Transporting system and transporting unit included therein

A transporting unit comprising:

• a support unit supporting a target object;
• a driving unit generating a driving force to transport the target object;
• a receiving unit receiving a first optical signal emitted from a lateral surface of a first optical line, wherein the lateral surface of the first optical line extends along a length of the first optical line;
• a transmitting unit emitting a second optical signal onto a lateral surface of a second optical line, wherein the second optical line is spaced apart from the first optical line, wherein the lateral surface of the second optical line extends along a length of the second optical line;
• and
• a controller controlling the driving unit using the first and second optical signals.

A transporting system comprising:

• a first rail having a first region and a second region;
• a second rail having a third region and a fourth region, wherein the second and fourth regions overlap each other, and the first and second rails merge at a joining location that is within the second and fourth regions;
• a first transporting unit configured to travel on the first rail;
• a second transporting unit configured to travel on the second rail;
• a first optical line and a second optical line disposed within the second region;
• a third optical line and a fourth optical line disposed within the fourth region;
• and
• a first controller connected to the first, second, third, and fourth optical lines, wherein the first controller is configured to control the traveling of the first and second transporting units at the joining location through the first, second, third, and fourth optical lines,
• wherein the first transporting unit includes a receiving unit configured to receive a first optical signal from a lateral surface of the first optical line, wherein the first optical signal is supplied from the first controller, and
• wherein the first transporting unit includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit a second optical signal onto a lateral surface of the second optical line such that the second optical signal enters the second optical line through the lateral surface of the second optical line, and such that the second optical signal, having entered the second optical line, is transmitted to the first controller through the second optical line.

A transporting system comprising:

• a first rail including a first region and a second region, the first region being a region where the first rail extends linearly and the second region being a region where the first rail is curved;
• a second rail including a third region, separated from the first region, and a fourth region overlapping the second region, wherein the first and second rails merge at a joining location that includes the second region and the fourth region;
• optical lines disposed in the second region and the fourth region, wherein the optical lines are parallel to each other in the fourth region;
• a first transporting unit traveling on the first rail;
• a second transporting unit traveling on the second rail;
• and
• a first controller controlling the traveling of the first and second transporting units using light transmitted or received through the optical lines,
• wherein the optical lines include first and second optical lines disposed along the second region and separated from each other, and third and fourth optical lines disposed along the fourth region and separated from each other,
• wherein the first controller comprises:
• a first interface board connected to the first and second optical lines;
• and
• a second interface board connected to the third and fourth optical lines,
• wherein the first interface board includes a first transmitting unit supplying the first optical line with an optical signal and a first receiving unit receiving an optical signal supplied from the second optical line, and the second interface board includes a second transmitting unit supplying the third optical line with an optical signal and a second receiving unit receiving an optical signal supplied from the fourth optical line.