Data communications and illuminated light on the same optical fiber
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing both visible light and a data signal through a single light pipe, comprising:
- a) an infrared source for providing an infrared data signal along a first line;
b) a visible light source including infrared shot noise for providing a visible light signal along a second line;
c) a cold bandpass mirror for transmitting infrared light including said infrared data signal and infrared shot noise and for reflecting said visible light signal; and
d) a light pipe for receiving said infrared data signal and visible light signal, but not said infrared shot noise, wherein said infrared data signal and visible light signal enter said light pipe at a first end.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An a) infrared data signal and a b) visible light signal including infrared shot noise are provided to opposite sides of a cold bandpass mirror for transmitting the infrared data signal into a light pipe and for reflecting the visible light signal into the light pipe and for transmitting the infrared shot noise through the cold bandpass mirror and away from the light pipe. Further, a first lens is situated between a) a source of the infrared data signal and b) the cold bandpass mirror, for focusing the infrared data signal onto the cold bandpass mirror to prevent its diffusion. And further, a second lens is situated between the cold bandpass mirror and the light pipe for focusing the infrared data signal and visible light into the light pipe. And further, a third lens situated between the a) source of the infrared shot noise and visible light and b) the cold bandpass mirror, for focusing the visible light signal and infrared shot noise onto the cold bandpass mirror. Further, two separate optical data sources (FIG. 4) provide two distinct optical data signals (FIG. 4) through the optical fiber, or light pipe. Further, one or more optical data signals--infrared or otherwise--are received at mobile or immobile IR data I/O ports (FIG. 7,8).
40 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing both visible light and a data signal through a single light pipe, comprising:
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a) an infrared source for providing an infrared data signal along a first line; b) a visible light source including infrared shot noise for providing a visible light signal along a second line; c) a cold bandpass mirror for transmitting infrared light including said infrared data signal and infrared shot noise and for reflecting said visible light signal; and d) a light pipe for receiving said infrared data signal and visible light signal, but not said infrared shot noise, wherein said infrared data signal and visible light signal enter said light pipe at a first end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for providing a first light signal and a second light signal through a single optical fiber, comprising:
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a) a first signal source for providing a first optical signal along a first line; b) a second signal source for providing a second optical signal along a second line orthogonal to said first line; c) a cold mirror, for transmitting said first optical signal and reflecting said second optical signal; and d) a light pipe for receiving said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing both visible light and a data signal through a single light pipe, comprising:
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a) providing an infrared data signal along a first line; b) providing a visible light signal along a second line wherein said visible light includes infrared shot noise; c) transmitting infrared light including said infrared data signal and infrared shot noise through a cold bandpass mirror and reflecting said visible light signal off said cold bandpass mirror; and d) receiving in a light pipe said infrared data signal and visible light signal, but not said infrared shot noise, wherein said infrared data signal and visible light signal enter said light pipe at a first end. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing a first light signal and a second light signal through a single optical fiber, comprising:
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a) providing a first optical signal along a first line; b) providing a second optical signal along a second line orthogonal to said first line; c) transmitting said first optical signal through a cold bandpass mirror and reflecting said second optical signal off of said cold bandpass mirror; and d) receiving said first signal and said second signal in a light pipe. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification