Free-Space Optical Management for Window Contamination Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In free-space optical communication systems, the light sending and receiving windows of optical communication apparatuses can become contaminated due to dust or bird excrement, leading to potential communication failures, but existing techniques do not effectively determine the possibility of such contamination.

Innovation Solution

A management system and method that includes acquiring and analyzing indices of light signal quality to determine the possibility of contamination at the light sending and receiving windows of lower free-space optical communication apparatuses, using processors to assess the quality of upward light signals received by upper apparatuses to detect contamination with high sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If free-space optical communication is used in up-and-down direction, then communication capability is improved, but light sending and receiving window becomes contaminated due to dust or bird excrement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidcontamination of light sending and receiving window

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of light signal quality degradation before complete communication failure occurs. By continuously monitoring the quality index of light signals and comparing it against threshold values, the system can identify contamination issues early and trigger maintenance actions before the contamination becomes severe enough to cause communication failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the quality of upward light signals received by the upper apparatus is continuously measured and fed back to the management apparatus. This feedback loop enables real-time detection of contamination effects on the downward light path, allowing the system to adaptively respond to changing environmental conditions and maintain communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If maintenance is performed to prevent communication failure, then reliability is improved, but maintenance timing must be determined accurately to avoid unnecessary maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces mechanical or scheduled maintenance approaches with an optical-based detection system. Instead of performing maintenance based on time intervals or visual inspection, the system uses optical quality monitoring to objectively determine when contamination affects communication performance, enabling more precise and evidence-based maintenance scheduling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors changes in optical parameters (light signal quality index) to determine maintenance timing. By establishing threshold values for the quality index and detecting when parameters exceed these thresholds, the system can objectively determine when maintenance is necessary, avoiding both premature and delayed maintenance actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If light signal quality monitoring is implemented, then contamination detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the existing optical communication infrastructure for dual purposes: both for communication and for contamination detection. The same light signals used for communication carry information about channel quality, eliminating the need for separate dedicated detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own communication signals to monitor its own health status. The upward light signals transmitted for communication purposes also serve as probe signals for detecting contamination on the downward path, allowing the system to self-diagnose without requiring external testing equipment or additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12413306B2Management system, management apparatus, and management method

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 NEC CORP

AI summary

A management system for managing an upper free-space optical communication apparatus and a lower free-space optical communication apparatus that carry out free-space optical communication in an up-and-down direction is provided, the management system including at least one processor, the at least one processor carrying out: an acquisition process of acquiring a first index that indicates a quality of a first upward light signal received by the upper free-space optical communication apparatus; and a determination process of determining a possibility of contamination of a light sending and receiving window of the lower free-space optical communication apparatus in accordance with the first index, the lower free-space optical communication apparatus being configured to send and receive a light signal of the free-space optical communication through the light sending and receiving window.