FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the field of information transmission technologies, and more particularly to a free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device, system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

As the transmission capacity increasingly grows in the communication field, it is difficult to meet the requirements in terms of the transmission capacity and transmission speed by means of the conventional transmission technologies. In addition, as various intelligent terminals gain increasing improvement in their computing capacity, and become increasingly thin and portable, it is inconvenient for users to use the conventional cables for signal transmission. Although radio signal transmission technology, such as WIFI and Bluetooth, can overcome such inconvenience to a certain degree, this technology has obvious limitations in high-speed signal transmission at present.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To solve the problems in the prior art to at least a certain degree, the present disclosure provides a free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device, system and method.

According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device, which includes an optical engine and a collimating lens module that are connected, where

the optical engine is configured to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal; the collimating lens module is configured to collimate the optical signal transmitted from the optical engine and then send the collimated signal to free space for transmission; the collimating lens module is further configured to shape the optical signal received from the free space and then send the shaped signal to the optical engine; and the optical engine is further configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;

the optical engine comprises a base board, and a laser driver chip, a laser, a lens array module, a photodiode, and an electrical signal amplifier chip that are provided on the base board;

an electrical signal externally loaded with information is input into the laser driver chip, and the laser driver chip drives the laser to emit light; the lens array module is configured to collimate or totally reflect the optical signal, or to collimate the optical signal and make it straightly pass through; and the collimating lens module collimates the optical signal transmitted from the optical engine and then sends the collimated signal to the free space for transmission; and

the collimating lens module shapes the optical signal received from the free space and then sends the shaped signal to the lens array module; the lens array module adjusts the optical signal transmitted thereto, and then sends the adjusted signal to the photodiode; the photodiode converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, and then sends the electrical signal to the electrical signal amplifier chip for amplification; and a signal output by the electrical signal amplifier chip is sent to an external circuit.

Further, the free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device further includes an optical fiber, where the optical engine is connected to the collimating lens module via the optical fiber.

Further, the lens array module is formed by one or multiple lenses.

Further, when the lens array module is formed by one lens and is used to refract a light path, the lens has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface;

the optical signal that is sent out enters the lens through its first surface, is refracted by the second surface and transmitted out of the lens through the third surface, and then enters the collimating lens module; and

the optical signal collimated by the collimating lens module enters the lens through its third surface, is refracted by the second surface and transmitted out of the lens through the first surface, and then enters the photodiode.

Further, an included angle between the second surface of the lens and an incident direction of the optical signal is 45°.

Further, when the lens array module is formed by one lens and is used to make the light path straightly pass through, the lens has a fourth surface and a fifth surface;

the optical signal that is sent out enters the lens through its fourth surface, is transmitted out of the lens through the fifth surface, and directly enters the collimating lens module; and

the optical signal collimated by the collimating lens module enters the lens through its fifth surface, is transmitted out of the lens through the fourth surface, and enters the photodiode.

Further, the free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device further includes a WDM unit, configured to combine multiple paths of optical signals output by the optical engine on one path for transmission, and further configured to split the received one path of optical signal into multiple paths for transmission.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides a free-space optical signal alignment and transmission system, which includes a driver controller and at least one information transceiver chip, where the free-space optical signal alignment and transmission device described in any one of the foregoing aspects is disposed on the information transceiver chip, and the information transceiver chip is further provided with a transceiving transfer switch;

the driver controller controls the transceiving transfer switch to perform a state switch; the laser driver chip drives the laser to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal; then the optical signal refracts or straightly passes through the lens array module, enters the collimating lens module and is collimated by it; and the collimated signal is sent to free space for transmission; and

the collimating lens module collimates the optical signal, and sends the collimated signal to the lens array module; then the optical signal refracts or straightly passes through the lens array module, enters the photodiode, and is converted by the photodiode into an electrical signal; the electrical signal is sent to the electrical signal amplifier chip, and the electrical signal amplifier chip amplifies the electrical signal and outputs the amplified signal.

According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides a free-space optical signal alignment and transmission method, which includes the following steps:

driving, by a driver controller by using a laser driver chip, a laser to convert an electrical signal to be transmitted into an optical signal;

the optical signal entering a lens array module, and refracting or straightly passing through the module;

the optical signal transmitted out of the lens array module converging on an optical fiber for transmission or directly entering a collimating lens module; and

collimating, by the collimating lens module, one or multiple paths of optical signals into a collimated light beam, which then enters free space for transmission.

Further, the free-space optical signal alignment and transmission method also includes the following steps:

converging, by the collimating lens module, the optical signal transmitted from the free space, and then sending it to the optical fiber or directly to the lens array module;

adjusting, by the lens array module, the light beam of the one or multiple paths of optical signals from the optical fiber, totally reflecting the light beam and then sending it to a photodiode; or adjusting the light beam and then directly sending it to the photodiode; and

converting, by the photodiode, the received optical signal into an electrical signal, and then sending the electrical signal to an electrical signal amplifier chip; and amplifying, by the electrical signal amplifier chip, the electrical signal and then outputting the amplified signal.

Based on the foregoing specific implementation manners of the present disclosure, the present disclosure at least has the following advantageous effects: An optical engine and a collimating lens module are provided in the present disclosure, and the optical engine is connected to the collimating lens module directly or via an optical fiber. Thus, it is not needed to use a copper wire, a back plate, or the like for connection, improving the communication rate, reducing upgrade costs, and implementing free-space optical communication. Compared with current radio signal communication, the present disclosure can realize high-speed signal transmission. Moreover, the present disclosure integrates units for sending, alignment, transmission, and receiving of an optical signal, further simplifying the design and meeting different application requirements.

It should be noted that, the above general description and the following specific implementation manners are merely exemplary and explanatory, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

