Optical wireless multiport hub
US7035546B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/2587
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical communication transmitter (13), receiver (15), and transceiver (17) having distinctive retro-reflective elements (30) and/or reflectivity that can be modulated. In one embodiment, the retro-reflective elements (30) can have different shapes or patterns (32), irrespective of rotation or size. In another embodiment, the retro-reflective elements can have their reflectivity modulated (42) to have a distinctive pattern in time. The solution also provides the capability to direct a remote optical receiver (15) to an available port (17) with an appropriate FOV. In the case where retro-reflective elements are only shape distinctive, a method may be used to direct the remote OWLink (15) to an appropriate port (17) of the hub (54). In addition to the hub ports (17) used for data links, additional hub ports called command ports (60) are added that are only used during the initial link setup of remote units. The hub (54) contains enough command ports (60) such that one command port covers each possible FOV. All command ports contain the same retro-reflective element shape that is very distinct from other hub shapes, e.g. the largest.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.