Optical communication system for rail-guided truck

An optical communication system for use with a rail-guided truck that includes a rail, at least one truck movable along the rail, and a controller configured or programmed to exchange information with the at least one truck, the optical communication system comprising:

• a first communication system to communicate first information from the controller to the at least one truck;
• and
• a second communication system to communicate second information from the at least one truck to the controller;
• wherein
• the first communication system includes:
• a first light emitter connected to the controller to output the first information in a form of light;
• a first optical fiber being an optical fiber laid along the rail to transport the light output from the first light emitter while letting the light leak therefrom;
• and
• a first light receiver mounted on the at least one truck to receive the light leaking from the first optical fiber;
• a first converter to convert the first information into a first signal output in the form of light from the first light emitter;
• and
• a first inverse converter mounted on the at least one truck to convert the first signal received in the form of light by the first light receiver into the first information;
• and
• the second communication system includes:
• a second light emitter mounted on the at least one truck to output the second information in a form of light;
• a second optical fiber being an optical fiber laid along the rail to transport the light output from the second light emitter and input to the second optical fiber at some point along the second optical fiber, or to transport light generated by the light output from the second light emitter and input to the second optical fiber at some point along the second optical fiber;
• a second light receiver connected to the controller to receive the light transported over the second optical fiber;
• a second converter mounted on the at least one truck to convert the second information into a second signal output in the form of light from the second light emitter;
• and
• a second inverse converter to convert the second signal received in the form of light by the second light receiver into the second information.