Optical Circulator Enables Concurrent Scanning and Capturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capturing devices for optical communication in free space require high-power beacon lights and alternately perform scanning and capturing operations, which are time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A capturing device that uses an optical receiver, a reception beam capturing unit, an optical transmitter, a transmission beam scanning unit, and an optical circulator to perform scanning and capturing operations independently, allowing for concurrent scanning and capturing without the need for beacon lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If beacon light is used for capturing operation, then the capturing range is extended, but the power consumption increases and capturing time is not reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scanning function and capturing function into a single optical beam system. The same optical transmitter and beam scanning mechanism are used for both scanning the communication space and performing capturing operations, eliminating the need for separate beacon light systems and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective capturing range.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical beam is designed to serve multiple functions: it performs both the scanning operation to search for communication partners and the capturing operation to establish connection. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional separate beacon light system, reducing power consumption while maintaining or extending the effective capturing range through optimized beam control.
2Device complexity
If scanning operation and capturing operation are performed alternately, then the device complexity is reduced, but the total capturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous useful action by allowing the optical beam to perform both scanning and capturing operations simultaneously rather than alternately. The beam scanning mechanism continuously scans the communication space while also performing capturing operations on detected signals, eliminating the idle time between scanning and capturing phases and significantly reducing total capturing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning to identify potential communication partners while simultaneously preparing for capturing operations. By detecting communication partner signals during the scanning phase and having the capturing mechanism ready, the system eliminates the sequential delay between scanning completion and capturing initiation, achieving overlapping execution of both operations.
3Ease of operation
If separate beacon light system is used, then the capturing operation can be performed independently, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the beacon light functionality with the main optical transmission system. The same optical transmitter, beam scanning mechanism, and control system are used for both communication signals and capturing operations, eliminating the need for a separate beacon light system while maintaining operational independence through software-controlled beam modulation and direction control.
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 configuration enables a significant reduction in capturing time by performing scanning and capturing operations simultaneously, improving the efficiency of optical communication systems in free space.
Implementation Method 1
Optical communication technology using this free space as a communication path can realize a communication in the distance of several thousand km to several tens of thousands of km
Implementation Method 2
an optical circulator in which the same terminal is used for incidence of the reception beam and exit of the transmission beam
Implementation Method 3
an optical transmitter which generates a transmission beam to transmit to outside
Data Source
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AI summary
There have been problems that a capturing device requires an optical source having a large power output, and a scanning operation and a capturing operation must be alternately performed by the respective devices. A capturing device is provided with an optical receiver which receives a beam from outside as a reception beam, a reception beam capturing unit which performs a capturing operation by which the reception beam is introduced to the optical receiver, an optical transmitter which generates a transmission beam transmitted to the outside, a transmission beam scanning unit which performs a scanning operation of the transmission beams, and an optical circulator wherein the incidence of the reception beam and the exit of the transmission beam are performed at the same terminal.