Ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatus and system

• US 10,707,966 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2019
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Velazco, Jose E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Li
• Application Number:
  US16/394,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20190349087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 398118-131
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1123 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1129 Arrangements for outdoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2210/006 Devices for generating or processing an RF signal by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0307 Multiplexers; Demultiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells

Abstract

An ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatus and system. The ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatus includes an array of laser diodes, an array of fast detectors, and a connector for connecting to a sensor, a computer, and/or a network. The array of laser diodes, and the array of fast detectors are housed in a multifaceted geometry in order to provide communication coverage in all directions. In one aspect, each laser in the array of laser diodes operates at different wavelengths. In another aspect, the ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatus includes field programmable gate arrays. In yet another aspect, the ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatus includes an array of collimators that are connected to an optical combiner. In yet another alternate aspect, an ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer system includes several ultrafast omnidirectional wireless data transfer apparatuses which are optically coupled together and communicate in different wavelengths.

Claims

1. A wireless data transfer apparatus, comprising:

a multifaceted structure;

a plurality of laser diodes, each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes connected to a respective diffuser;

an RF splitter connected to each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes, the RF splitter configured to split an input modulated RF signal into a plurality of same RF signals respectively provided to the plurality of laser diodes; and

a plurality of optical detectors,

wherein the plurality of laser diodes and the plurality of optical detectors are housed in the multifaceted structure and located therein to enable data transfer in an omnidirectional manner, and

wherein the plurality of laser diodes, each connected to the respective diffuser, in combination, generate an array of optical beams with spherical coverage for transmission of the input modulated RF signal according to the omnidirectional manner.

2. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector connected to the multifaceted structure.

3. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein each laser diode housed in each facet of the multifaceted structure operates at a different wavelength.

4. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 3, wherein each optical detector housed in each facet of the multifaceted structure operates at a different wavelength.

5. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an FPGA, wherein the FPGA is connected to the plurality of optical detectors and laser diodes.

6. An omnidirectional wireless data transfer system comprising a group of wireless data transfer apparatuses of claim 5, wherein the wireless data transfer apparatuses are optically communicating so as to provide data transfer in an omnidirectional manner.

7. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein each optical detector housed in each facet of the multifaceted structure operates at a different wavelength.

8. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multifaceted structure has a dodecahedron shape.

9. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an FPGA, wherein the FPGA is connected to the plurality of optical detectors and laser diodes.

10. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an FPGA, wherein the FPGA is connected to the plurality of optical detectors and laser diodes.

11. A wireless data transfer apparatus, comprising:

a multifaceted structure;

a plurality of laser diodes, each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes connected to a diffuser;

a plurality of optical collimators, each optical collimator of the plurality of optical collimators connected to a fiber optic;

an RF splitter connected to each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes; and

an optical combiner connected to each optical collimator via the optical collimator'"'"'s connected fiber optic,

wherein the plurality of laser diodes, the plurality of optical collimators, the RF splitter and the optical combiner act, in combination, to provide ultrafast data communication in an omnidirectional manner.

12. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 11, wherein the optical combiner is also connected to an SFP connector.

13. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the optical combiner is also connected to a demultiplexer.

14. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 13, wherein the demultiplexer is connected to a plurality of SFP connectors.

15. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 11, wherein the optical combiner is also connected to a demultiplexer.

16. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 11, wherein the RF splitter is also connected to a detector board.

17. The wireless data transfer apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detector board converts optical signals to electrical signals for driving the plurality of laser diodes.