Method and apparatus for a wireless optical link

• US 9,048,959 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Voutilainen, Martti, Suomela, Riku
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanderpuye, Ken
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JAI M
• Application Number:
  US13/624,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20140086586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/806 Arrangements for feeding power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/003 Telephone sets using electrooptical means in the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID

Abstract

Example method, apparatus, and system embodiments are disclosed to provide a high data throughput optical communication link. An example embodiment comprises: a high frequency optical receiver configured to receive signals modulated with high frequency data; an optical waveguide having a receiving portion and a transmitting portion juxtaposed with the receiver, configured to transfer signals incident on the receiving portion, to the transmitting portion, and to transmit the signals to the receiver; a guide portion configured to releasably engage another apparatus, for positioning the waveguide with respect to the other apparatus, to receive at the receiving portion of the waveguide, signals from the other apparatus, for delivery to the receiver; and a wireless power circuit configured to exchange wireless power with the other apparatus, to convert between electrical signals modulated with high frequency data and the optical signals modulated with high frequency data received by the waveguide.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a high frequency optical receiver configured to receive optical signals modulated with high frequency data;

an optical waveguide having a light receiving portion and a light transmitting portion juxtaposed with the high frequency optical receiver, configured to transfer optical signals modulated with high frequency data incident on the light receiving portion, from the light receiving portion to the light transmitting portion, and to transmit the optical signals modulated with high frequency data to the high frequency optical receiver;

a guide portion configured to releasably align the optical waveguide with a second optical waveguide associated with another apparatus, for positioning the optical waveguide with respect to the second optical waveguide, to receive at the light receiving portion of the optical waveguide, optical signals from the second optical waveguide, modulated with high frequency data, for delivery to the high frequency optical receiver; and

a wireless power circuit configured to exchange wireless operating power with the other apparatus, for wireless charging to convert between electrical signals modulated with high frequency data and the optical signals modulated with high frequency data received by the optical waveguide from the second optical waveguide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power circuit is a wireless powering circuit configured to transmit wireless power to the other apparatus, to energize a source of the optical signals modulated with high frequency data received by the optical wave guide from the second optical waveguide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a data utilization device in the apparatus; and

wherein the wireless power circuit is a wireless powered circuit configured to receive wireless power from the other apparatus, to energize the data utilization device to use the high frequency data that modulates the optical signals received by the optical wave guide from the second optical waveguide.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a proximity detector coupled to the wireless power circuit, configured to generate a triggering signal when the apparatus and the other apparatus are brought within proximity of each other;

wherein the triggering signal causes the wireless power circuit to exchange wireless power to the other apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a proximity detector coupled to the guide portion and to the wireless power circuit, configured to generate a triggering signal when the guide portion is releasably aligned with the second optical waveguide of the other apparatus;

wherein the triggering signal causes the wireless power circuit to exchange wireless power to the other apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide portion positioning the waveguide comprises at least one of magnets, adhesive, and mechanical guides.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other apparatus comprises at least one of a stationary device, a mobile device, a mobile radio device, a display device, a storage device, an accessory device, and an attachment device.

8. A method, comprising:

positioning, by a guide portion configured to releasably align an optical waveguide associated with an apparatus with a second optical waveguide associated with another apparatus, to receive at a light receiving portion of the optical waveguide, optical signals from the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus, modulated with high frequency data, for delivery to a high frequency optical receiver;

transmitting, by a wireless powering circuit, wireless operating power to the other apparatus, for wireless charging to energize a source of the optical signals modulated with high frequency data to be received by the optical wave guide from the second optical waveguide; and

transferring, by the optical waveguide, optical signals modulated with high frequency data received from the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus and incident on the light receiving portion of the optical wave guide, the optical signals transferred from the light receiving portion to a light transmitting portion of the optical wave guide, and transmitting the optical signals modulated with high frequency data to the high frequency optical receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating, by a proximity detector, a triggering signal when the guide portion is releasably aligned with the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus, to cause the wireless powering circuit to transmit wireless power to the other apparatus.

10. A method, comprising:

positioning, by a guide portion configured to releasably align an optical waveguide associated with an apparatus with a second optical waveguide associated with another apparatus, to receive at a light receiving portion of the optical waveguide, optical signals from the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus, modulated with high frequency data, for delivery to a high frequency optical receiver;

receiving, by a wireless powered circuit, wireless operating power from the other apparatus, for wireless charging to energize a data utilization device to use the high frequency data received by the optical wave guide from the second optical waveguide; and

transferring, by the optical waveguide, optical signals modulated with high frequency data received from the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus and incident on the light receiving portion of the optical wave guide, the optical signals transferred from the light receiving portion to a light transmitting portion of the optical wave guide, and transmitting the optical signals modulated with high frequency data to the high frequency optical receiver, to provide the high frequency data to the utilization device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating, by a proximity detector, a triggering signal when the guide portion is releasably aligned with the second optical waveguide associated with the other apparatus, to cause the wireless powered circuit to receive wireless power from the other apparatus.