WIRELESS DATA COMMUNICATION USING AIRBORNE LIGHTING AND GROUND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

• US 20150349882A1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Lamkin, Andrew Fannon, Nutaro, Joseph, Buster, Duke, Giffen, Craig
• Application Number:
  US14/287,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20150349882A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1123 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

A system for wireless optical data communications comprises a first gateway device including a processor onboard a first aircraft, and a first set of light sources onboard the aircraft in operative communication with the gateway device. The light sources comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes. A first optical receiver is onboard the aircraft and in operative communication with the gateway device. In a transmission mode, the gateway device is configured to monitor a databus onboard the aircraft for digital data selected for wireless optical transmission, encode the digital data selected for wireless optical transmission with a compatible optical modulation scheme, and broadcast the encoded digital data through modulated light emitted from the set of light sources. In a reception mode, the gateway device is configured to decode digital data from modulated light captured by the optical receiver from a wireless optical transmission from the ground or another aircraft.

Claims

1. A system for wireless optical data communications, the system comprising:

a first gateway device including at least one processor onboard a first aircraft;

a first set of light sources onboard the first aircraft and in operative communication with the first gateway device, the first set of light sources comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a first optical receiver onboard the first aircraft and in operative communication with the first gateway device;

wherein in a transmission mode, the first gateway device is configured to;

monitor a databus onboard the first aircraft for digital data selected for wireless optical transmission;

encode the digital data selected for wireless optical transmission with a compatible optical modulation scheme; and

broadcast the encoded digital data through modulated light emitted from the first set of light sources;

wherein in a reception mode, the first gateway device is configured to;

decode digital data from modulated light captured by the first optical receiver from a wireless optical transmission from the ground or another aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise aircraft anti-collision lights, aircraft navigation lights, strobes lights, or beacon lights.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first optical receiver is co-located with one of the light sources in an optical transponder configuration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first optical receiver comprises a photodiode or a camera.

5. The system claim 1, wherein the first gateway device is further configured to:

monitor brightness levels of the light sources; and

adjust the encoded digital data throughput to the light sources to maintain the brightness levels above a predefined threshold.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the brightness levels are monitored with a feedback loop from the first optical receiver to the first gateway device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gateway device is further configured to store the digital data prior to the digital data being encoded, and broadcast the encoded digital data only during pre-existing flashes of light emitted by the light sources.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second gateway device;

a second set of light sources in operative communication with the second gateway device, the second set of light sources comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a second optical receiver in operative communication with the second gateway device;

wherein in a transmission mode, the second gateway device is configured to;

encode digital data selected for wireless optical transmission with a compatible optical modulation scheme; and

broadcast the encoded digital data through modulated light emitted from the second set of light sources;

wherein in a reception mode, the second gateway device is configured to;

decode digital data from the modulated light emitted from the first set of light sources onboard the first aircraft and captured by the second optical receiver.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second gateway device, the second set of light sources, and the second optical receiver are located in a fixed ground installation.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second gateway device, the second set of light sources, and the second optical receiver are located onboard a second aircraft.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a handheld receiver configured to:

capture the broadcasted modulated light encoded with the digital data;

decode the digital data from the modulated light; and

display the decoded digital data to a user.

12. A method of wireless optical data communications, the method comprising:

monitoring a databus onboard a first aircraft for digital data selected for wireless optical transmission;

encoding the digital data selected for wireless optical transmission with a compatible optical modulation scheme;

broadcasting the encoded digital data through modulated light emitted from a first set of light sources onboard the aircraft, the first set of light sources comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes;

receiving the modulated light in an optical receiver remotely located from the first aircraft;

decoding the digital data from the received modulated light; and

displaying the decoded digital data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical receiver is located in a fixed ground installation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical receiver is located in a mobile device operated by a user on the ground.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical receiver is located in a second aircraft.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first aircraft comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing the digital data prior to encoding the digital data selected for wireless optical transmission.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the encoded digital data supports air to ground telemetry, air-ground message passing, aircraft to aircraft collision avoidance, aircraft to ground vehicle collision avoidance, air to air telemetry, or air to air message passing.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the encoded digital data is broadcast using a modulation technique comprising orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing, on-off keying, frequency modulation, or amplitude modulation.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the decoded digital data is displayed on a graphical user interface.