Optical communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12392980-B2
Application number	US-201917772091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Nov 8, 2019
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

This optical communication device ( 1 ) is provided with a plurality of light-receiving elements ( 11 ) and a plurality of optical fibers ( 12 ). The plurality of optical fibers each includes a light-incident end portion ( 12 a ) for communication light and a light-emission end portion ( 12 b ) for communication light. The plurality of light-emission end portions is each arranged near each of the plurality of light-receiving elements. The plurality of light-incident end portions is each configured to be capable of being arranged in a predetermined position in a predetermined direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical communication device comprising:
a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to receive communication light, the plurality of light-receiving elements being provided so as to correspond to a plurality of channels; and
a plurality of optical fibers having a one to one correspondence for each of the light-receiving elements, configured to guide the communication light to the plurality of light-receiving elements, each of the plurality of optical fibers being provided so as to guide communication light to a corresponding one of the plurality of light-receiving elements,
wherein each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers includes a light-incident end portion for the communication light and a light-emission end portion for the communication light,
wherein each light-emission end portion of the plurality of light-emission end portions is arranged so as to face a light-receiving surface of a corresponding light-receiving element of the plurality of light-receiving elements,
wherein the plurality of the light-incident end portions is each configured to be capable of being arranged at a predetermined position in a predetermined direction, and
wherein the light-incident end portions is configured such that the communication light from a moving body that moves in water is incident on the light-incident end portion.

2. The optical communication device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a protection container configured to accommodate the plurality of light-receiving elements, the protection container being configured to be arranged in water,
wherein the plurality of optical fibers is each configured such that the light-emission end portion is provided inside the protection container and the light-incident end portion is provided outside the protection container.

3. The optical communication device as recited in claim 2 ,
wherein at least some of the plurality of light-incident end portions are arranged at positions different from each other in water.

4. The optical communication device as recited in claim 2 ,
wherein at least some of the plurality of light-incident end portions are attached to underwater structures.

5. The optical communication device as recited in claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of light-receiving elements is arranged in an array.

6. The optical communication device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a light-emission end portion holder configured to hold each of the plurality of light-emission end portions near each of the plurality of light-receiving elements.

7. The optical communication device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a lens configured to focus the communication light on the light-incident end portion; and
a lens holder configured to hold the lens, the lens holder being provided to the light-incident end portion,
wherein the light-incident end portion, the lens, and the lens holder are configured to be arranged in water, and
wherein the lens holder includes a water introduction portion capable of introducing surrounding water, the water introduction portion being provided between the light-incident end portion and the lens.

8. An optical communication device comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers dedicated to a corresponding channel of a plurality of channels and having a light-incident end and a light-emission end; and
a plurality of light-receiving elements, each light-receiving element of the plurality of light-receiving elements having a photoelectric converter and dedicated to a respective corresponding channel of the plurality of channels and arranged to receive a communication light transmitted from the light-emission end of an optical fiber dedicated to the channel, and
wherein each light incident end of the plurality of optical fibers is arranged at a predetermined position independent from one another and at a predetermined direction independent from one another to receive the communication light from a body moving in water,
wherein each light-emission end of the plurality of optical fibers is arranged to face a light receiving surface of a corresponding light-receiving element of the plurality of light-receiving elements to transmit the communication light thereto, and
wherein the plurality of optical fibers is configured such that a communication light from a moving body that moves in water is incident on at least one of the light-incident ends.

9. The optical communication device as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a protection container housing the plurality of light-receiving elements, the protection container being configured to be located in water,
wherein the plurality of optical fibers is configured such that the light-emission ends are located within the protection container and the light-incident ends are located outside the protection container.

10. The optical communication device as recited in claim 9 ,
wherein at least one light-incident end of the plurality of optical fibers is arranged at a position different than at least one other light-incident end of the plurality of optical fibers.

11. The optical communication device as recited in claim 9 ,
wherein at least one light-incident end of the plurality of optical fibers is attached to an underwater structure.

12. The optical communication device as recited in claim 9 ,
wherein the plurality of light-receiving elements is arranged as an array of light-receiving elements.

13. The optical communication device as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a light-emission end holder configured to hold each light-emission end of the plurality of optical fibers near a corresponding light-receiving element of the plurality of light-receiving elements.

14. The optical communication device as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a lens configured to focus a communication light on a light-incident end of an optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers; and
a lens holder configured to hold the lens and being secured to the light-incident end,
wherein the light-incident end, the lens, and the lens holder are configured to be located in water, and
wherein the lens holder includes a water introduction portion for introducing surrounding water, the water introduction portion being provided between the light-incident end and the lens.

Assignees

• Shimadzu Corp
• Japan Agency Marine Earth Sci

Inventors

• Nishimura Naoki
• Sawa Takao

Classifications

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/262

  Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements · CPC title

• H04B13/02

  Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy · CPC title

• H04B10/80

  Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water · CPC title

• G02B6/506 Primary

  Underwater installation · CPC title