Systems and methods for underwater optical communication
AssigneeWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution
InventorsNorman E. Farr, Lee Freitag, James Preisig, Dana R. Yoerger, Sheri N. White, Alan D. Chave
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Abstract
The systems and methods of the invention provide for improved underwater communication systems. In particular, the systems and methods of the invention provide for improved underwater optical modems including optical transmitters and optical receivers that allow omni-directional transmission and reception of optical signals underwater and having a range of about 100 m and allowing data rates greater than 1 Mbit/s. The systems and methods of the invention also provide for underwater communication networks having a plurality of optical modems communicating with each other.
Claims28
An underwater communication system, comprising:
- a transmitter having a source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a diffuser capable of diffusing the electromagnetic radiation and disposed in a position surrounding a portion of the source for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions, and
- a receiver having a detector capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be received in substantially any direction;
- wherein, the transmitter and receiver are physically separated from each other, and
- wherein, the electromagnetic radiation includes electromagnetic waves of wavelength in the optical spectrum between 300 nm and 800 nm.
An underwater communication system, comprising:
- two or more nodes that can transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, each node including:
- a transmitter having a source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, and a diffuser capable of diffusing the electromagnetic radiation and disposed in a position surrounding a portion of the source for diffusing the electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions, and
- a receiver having a detector capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be received in substantially any direction;
- wherein, the two or more nodes are physically separated from each other, and
- wherein, the electromagnetic radiation includes electromagnetic waves of wavelength in the optical spectrum between 300 nm and 800 nm.
A method of manufacturing an optical modem for an underwater optical communication system, comprising the steps of
- providing at least one source of optical radiation,
- disposing the at least one source within a diffuser such that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source is diffused in a plurality of different directions,
- providing at least one detector configured to receive and detect optical radiation from a plurality of different direction, and
- enclosing a portion of the source, the diffuser and the detector in a water impermneable enclosure such that the optical modem may transmit and receive optical radiation underwater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.