Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing smart underwater free space optical communications

• US 9,203,524 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Simpson, Jim Anto, Muth, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/133,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 398/122, 398/129, 398/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/112 Line-of-sight transmission over an extended range
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable for providing smart underwater free space optical communications are provided. According to one aspect, a system for smart underwater free space optical communications is provided. The system includes a receiver. The receiver includes an optical detector array for detecting incident light under water. The receiver further includes a compound lens array located optically in front of the optical detector. The compound lens array includes lenses that steer incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array. A controller processes signals generated by the optical detector based on the incident light and controls an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered incident light detected by the detector array. Components of the controller may include a backscatter estimator and an angle of arrival estimator for estimating water quality obtained from backscattered light and an angle of arrival of incident light, respectively.

Claims

1. A system for smart underwater free space optical communications, the system comprising:

a receiver including;

an optical detector array for detecting incident light under water;

a compound lens array located optically in front of the optical detector array, wherein the compound lens array includes lenses that steer incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array, wherein the compound lens array comprises a truncated hexagonal pyramid having a lens on each face other than a base; and

a controller for processing signals generated by the optical detector array based on the incident light and for controlling an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered incident light detected by the detector array.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector array comprises a photodiode array, a photomultiplier tube array, or other array of detectors of photons.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the lenses are arranged such that each lens steers light arriving at a particular angle or range of angles to a particular detector in the detector array.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes an angle of arrival estimator configured to estimate an arrival angle of the incident light and wherein the controller is configured to adjust an attitude of an underwater vehicle based on the estimated arrival angle.

5. The system of claim 1 comprising a transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a parameter of transmitted optical signals based on the signals generated by the detector.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are components of an autonomous underwater vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are components of a stationary underwater object.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmitter includes an optical transmitting element array and a compound lens array located optically in front of the compound lens array for transmitting light emitted from the optical transmitting element array in different directions.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes an angle of arrival estimator for estimating an angle of arrival of incident light.

6. A system for smart underwater free space optical communications, the system comprising:

a receiver including;

an optical detector array for detecting incident light under water;

a compound lens array located optically in front of the optical detector array, wherein the compound lens array includes lenses that steer incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array; and

a controller for processing signals generated by the optical detector array based on the incident light and for controlling an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered incident light detected by the detector array;

wherein the controller is configured to adjust a parameter of transmitted optical signals based on the signals generated by the detector and

wherein the controller includes a backscatter estimator for estimating water quality based on backscattered light and for adjusting a transmit parameter based on the estimated water quality.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the parameter includes a transmit power data rate, or code rate.

12. A method for smart underwater optical communications, the method comprising:

in a receiver, detecting, using an optical detector array, incident light arriving from an underwater source;

steering, using a compound lens array located in front of the optical detector array, incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array, wherein the compound lens array comprises a truncated hexagonal pyramid having a lens on each face other than a base; and

processing signals generated by the optical detector array based on the incident light and controlling an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered light detected by the detector array.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the detector array comprises a photodiode array, a photomultiplier tube array, or other array of detectors of photons.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein steering the incident light includes steering light such that light arriving at a particular angle or range of angles is detected by a particular detector in the detector array.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein controlling an aspect of the underwater communications based on the signals generated by the optical detector includes estimating an angle of arrival of the incident light and controlling an attitude of an underwater vehicle based on the estimated angle of arrival.

16. The method of claim 12 comprising, in a transmitter, adjusting a parameter of transmitted optical signals based on the signals generated by the detector.

19. The system of claim 12 comprising estimating an angle of arrival of incident light.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are components of an autonomous underwater vehicle.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are components of a stationary underwater object.

17. A method for smart underwater optical communications, the method comprising:

in a receiver, detecting, using an optical detector array, incident light arriving from an underwater source;

steering, using a compound lens array located in front of the optical detector array, incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array; and

processing signals generated by the optical detector array based on the incident light and controlling an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered light detected by the detector array;

comprising, in a transmitter, adjusting a parameter of transmitted optical signals based on the signals generated by the detector and

wherein adjusting a parameter of transmitted optical signals comprises estimating water quality based on backscattered light and adjusting the parameter based on the estimated water quality.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the parameter includes transmit power, data rate, or code rate.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for controlling the processor of a computer to perform steps comprising:

in a receiver, detecting, using an optical detector array, incident light under water;

steering, using a compound lens array located optically in front of the optical detector array, incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array, wherein the compound lens array comprises a truncated hexagonal pyramid haying a lens on each face other than a base; and

processing signals generated by the optical detector array based on the incident light and controlling an aspect of underwater communications based on the steered light detected by the detector array.