Free space optics communication apparatus and free space optics communication system

• US 7,409,161 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Harukazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung; Christina Y
• Application Number:
  US10/652,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 398118-131, 398/201, 359/159
• US Class Current: 398/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information

Abstract

A free space optics communication apparatus which can perform stable communication is disclosed. The free space optics communication apparatus has a plurality of light-emitting units each emitting a light beam which forms a generally elliptical irradiation pattern. The plurality of light-emitting units are set such that irradiation patterns of beams from at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units partially overlap at a light-receiving unit of the other apparatus. Further the width of a combined irradiation pattern formed by combining the light beams is 1.5 times or more larger than a width in a shorter diameter direction of an irradiation pattern of a light beam from one light-emitting unit.

Claims

1. A free space optics communication apparatus which performs communication with another apparatus with light beams, comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting units, each of the units emitting a light beam which forms a generally elliptical irradiation pattern on a light-receiving unit of the other apparatus having a shorter diameter direction and a longer diameter direction,

wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are set in such a way that an overlapping degree of irradiation patterns of light beams from at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units in the shorter diameter direction at the light-receiving unit of the other apparatus is adjusted, and thereby respective optical axes of the plurality of light-emitting units are inclined with different angles each other with respect to a reference axis of the free space optics communication apparatus so that a width of a combined irradiation pattern formed by combining the light beams from the plurality of light-emitting units is 1.5 times or larger than a width of the irradiation pattern formed by one light-emitting unit in the shorter diameter direction at the light-receiving unit of the other apparatus.

2. The free space optics communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting units are set such that the width of the combined irradiation pattern formed at the light-receiving unit by combining the light beams from the plurality of light-emitting units in the shorter diameter direction of the irradiation pattern of the light beam from the one light-emitting unit is 2 times or more larger than the width of the irradiation pattern of the light beam from the one light-emitting unit.

3. The free space optics communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting units emit light beams toward the other apparatus such that longer diameter direction axes of irradiation patterns of light beams from at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units intersect at the light-receiving unit.

4. The free space optics communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the light-emitting units includes a light source and an optical system which condenses light emitted from the light source.

5. The free space optics communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser.

6. A free space optics communication system comprising:

the free space optics communication apparatus according to claim 1; and

another apparatus which has a light-receiving unit which receives light beams irradiated from the free space optics communication apparatus.