Wireless optical system for multidirectional high bandwidth communications

Abstract

This disclosure describes an optical communications system for optically networking computers and other devices together in a multi-user environment in a cost effective manner. This is accomplished through the use of low power (eye safe intensity) lasers, light emitting diodes, or photo diodes, to connect users in a time shared fashion through an optical multiplexing system (the optical access point) which can direct and manage the networking connection to each user device (user optical transceiver) independently. Both the optical access point and the user optical transceiver are capable of dynamically adjusting a beam to locate and align with each other.

1 . An optical communications system comprising: 
 a fixed position generally conical shaped reflective element having a longitudinal axis, wherein the reflective element is configured to limit the directions of incoming and outgoing optical signals to an approximately horizontal direction; and    a first optical transceiver adapted to be rotated about the longitudinal axis for communication with a second optical transceiver, wherein the first optical transceiver includes a transmitter positioned to transmit outgoing signals to a first portion of the reflective element and a receiver positioned to receive incoming signals reflected from a second portion of the reflective element, wherein the first and second portions are vertically positioned with respect to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a tube surrounding the reflector element and the first optical transceiver, wherein the tube is self-leveling.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the tube includes a pivot for the self-leveling.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising means for dampening the self-leveling provided by the pivot.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical transceiver is coupled to an optical network for determining a location of the second optical transceiver.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising an optical network manager, wherein the optical network manager is adapted to allocate network bandwidth to the second optical transceiver.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a ring of focusing lenses adapted to focus light being transmitted to the second optical transceiver to increase usable signal strength of the optical signals.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a ring of focusing lenses adapted to focus light being received from the second optical transceiver to increase usable signal strength of the optical signals.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an opaque housing to house the reflective element and the first optical receiver, wherein the housing has an optically transparent region to allow the passing of the optical signals.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a converter in communication with the first optical transceiver, the converter adapted to convert network signals into the optical signals utilizing an optical protocol for transmission across an optical link.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a converter in communication with the first optical transceiver, the converter adapted to convert network signals into the optical signals utilizing an optical protocol for receiving signals across an optical link.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective element comprises multiple reflective surfaces to affect the optical signals such that signal-to-noise ratios of the optical signals are maximized.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective element comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces, wherein each reflective surface is used to communicate with a predetermined plurality of uni-directional transceivers.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective element comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces, wherein each reflective surface is used to transmit optical signals to a predetermined plurality of uni-directional transceivers.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective element comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces, wherein each reflective surface is used to receive optical signals from a predetermined plurality of uni-directional transceivers.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical transceiver comprises a steering mechanism to steer the incoming and outgoing signals to enable easier alignment between the uni-directional optical transceiver and the first optical transceiver.  
     
     
         17 . An optical communications system comprising: 
 a fixed position generally conical shaped reflective element having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of reflective surfaces;    a plurality of optical transceivers positioned about the longitudinal axis in an annular ring such that the plurality of optical transceivers can send and receive optical signals to and from a second plurality of optical transceivers via signal paths which are reflected by the reflective element,    wherein each of the reflective surfaces is used to communicate with a predetermined plurality of uni-directional optical transceivers.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of optical transceivers are coupled to an optical network for determining a location of the second plurality of optical transceivers.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising an optical network manager, wherein the optical network manager is adapted to allocate network bandwidth to the second plurality of optical transceivers.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a ring of focusing lenses adapted to focus light being transmitted to the second plurality of optical transceivers to increase usable signal strength of the optical signals.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a ring of focusing lenses adapted to focus light being received from the second plurality of optical transceivers to increase usable signal strength of the optical signals.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising an opaque housing to house the reflective element and the plurality of optical transceivers, wherein the housing has an optically transparent region to allow the passing of the optical signals.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the housing is self-leveling.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of optical transceivers comprises a steering mechanism to steer the sent or received optical signals to enable easier alignment between the predetermined plurality of uni-directional transceivers and the plurality of optical transceivers.  
     
     
         25 . An optical communications system comprising: 
 a fixed position generally conical shaped reflective element having a longitudinal axis and configured to form at least one reflective surface;    a plurality of optical transmitters positioned about the longitudinal axis in a first annular ring such that the plurality of optical transmitters can send optical signals to a plurality of optical transceivers via signal paths which are reflected by a first portion of the reflective element; and    a plurality of optical receivers positioned about the longitudinal axis in a second annular ring such that the plurality of optical receivers can receive optical signals from the plurality of optical transceivers via signal paths which are reflected by a second portion of the reflective element.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the reflective element is configured to limit the directions of incoming and outgoing optical signals to an approximately horizontal direction, and wherein the first and second portions are vertically positioned with respect to one another.