Free-space optical communications for mobile devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016329961-A1
Application number	US-201415110175-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2014
Priority date	Jan 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses, including computer program code are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code may be configured to cause the apparatus to generate a divergent beam for an optical source that is coincident with a divergent beam for an optical detector. The apparatus may determine an adjustment to a mirror to cause an optical alignment of an incoming beam with the optical detector based on at least an optical intensity across the optical detector, wherein the alignment is with respect to at least another apparatus. The apparatus may adjust a position of the mirror according to the determined adjustment, and change the divergent beam to a collimated beam to enable optical communications with the other apparatus via the collimated beam.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An apparatus comprising:
generator to generate a divergent beam for an optical source that is coincident with the divergent beam for an optical detector; determinator to determine an adjustment to a mirror to cause an optical alignment of an incoming beam with the optical detector based on at least an optical intensity across the optical detector, wherein the alignment is with respect to another apparatus; adjustor to adjust a position of the mirror according to the determined adjustment; and change the divergent beam to a collimated beam to enable optical communications with the other apparatus via the collimated beam.

22 . An apparatus as in claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile device.

23 . An apparatus as in claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is registered with a network, and wherein the network enables the apparatus to communicate with the other apparatus using the optical communications.

24 . An apparatus as in claim 23 , wherein the optical communications comprises laser communications, and wherein information carried by the laser communications is encoded and decoded with a secret key generated by a quantum key distribution.

25 . An apparatus as in claim 21 , wherein the process to determine, to adjust, or to change are performed automatically.

26 . An apparatus as in claim 21 , further comprising communicate information between the apparatus and the other apparatus using the divergent beam.

27 . A method comprising:
generating a divergent beam for an optical source that is coincident with the divergent beam for an optical detector; determining an adjustment to a mirror to cause an optical alignment of an incoming beam with the optical detector based on at least an optical intensity across the optical detector, wherein the alignment is with respect to an another apparatus; adjusting a position of the mirror according to the determined adjustment; and changing the divergent beam to a collimated beam to enable optical communications with the other apparatus via the collimated beam.

28 . A method as in claim 27 , wherein the method is performed at a mobile device.

29 . A method as in claim 27 , wherein the mobile device is registered with network, and wherein the network enables the user equipment to communicate with the apparatus using the optical communications.

30 . A method as in claim 29 , wherein the optical communications comprises laser communications, and wherein information carried by the laser communications is encoded and decoded with a secret key generated by a quantum key distribution.

31 . A method as in claim 27 , wherein the determining, the adjusting, and the changing are performed automatically.

32 . A method as in claim 27 , further comprising communicating information between the mobile device and the another apparatus using the divergent beam.

33 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause operations comprising:
generating a divergent beam for an optical source that is coincident with the divergent beam for an optical detector; determining an adjustment to a mirror to cause an optical alignment of an incoming beam with the optical detector based on at least an optical intensity across the optical detector, wherein the alignment is with respect to at least an apparatus; adjusting a position of the mirror according to the determined adjustment; and changing the divergent beam to a collimated beam to enable optical communications with the other apparatus via the collimated beam.

34 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 33 , wherein the generating, the determining, the adjusting, and the changing are performed by a mobile device.

35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 33 , wherein the mobile is registered with a network, and wherein the network enables the mobile device to communicate with the another apparatus using the optical communications.

36 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 35 , wherein the optical communications comprises laser communications, and wherein information carried by the laser communications is encoded and decoded with a secret key generated by a quantum key distribution.

37 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 33 , wherein the determining, the adjusting, and the changing are performed automatically.

38 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 33 , further comprising communicating information between the user equipment and the other apparatus using the divergent beam.

Assignees

• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Li Hongwei
• Bitauld David
• Niskanen Antti

Classifications

• H04B10/1125 Primary

  using a single common optical path · CPC title

• H04B10/1129

  Arrangements for outdoor wireless networking of information · CPC title

• H04B10/112 Primary

  Line-of-sight transmission over an extended range · CPC title

• H04B10/118

  specially adapted for satellite communication · CPC title

• H04B10/40

  Transceivers · CPC title