Optical Transmitter Alignment Using Laser Array Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving accurate alignment of optical transmitters and receivers in free space optical communications is challenging, especially over long distances, leading to noisy or undetected signals due to misalignment, and current manual methods are inefficient and dangerous for technicians.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical scopes with light arrays and cameras for autonomous alignment, where a bright pulse of light is emitted and captured to spatially localize the flash, allowing a control system to adjust the positioning of the scopes until they are aligned, enabling high-speed wireless data telecommunications with a high signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual alignment methods are used by technicians, then alignment can be performed, but the process is slow, inefficient, and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The optical alignment system performs self-alignment through autonomous optical feedback mechanisms. The system uses light arrays to emit reference signals, cameras to capture the signals, and control systems to automatically adjust positioning without human intervention, enabling the system to align itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated optical-mechanical system. Instead of technicians physically adjusting components, the system uses light-based detection and automated positioning mechanisms to achieve alignment, eliminating human exposure to hazardous environments
2Reliability
If optical transmitters and receivers are located on high towers or hard-to-reach places, then line-of-sight communication is achieved, but manual alignment becomes dangerous and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system deployed on high towers performs autonomous self-alignment using integrated light arrays, cameras, and control systems. The automated feedback loop enables the equipment to adjust its own positioning without requiring technician intervention, making the system both reliable for long-distance communication and efficient in deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light arrays as intermediary signaling devices that emit optical reference signals. These light signals serve as mediators between the transmitter and receiver, enabling the system to detect misalignment and automatically adjust positioning through optical feedback without human intervention
3Measurement precision
If accurate alignment is not achieved, then the system can be simpler to set up, but the signal quality deteriorates with noise or undetected signals
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where cameras capture light array signals, the control system processes the captured images to determine alignment status, and positioning adjustments are made based on this feedback. This continuous feedback loop ensures high alignment accuracy and reliable signal detection by automatically correcting misalignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs light arrays to emit preliminary alignment signals before actual data transmission begins. These preliminary optical signals enable the system to establish accurate alignment and positioning in advance, ensuring that the main communication signal will be detected with high quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments
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 method facilitates efficient and safe alignment of optical scopes, ensuring reliable high-speed wireless data transmission over long distances with improved signal quality and reducing the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The optical transceiver in the first optical scope can include a light array that is used to emit a bright pulse of light as a flash
Implementation Method 2
The camera in the second optical scope captures this flash in a camera image
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for aligning an optical transmitter with an optical receiver for a line-of-sight communications link, wherein the optical transmitter comprises a laser array emitter, the laser array emitter comprising a plurality of laser emitting regions, wherein each of a plurality of the laser emitting regions is configured to emit laser light in a different direction such that the laser array emitter is capable of emitting laser light in a plurality of different directions. The system can run produce emissions from different laser emitting regions until a laser emitting region that is in alignment with the optical receiver is found. This aligned laser emitting region can then be selected for use to optically communicate data from the optical transmitter to the optical receiver.