Optical Communication Receiver Segmentation Against Disturbance Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical communication devices suffer from damage and interference due to high-intensity disturbance light, such as sunlight, saturating light-receiving elements and affecting adjacent elements, leading to disrupted communication.

Innovation Solution

An optical communication device with a controller that individually controls the output of light-receiving elements, invalidating high-intensity light inputs to prevent damage and maintain communication by adjusting the gain of electronic multipliers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If light-receiving elements are used to receive communication light underwater, then optical communication can be performed, but the light-receiving elements may receive high-intensity disturbance light (sunlight) causing saturation and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical communication reliabilityVSAvoiddisturbance light effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light-receiving unit is divided into multiple independent light-receiving elements (first, second, third, and fourth elements). Each element can be independently controlled and invalidated when receiving high-intensity disturbance light, allowing other elements to continue communication functions. This segmentation isolates the impact of disturbance light to specific elements rather than affecting the entire communication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically changes the operational parameters of light-receiving elements by switching between valid and invalid states based on received light intensity. When disturbance light exceeds a threshold, the controller invalidates the affected light-receiving element, adjusting its parameter state to prevent saturation and damage while maintaining communication through other elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a single light-receiving element receives high-intensity disturbance light, then the output saturates, but this affects optical communication by other light-receiving elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidsignal saturation interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light-receiving unit is divided into multiple independent light-receiving elements (first, second, third, and fourth elements). Each element can be independently controlled and invalidated when receiving high-intensity disturbance light, allowing other elements to continue communication functions. This segmentation isolates the impact of disturbance light to specific elements rather than affecting the entire communication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the output signals from each light-receiving element and provides feedback control. When a light-receiving element detects high-intensity disturbance light causing saturation, the controller receives feedback about this condition and automatically invalidates the affected element, preventing signal interference and maintaining communication through other elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Strength

If light-receiving elements are exposed to high-intensity disturbance light, then the elements may be damaged, but preventing damage requires controlling individual element output

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight-receiving element durabilityVSAvoidoutput control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-receiving unit is divided into multiple independent light-receiving elements (first, second, third, and fourth elements). Each element can be independently controlled and invalidated when receiving high-intensity disturbance light, allowing other elements to continue communication functions. This segmentation isolates the impact of disturbance light to specific elements rather than affecting the entire communication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each light-receiving element is equipped with independent control capability through the controller, which can individually invalidate specific elements based on their own received light intensity conditions. The system uses self-service monitoring where each element's output is independently evaluated and protected without requiring external intervention, simplifying the overall control architecture while enhancing durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Prevents damage to light-receiving elements from high-intensity disturbance light and maintains normal communication by controlling output, ensuring reliable operation even in high-disturbance environments.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the first optical communication instrument and the second optical communication instrument is provided with one or a plurality of light-receiving elements inside a housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the gain of electronic multipliers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron multiplication: Electron Avalanche

Data Source

PatentEP4057526B1Optical communication device
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SHIMADZU CORP
  • EP4057526B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4057526B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4057526B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This optical communication device (1) is provided with: a plurality of light-receiving elements (11) configured to receive communication light, the plurality of light-receiving elements being provided so as to correspond to a plurality of channels; and a controller (15) configured to perform control to invalidate output from a light-receiving element that has received high-intensity light higher in light intensity than a predetermined value among the plurality of light-receiving elements.