Systems and methods for underwater optical communication
First Claim
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1. An underwater communication system, comprising:
- a transmitter having a source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a diffuser having a substantially hemispherical surface, for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation at a rate of at least 1 Mbps along a plurality of radii defined by the surface for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation and disposed in a position surrounding a portion of the source for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions, anda receiver having a substantially hemispherical surface for receiving the electromagnetic radiation along a plurality of radii defined by the surface and being capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation passing at least 20 m through a high light scattering medium, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be received in substantially any direction;
wherein, the transmitter and receiver are physically separated from each other, andwherein, the electromagnetic radiation includes electromagnetic waves of wavelength in the optical spectrum between 300 nm and 800 nm.
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Abstract
The systems and methods of the invention provide for improved underwater communication systems. In particular, the systems and methods of the invention provide for improved underwater optical modems including optical transmitters and optical receivers that allow omni-directional transmission and reception of optical signals underwater and having a range of about 100 m and allowing data rates greater than 1 Mbit/s. The systems and methods of the invention also provide for underwater communication networks having a plurality of optical modems communicating with each other.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An underwater communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter having a source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a diffuser having a substantially hemispherical surface, for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation at a rate of at least 1 Mbps along a plurality of radii defined by the surface for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation and disposed in a position surrounding a portion of the source for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions, and a receiver having a substantially hemispherical surface for receiving the electromagnetic radiation along a plurality of radii defined by the surface and being capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation passing at least 20 m through a high light scattering medium, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be received in substantially any direction; wherein, the transmitter and receiver are physically separated from each other, and wherein, the electromagnetic radiation includes electromagnetic waves of wavelength in the optical spectrum between 300 nm and 800 nm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28)
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21. An underwater communication system, comprising:
two or more nodes that can transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, each node including; a transmitter having a source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a diffuser having a substantially hemispherical surface for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation at a rate of at least 1 Mbps along a plurality of radii defined by the surface for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation and disposed in a position surrounding a portion of the source for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions, and a receiver having a substantially hemispherical surface for receiving the electromagnetic radiation along a plurality of radii defined by the surface and being capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation passing at least 20 m through a high light scattering medium, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be received in substantially any direction; wherein, the two or more nodes are physically separated from each other, and wherein, the electromagnetic radiation includes electromagnetic waves of wavelength in the optical spectrum between 300 nm and 800 nm. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30)
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27. A method of manufacturing an optical modem for an underwater optical communication system, comprising the steps of
providing at least one source of optical radiation of the type for transmitting at least 1 Mbps, disposing the at least one source within a diffuser having a substantially hemispherical surface such that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source is diffused in a plurality of different directions along a plurality of radii defined by the surface, providing at least one detector having a substantially hemispherical surface for receiving the electromagnetic radiation along a plurality of radii defined by the surface and being capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation passing at least 20 m through a high light scattering medium and thereby configured to receive and detect optical radiation from a plurality of different direction, and enclosing a portion of at least one of the source, the diffuser and the detector in a water impermeable enclosure such that the optical modem may transmit and receive optical radiation underwater.
Specification