Optical wavelength communication system and method of using same

• US 5,305,132 A
• Filed: 06/10/1992
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Fasen, Kenneth R., Williams, Michael A., Menadier, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negash, K.
• Application Number:
  US07/896,334
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 359/113-114, 359/125, 359/143, 359/152, 359/172, 359/174
• US Class Current: 398/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information

Abstract

A light frequency communications system and method of using the system is disclosed. The system includes a base station and a plurality of remote units wherein the base station and all the remote units communicate in a full duplex mode utilizing a single light wave carrier. Multiplexing between the units is accomplished by modulating an audio signal on at least one subcarrier frequency.

Claims

1. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system comprising:

a base unit for transmitting and receiving an optical message carrying beam having a predetermined wavelength;

at least one remote unit for transmitting and receiving an optical message carrying beam having another predetermined wavelength;

said base unit and said remote unit each including means for converting a message into an electrical message carrying signal, means for encoding a message carrying signal on a selected one of a plurality of subcarrier signals, control means for selecting a given one of said plurality of subcarrier signals for encoding purposes, communication means for transmitting an encoded message carrying signal on an optical message carrying beam, means for receiving an encoded message carrying signal on another optical carrying beam, conversion means for decoding said another optical message carrying beam when its associated subcarrier signal has been generated by some other unit.

2. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for converting further includes means for connecting a microphone thereto for permitting a user to input a verbal message for communication purposes.

3. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex optical communication system, comprising:

a plurality of remote units for transmitting and receiving communication message signals, said message signals including outbound communication message signals and inbound communication message signals;

each one of said plurality of remote units including encoding means for encoding said outbound communication message signals on one of a plurality of remote message carrying subcarrier signals;

message destination means for causing said outbound communication message signals to be encoded on a selected one of said plurality of remote message carrying subcarrier signals;

remote optical communication means for transmitting said selected one of said remote message carrying subcarrier signals on a remote optical carrier signal;

base station means for transmitting and receiving communication message signals;

said base station means including base optical communication means for receiving and decoding said remote optical carrier signal into said selected one of said remote message carrying subcarrier signals;

means responsive to said selected one of said remote message carrying subcarrier signals for decoding them into said outbound communication message signals;

retransmission means for causing selected ones of said outbound communication message signals to be encoded on a base message carrying subcarrier signal for retransmission purposes to said plurality of remote units;

means for encoding said base message carrying subcarrier signal on a base optical carrier signal for transmission to said plurality of remote units; and

each one of said plurality of remote units further including means responsive to said base optical carrier signal for decoding it into said inbound communication message signals for utilization purposes.

4. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex optical communication system according to claim 3 wherein said base station means further comprises:

base microphone means for converting a common message into an outgoing message carrying signal;

means for encoding said outgoing message carrying signal on another base message carrying subcarrier signal; and

means for encoding the other base message carrying subcarrier frequency signal onto said base optical carrier signal.

5. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex communication system as recited in claim 4, wherein

said means responsive to said remote message carrying subcarrier frequency signal includes means for inhibiting demodulation of said remote message carrying subcarrier frequency signal when the optical carrier wavelength signal is a base optical carrier wavelength signal.

6. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex optical communication system as recited in claim 4 wherein each one of said plurality of remote units further include a microphone for permitting a user to input a message for communication purposes.

7. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for decoding further includes:

means for connecting a speaker thereto for permitting a user to physically hear the decoding message signals.

8. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 7, further including a speaker disposed physically at a remote location, and connected electrically to said means for connecting a speaker.

9. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 4, further including control means for selecting at least one said base message carrying subcarrier frequency signals for modulation purposes.

10. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex optical communication unit for communicating with another similar unit, comprising:

means for generating an outgoing subcarrier signal for helping to facilitate transmitting outgoing message signals to the other unit;

means for encoding outgoing message signals on said outgoing subcarrier signal;

means for generating an outgoing optical carrier signal for transmission to the other unit;

means for encoding the message encoded outgoing subcarrier signal on the outgoing optical carrier signal;

means for receiving an incoming optical carrier signal having encoded thereon an incoming message encoded subcarrier signal from the other unit, said incoming and outgoing subcarrier signals being different sufficiently to prevent substantially interference between incoming and outgoing communications;

means responsive to receiving said incoming optical carrier signal for decoding said incoming subcarrier signal from said incoming optical carrier signal transmitted by said other unit; and

means responsive to the decoded incoming subcarrier signal for decoding said incoming message signal from said incoming subcarrier signal,

whereby sending and receiving messages are accomplished utilizing two different subcarrier signals to prevent substantially interference between the incoming and outgoing signals for the same unit during a full duplex mode of operation.

11. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 10, wherein said means for inhibiting includes means for detecting remote message carrying subcarrier signals.

12. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for detecting is a light receiving diode having a predetermined wavelength.

13. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting includes a light emitting diode having a predetermined wavelength.

14. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 13 wherein the predetermined wavelength of said light emitting diode and said light receiving diode is the same.

15. A non-time division multiplexed wireless optical communication system as defined in claim 13 wherein the predetermined wavelength of said light emitting diode and said light receiving diode are different.

16. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex optical communication system, comprising:

a pair of optical communication means for communication therebetween in a full duplex mode of operation;

one of said optical communication means including means for generating an outgoing subcarrier signal for helping to facilitate transmitting outgoing message signals to the other optical communication means;

means for encoding the outgoing message signals on said outgoing subcarrier signal;

means for generating an outgoing optical carrier signal for transmission to the other optical communication means;

means for encoding the message encoded outgoing subcarrier signal on the outgoing optical carrier signal;

means for receiving an incoming optical carrier signal having encoded thereon an incoming encoded subcarrier signal from the other one of said optical communication means;

means responsive to receiving said incoming optical carrier signal for decoding said incoming encoded subcarrier signal from said incoming optical carrier signal transmitted by the other optical communication means;

means responsive to the decoded subcarrier signals for decoding said incoming message signal from said incoming subcarrier signal;

the other one of said optical communication means including;

means for generating said incoming subcarrier signal for helping to facilitate transmitting said incoming message signals to the first mentioned optical communication means;

means for encoding said incoming message signals on said incoming subcarrier signal;

means for generating said incoming optical carrier signal for transmission to the first mentioned optical communication means;

means for encoding the message encoded incoming subcarrier signal on said incoming optical carrier signal;

means for receiving from the first mentioned optical communication means said encoded outgoing optical carrier signal having encoded thereon said outgoing message encoded subcarrier signal from the first mentioned optical communication means, said incoming and outgoing subcarrier signals being different sufficiently to prevent substantially interference between incoming and outgoing communications;

means responsive to receiving said encoded outgoing optical carrier signal for decoding said outgoing subcarrier signal from said outgoing optical carrier signal transmitted by the first mentioned optical communication means;

means responsive to the decoded outgoing subcarrier signal for decoding said outgoing message signal from said outgoing subcarrier signal,

whereby sending and receiving messages are accomplished utilizing two different subcarrier signals to prevent substantially interference between the incoming and outgoing signals for the same unit during a full duplex mode of operation.

17. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 16, further including a microphone disposed physically at a remote location, and connected electrically to said means for connecting a microphone.

18. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 16, wherein the conversion means further includes means for connecting a speaker thereto for permitting a user to physically hear the message carrying signal received by said unit.

19. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 18, further including a speaker disposed physically at a remote location, and connected electrically to said means for connecting a speaker.

20. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 16, further including control means for selecting at least one subcarrier signal upon which said message carrying signal is to be modulated.

21. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for inhibiting includes means for detecting an optical message carrying beam wherein said optical message carrying beam has been radiated by the unit.

22. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for detecting is a light receiving diode having a predetermined wavelength.

23. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 22, wherein said means for transmitting includes a light emitting diode having a predetermined wavelength.

24. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 23, wherein the predetermined wavelength of said light emitting diode and said light receiving diode is the same.

25. A non-time division multiplexed wireless communication system as defined in claim 24, wherein the predetermined wavelength of said light emitting diode and said light receiving diode are different.

26. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex communication system according to claim 16, wherein said incoming optical carrier signal and said outgoing optical carrier signal have substantially the same carrier wavelength.

27. A non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex communication system according to claim 16, wherein said incoming optical carrier signal and said outgoing optical carrier signal have substantially different carrier wavelengths.

28. A method for sending and receiving communication messages in a non-time division multiplexed wireless full duplex mode between similar units, comprising:

generating an outgoing subcarrier signal for helping to facilitate transmitting outgoing message signals to the other unit;

encoding outgoing message signals on said outgoing subcarrier signal;

generating an outgoing optical carrier signal for transmission to the other unit;

encoding the message encoded outgoing subcarrier signal on the outgoing optical carrier signal;

receiving an incoming optical carrier signal having encoded thereon an incoming message encoded subcarrier signal from the other unit, said incoming and outgoing subcarrier signals being different sufficiently to prevent substantially interference between incoming and outgoing communications;

responding to receiving said incoming optical carrier signal by decoding said incoming subcarrier signal from said incoming optical carrier signal transmitted by said other unit,

whereby sending and receiving messages are accomplished utilizing two different subcarrier signals to prevent substantially interference between the incoming and outgoing signals for the same unit during a full duplex mode of operation.