COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING HYBRID OPTICAL/WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20090232508A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rumpf, Raymond Charles, Johnson, Eric G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks

Abstract

A communication system includes at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber. The optical-wireless device may include an optical fiber power unit for converting optical power into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered by the optical fiber power unit. The optical-wireless device may include a substrate mounting the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The wireless communication unit may include a radio frequency transmitter, and a signal optical grating coupling the transmitter to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The radio frequency transmitter in some embodiments may include an ultra-wideband transmitter. A dipole antenna may also be provided including first and second portions extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

an optical fiber; and

at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of said optical fiber and comprising

an optical fiber power unit coupled to said optical fiber for converting optical power therein into electrical power, and

a wireless communication unit electrically powered solely by said optical fiber power unit and coupled to said optical fiber;

said at least one optical-wireless device further comprising a substrate mounting said optical fiber power unit and said wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber power unit comprises a photovoltaic device and a power optical grating coupling said photovoltaic device to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.

4. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communication unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a signal optical grating coupling said radio frequency transmitter to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.

5. A communication system according to claim 4 wherein said radio frequency transmitter comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter.

6. A communication system according to claim 5 wherein said ultra-wideband transmitter comprises an antenna.

7. A communication system according to claim 6 wherein said antenna comprises a dipole antenna.

8. A communication system according to claim 7 wherein said dipole antenna comprises first and second portions extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.

9. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding surrounding said core;

and wherein said optical fiber power unit and said wireless communication unit are coupled to said core.

10. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communication unit comprises a wireless transmitter;

and further comprising at least one wireless receiver spaced from said wireless transmitter and receiving signals therefrom.

11. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless communication unit comprises a wireless receiver;

and further comprising at least one wireless transmitter spaced from said wireless receiver and transmitting signals thereto.

12. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one optical-wireless device comprises a plurality of optical-wireless devices coupled to said optical fiber at spaced apart locations along the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.

2. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. An optical-wireless device to be coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber and comprising:

a substrate for coupling to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber;

an optical fiber power unit carried by said substrate to be coupled to said optical fiber for converting optical power therein into electrical power; and

a wireless communication unit carried by said substrate, solely electrically powered by said optical fiber power unit, and to be coupled to the optical fiber.

15. An optical-wireless device according to claim 14 wherein said optical fiber power unit comprises a photovoltaic device and a power optical grating for coupling said photovoltaic device to the optical fiber.

16. An optical-wireless device according to claim 14 wherein said wireless communication unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a signal optical grating for coupling said radio frequency transmitter to the optical fiber.

17. An optical-wireless device according to claim 16 wherein said radio frequency transmitter comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter.

18. An optical-wireless device according to claim 17 wherein said ultra-wideband transmitter comprises:

an optical detector having an input coupled to said signal optical grating and having an output;

an amplifier having an input connected to the output of said optical detector and having an output;

a pseudorandom code generator having an output;

a multiplier having inputs connected to the outputs of said amplifier and pseudorandom code generator, and having an output;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the output of said multiplier, and having an output; and

an antenna connected to the output of said pulse generator.

19. An optical-wireless device to be coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber and comprising:

a substrate to be directly coupled to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber;

a wireless communication unit carried by said substrate and to be coupled to the optical fiber; and

a dipole antenna connected to said wireless communication unit comprising first and second portions to extend in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

22. An optical-wireless device according to claim 19 wherein said wireless communication unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a signal optical grating for coupling said radio frequency transmitter to the optical fiber.

23. An optical-wireless device according to claim 22 wherein said radio frequency transmitter comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter.

24. An optical-wireless device according to claim 23 wherein said ultra-wideband transmitter comprises:

an optical detector having an input coupled to said signal optical grating and having an output;

an amplifier having an input connected to the output of said optical detector and having an output;

a pseudorandom code generator having an output;

a multiplier having inputs connected to the outputs of said amplifier and pseudorandom code generator, and having an output; and

a pulse generator having an input connected to the output of said multiplier, and having an output connected to said antenna.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

25. An optical-wireless device to be coupled to an optical fiber and comprising:

a substrate to be directly coupled to the optical fiber; and

an ultra-wideband wireless communication unit carried by said substrate and to be coupled to the optical fiber.

26. An optical-wireless device according to claim 25 wherein said substrate is to be coupled to a longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

27. An optical-wireless device according to claim 25 wherein said ultra-wideband communication unit comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter and a signal optical grating for coupling said ultra-wideband transmitter to the optical fiber.

28. An optical-wireless device according to claim 27 wherein said ultra-wideband transmitter comprises an antenna.

29. An optical-wireless device according to claim 28 wherein said antenna comprises a dipole antenna.

30. An optical-wireless device according to claim 29 wherein said dipole antenna comprises first and second portions to extend in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

31. A method for optical-wireless communication comprising:

coupling at least one optical-wireless device to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber, the at least one optical-wireless device comprising an optical fiber power unit and a wireless communication unit connected thereto;

supplying optical power into the optical fiber;

converting the optical power in the optical fiber into electrical power using the optical fiber power unit; and

electrically powering the wireless communication unit for optical-wireless communication solely using the electrical power converted from the optical power;

the optical-wireless device further comprising a substrate carrying the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit, and wherein coupling comprises coupling the substrate to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

33. A method according to claim 31 wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a radio frequency transmitter and a signal optical grating coupling the radio frequency transmitter to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the radio frequency transmitter comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter.

35. A method according to claim 31 wherein the optical-wireless communication device further comprises a dipole antenna including first and second portions;

and wherein coupling comprises mounting the first and second portions to extend in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

36. A method according to claim 31 wherein the optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding surrounding the core;

and wherein coupling comprises coupling the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit to the core.

32. (canceled)

37. (canceled)