Optical Signal Emission Intensity Control for Safe Radio Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical transmission devices cannot transmit data necessary for adjustment work during non-normal operating states, such as when safety measures for laser beams are suspended, as they do not allow for continuous radio transmission while maintaining safety standards.

Innovation Solution

An electric apparatus with a transmission rate setting unit, light-emitting and receiving units, emission intensity control, and notification means that decreases transmission rate and emission intensity while maintaining bit error rate, allowing for safe radio transmission in non-normal operating states by multiplexing signals and using a shielding member with an opening and closing detection sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the emission intensity of the optical signal is increased to maintain communication quality, then the bit error rate is maintained, but the safety for human body is compromised in non-normal operating states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit error rateVSAvoidsafety for human body
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the emission intensity of the optical signal based on the operating state. In normal operating states, the emission intensity is maintained at higher levels to ensure communication quality. In non-normal operating states (such as when protective cover is removed), the emission intensity is automatically reduced to safe levels while maintaining bit error rate through adaptive transmission rate adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the emission intensity parameter based on the detected operating state. When a non-normal state is detected (e.g., protective cover removed), the emission intensity is reduced from high power to safe power levels. This parameter change is coordinated with transmission rate adjustment to maintain communication reliability while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the transmission rate is decreased to reduce emission intensity, then the safety standards are met, but the communication quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission intensityVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission rate is dynamically adjusted based on the emission intensity requirements. When emission intensity is reduced to meet safety standards in non-normal operating states, the transmission rate is simultaneously adjusted to maintain the bit error rate within acceptable limits, ensuring communication quality is preserved despite the intensity reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the protective cover is removed to enable adjustment work, then the workability is improved, but the safety measure for laser beam is suspended

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidsafety measure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from detection means (such as protective cover detection sensors) to automatically adjust the emission intensity. When the protective cover is removed for adjustment work, the detection means signals the control unit to reduce emission intensity to safe levels. This feedback mechanism allows the protective cover to be removed for improved workability while automatically maintaining safety through emission intensity reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service safety protection by automatically detecting when the protective cover is removed and autonomously adjusting the emission intensity to safe levels without requiring manual intervention. This allows workers to remove the protective cover for adjustment work while the system automatically ensures safety compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the emission intensity is reduced to safe levels in non-normal operating states, then the safety is ensured, but the data transmission capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddata transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the transmission rate to match the reduced emission intensity in non-normal operating states. By adjusting the transmission rate downward while maintaining the bit error rate, the system ensures that essential data transmission (such as image data for inspection and control signals) continues to function even at reduced emission intensity levels, preventing complete loss of information transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables continuous radio transmission in non-normal operating states, ensuring safety by reducing emission intensity to safety standards while maintaining communication quality and operational functionality, allowing for adjustment work without impairing workability.

Implementation Method 1

a light-emitting unit that emits an optical signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

a light-receiving unit that receives an optical signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2882113B1Electrical device
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 FUJI CORP
  • EP2882113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2882113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2882113B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an electric apparatus for radio-transmitting a signal between devices by using an optical signal. The electric apparatus is able to continuously perform radio transmission by using an optical signal based on safety standards in a non-normal operating state such an adjustment work, even if safety measures for preventing adverse effects of the optical signal on the human body is suspended. The transmission rate setting unit sets the transmission rate of the signal transmission. The light-emitting unit emits an optical signal. The light-receiving unit receives the optical signal. The emission intensity control unit sets emission intensity of the optical signal emitted from the light-emitting unit. The notification means notifies a non-normal operating state. The transmission rate setting unit and the emission intensity setting unit, according to the notification means, decrease the transmission rate and the emission intensity of the optical signal while maintaining a bit error rate of the radio transmission set in the normal operating state. Therefore, in the non-normal operating state, it is possible to decrease the emission intensity of the optical signal to the emission intensity based on the safety standards while maintaining the communication quality of radio transmission equivalent to that in the normal operating state.