window
Implementation Method 3
employing multiple level overlay modulation and orbital angular momentum techniques to enhance spectral efficiency and signal strength
Implementation Method 4
employing multiple level overlay modulation and orbital angular momentum techniques to enhance spectral efficiency and signal strength
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~4
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for enabling signal penetration into a building includes first circuitry, located on an outside of the building, that receives millimeter wave signals and converting the millimeter wave signals into a format that penetrates into an interior of a building for reception by wireless devices within the building. Second circuitry, located on an inside of the building and communicatively linked with the first circuitry, receives the millimeter wave signals in the format that penetrates into an interior of the building and converts the millimeter wave signals in the format to a second format for transmission to the wireless devices within the building.