Optical Bus Interface for High-Rate Free-Space Data Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiFi communication systems are limited by the performance cap of mobile communication standards, and free-space optical wireless communication faces issues like channel quality degradation, noise, interference, and signal distortion, especially at higher data rates, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An optical wireless communication interface apparatus that directly connects to a data bus, such as PCIe, enabling high data rate communication through optical wireless signals without frequency conversion, using interface control circuitry to establish and maintain communication, and employing multiple optical channels for enhanced data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing mobile communication standards (WiFi/3G/4G/5G) are used for LiFi systems, then multiuser access and handover features are available, but the maximum data rate is limited by the mobile communication standard performance cap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data encoding/decoding functions from the constrained mobile communication protocol stack and implements a custom encoding scheme directly in the LiFi transmitter. This allows the system to use the full bandwidth capability of the optical channel without being limited by RF protocol constraints, achieving data rates beyond what mobile standards permit while maintaining multiuser access through custom protocol design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding layer that sits between the data source and the optical transmitter. This custom encoding scheme acts as a mediator that translates data into optical signals directly, bypassing the need for RF down-conversion and mobile communication protocol constraints, thereby enabling higher data rates while still supporting multiuser access and handover features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RF down-conversion circuitry is used to convert RF signals for LiFi transmission, then compatibility with existing mobile communication standards is maintained, but additional complexity and performance limitations are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the RF down-conversion circuitry from the LiFi transmitter architecture. By extracting this unnecessary component, the system achieves direct digital-to-optical conversion, reducing device complexity and eliminating the performance limitations imposed by RF processing while maintaining compatibility with data bus standards through direct integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical RF down-conversion process with a direct digital encoding and optical modulation approach. This substitution eliminates the need for RF circuitry and associated complexity, allowing the system to achieve the same communication goals through a simpler, more efficient optical direct conversion architecture.
3Productivity
If optical wireless communication data rate is increased to bus device levels, then higher productivity is achieved, but channel quality degradation, noise, interference, and signal distortion become more pronounced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary signal conditioning and equalization techniques at the transmitter side before optical modulation. This pre-processing of the signal compensates for anticipated channel distortions and inter-symbol interference that occur at high data rates, thereby maintaining signal integrity and channel quality even when operating at bus device level data transfer rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiver monitors channel quality metrics and feeds this information back to the transmitter. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters such as modulation depth, equalization coefficients, and power levels to maintain optimal channel quality at high data rates, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
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 solution allows for high data rate optical wireless communication, overcoming performance caps and connectivity issues, providing flexible and reliable data transfer up to 100 Gb/s without frequency conversion, and supporting multiple optical channels for improved signal quality and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the light transmitter and/or receiver apparatus is configured to transmit and/or receive the OWC signals as free-space light signals
Implementation Method 2
the light transmitter and/or receiver apparatus is configured to transmit and/or receive the OWC signals as free-space light signals
Data Source
AI summary
An optical wireless communication (OWC) interface apparatus comprises: at least one input and/or output configured to transfer data signals from and/or to a bus device; optical interface circuitry configured to transfer optical wireless communication (OWC) signals representative of the data signals between the OWC interface apparatus and a light transmitter and/or receiver apparatus, wherein the light transmitter and/or receiver apparatus is configured to transmit and/or receive the OWC signals as free-space light signals; and interface control circuitry that is configured to establish and/or maintain communication with the bus device in accordance with a bus protocol thereby to enable transfer of the data signals between the OWC interface apparatus and the bus device.