In-Vehicle Optical Network With Centralized Light Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-vehicle optical network systems face challenges in achieving high capacity, low delay, low power consumption, and low cost due to the need for numerous optical transceivers and expensive switches, which result in increased power usage and cost, as well as difficulties in reducing electromagnetic interference and harness weight.
Innovation Solution
An optical network system is configured using a single light source by combining an electrical control plane (C-plane) and an optical data plane (D-plane), where the master unit generates synchronized optical and electrical signals, and gateway units use interface devices for data transmission and reception, reducing the need for multiple optical transceivers and expensive receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional optical communication technology is applied to in-vehicle networks with multiple optical transceivers and electrical switches, then high-speed data transfer is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source function from individual optical transceivers and concentrates it in a single master device. Only the master device contains a light source, while slave devices use passive optical receivers, eliminating the need for multiple light sources and reducing power consumption significantly while maintaining high-speed optical data transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple communication functions into a unified optical network architecture where the master device integrates light source, control logic, and data transmission capabilities. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical switches and multiple independent transceivers, reducing both power consumption and system cost.
2Speed
If multiple optical transceivers are used in each device, then high-speed optical communication is achieved, but the number of components increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source function is extracted from individual devices and centralized in the master device only. Slave devices contain only passive optical receivers, dramatically reducing the number of optical transceivers needed in the network while preserving high-speed optical communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber medium serves multiple functions: it carries both synchronization signals from the master device and data signals to slave devices. This multi-functionality allows a single optical infrastructure to support both timing distribution and high-speed data communication without requiring separate channels.
3Ease of operation
If electrical switches are used for network control and routing, then address recognition and route switching are achieved, but delay time increases due to processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical switching mechanisms with a direct optical transmission architecture. The master device optically transmits data directly to designated slave devices without intermediate electrical switching stages, eliminating the processing delays inherent in electrical switches while maintaining network control capabilities through optical addressing.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If optical fibers replace electric cables for backbone network, then electromagnetic interference noise is reduced and harness weight is reduced, but the need for optical transceivers increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from individual devices and placed only in the master device. This extraction reduces the number of expensive optical transceivers needed, making optical fiber deployment more cost-effective while maintaining the benefits of reduced electromagnetic interference and reduced harness weight.
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 an optical network with enhanced capacity, reduced delay, and low power consumption, while maintaining low costs and minimizing electromagnetic interference, by utilizing a single light source and low-speed electric control plane for addressing and network control, and a high-speed optical plane for data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
an optical network system includes a master unit (3) and a plurality of gateway units (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5e) connected to the master unit (3) via an optical fiber (10)
Implementation Method 2
a photodetector (17) for reading the information written to the continuous light portion
Data Source
Figure 1~3(b)
Figure 4(a)~6(c)
Figure 7(a)~8(b)
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a novel optical network which can be used as an in-vehicle optical backbone network and exhibits high capacity, low delay, low power consumption, low noise and low cost. [Solution] An optical network system, wherein: a signal processing unit 13 controls a light source 11, and generates an optical signal which includes an information portion to be read by one of the gateway units 5a, and a continuous light portion to be written thereby; a network control unit 15 generates an electrical signal which designates a gateway unit 5a and pertains to whether the information incorporated into the optical signal is to be read or written; and when designated by the electrical signal, each of the gateway units 5a transfers information to and from an electronic control unit 7, and reads information included in the corresponding optical signal or writes information in the continuous light portion, on the basis of the information included in the electrical signal about whether to read or write information.