Signalling system
AssigneeQuantumbeam Limited
InventorsAlan E. Green, Euan Morrison, Robert M. Pettigrew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A signalling system includes first and second signalling devices. The first signalling device including a retro-reflector modulator, having a lens, a modulator and a reflector, and being operable to receive, modulate and reflect the modulated signal back to the second signalling device. The second signalling device including a signal generator, a receiver for receiving the modulated signal from the first signalling device and a processor for retrieving modulation data from the received modulated signal. The lens of the first signalling device includes a telecentric lens.
Claims109
A signalling system comprising first and second signalling devices, wherein:
- the first signalling device comprises a retro-reflecting modulator having a telecentric lens, a modulator and a reflector, and the retro-reflecting modulator being operable to receive a signal transmitted from said second signalling device and to modulate and reflect the received signal back to the second signalling device, to transmit a modulated signal to the second signalling device;
- and wherein
- the second signalling device comprises:
- a signal generator operable to generate a signal;
- a transmitter operable to transmit the generated signal to said first signalling device;
- a receiver operable to receive the modulated signal from said first signalling device;
- and a processor operable to retrieve modulation data from the modulated signal.
A retro-reflector comprising:
- a telecentric lens for focusing signals received from a source;
- and
- a reflector, located substantially at a back focal plane of said telecentric lens, operable to reflect said received signals back to said source.
A retro-reflector comprising a telecentric lens for receiving and focusing light from a light source and a reflecting means located substantially at the focal plane of said telecentric lens for reflecting said light back to said light source.
An optical point to multipoint signalling system comprising a first signalling device and a plurality of second signalling devices, wherein:
- the first signalling device comprises a retro-reflector operable to receive light beams from the plurality of second signalling devices and to reflect the received light beams back to the respective second signalling devices;
- and means for modulating the received light beams with respective modulation data for the second signalling devices;
- and
- wherein each second signalling device comprises a light source for outputting a light beam towards said first signalling device;
- and means for receiving the modulated light beam which is reflected back from said first signalling device;
- and
- wherein said retro-reflector comprises a telecentric lens and a reflector.
A signalling device for use in a signalling system comprising:
- a telecentric lens for focusing signals received from a source;
- a reflector operable to reflect said received signals back to said source;
- and
- a modulator for modulating the received signals with modulation data.
A data distribution system comprising a retro-reflector having a telecentric lens for focusing signals received from a source;
- and a reflector operable to reflect said received signals back to said source.
An office communications network comprising a retro-reflector having a telecentric lens for focusing signals received from a source;
- and a reflector operable to reflect said received signals back to said source.
A signalling method using first and second signalling devices, the method comprising the steps of:
- at the first signalling device:
- providing a retro-reflecting modulator having a telecentric lens, a modulator and a reflector;
- receiving a signal transmitted from said second signalling device;
- and
- modulating and reflecting the received signal back to the second signalling device, to transmit a modulated signal to the second signalling device;
- and
- at said second signalling device:
- generating a signal;
- transmitting the generated signal to the first signalling device;
- receiving the modulated signal from the first signalling device;
- and retrieving modulation data from the modulated signal.
A signalling system comprising first and second signalling devices, wherein:
- the first signalling device comprises a retro-reflecting modulator having a telecentric lens, a modulator and a reflector, and the retro-reflecting modulator being operable to receive a signal transmitted from said second signalling device and to modulate and reflect the received signal back to the second signalling device, to transmit a modulated signal to the second signalling device;
- wherein said second signalling device comprises:
- means for generating a signal;
- means for transmitting the generated signal to said first signalling device;
- means for receiving the modulated signal from said first signalling device;
- and means for retrieving modulation data from the modulated signal.
A signalling system comprising first and second signalling devices, wherein:
- the first signalling device comprises:
- a telecentric lens for receiving a signal transmitted from the second signalling device;
- a modulator for modulating the received signal with modulation data for the second signalling device;
- and a reflector for reflecting the modulated signal back to the second signalling device;
- wherein said second signalling device comprises a signal generator operable to generate a signal;
- a transmitter operable to transmit the generated signal to the first signalling device;
- a receiver operable to receive the modulated signal from the first signalling device;
- and a processor operable to retrieve the modulation data from the modulated signal.
A signalling device for use in a signalling system, the signalling device comprising:
- a retro-reflector having:
- a telecentric lens operable to focus signals received from a source;
- and a reflector operable to reflect said signals focussed by said telecentric lens back to said source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.