JPH0815433A - Distance measuring and laser communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To made possible the simultaneous execution of laser communication and distance measurement between moving bodies by mounting a signal processor, into which a time difference detector is incorporated in addition to two digital multiplex equipments for transmission and reception. CONSTITUTION:One of transmitting and receiving circuits is assigned previously for transmitting and receiving measuring signals. When a distance is measured by a distance measuring equipment A combining laser communication, a time difference detector 502 forms the measuring signal alpha, and transmits the signal alpha over a distance measuring equipment B combining laser communication through the assigned communication line. The measuring signal alpha is input to a time difference detector 602 in the equipment B through an optical demodulator 62 and a digital multiplex equipment 603, and the time difference detector 602 decides whether or not the measuring signal alphais formed by its own equipment 602, adds lag information, etc., corresponding to the lag time in the equipment B as a measuring signal alpha' when the no-formation of the measuring signal alpha is decided, and returns it to the equipment A through a digital multiplex equipment 601 and an optical modulator 61. The lag information, etc., are processed by the time difference processor 502 in the equipment A, and distance information is output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser device for performing distance measurement and communication between a plurality of relatively moving moving bodies.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional communication and distance measuring methods using laser light are as described in (1) and (2) below, respectively, and none of them achieves both at the same time. (1) Communication Method Using Laser Light FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a laser communication device capable of bidirectional multiplex communication.

The laser communication device A comprises a signal processor 1, an optical modulator 2 and an optical demodulator 3. Further, the signal processor 1 includes a multiplex converter 11 and a multiplex converter 12.

The laser communication device B is similarly composed of a signal processor 4, an optical modulator 5 and an optical demodulator 6. Furthermore, the signal processor 4 includes a multiplex conversion device 41.
And a multiplexer 42.

When a signal A or signals A to X (hereinafter, referred to as "signal A") is externally applied to the laser communication device A, the multiplex converter 1 of the signal processor 1 is provided.
Input to 1. The multiplex converter 11 superimposes a plurality of signals A by a method such as time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing, and sends the signals A to the optical modulator 2. The light modulation device 2 converts the signal A into electric / laser light and radiates it into space as laser light.

The signal A that has become laser light reaches the optical demodulation device 6 of the laser communication device B, where it is laser-light / electrically converted and replaced with an electric signal. The optical demodulator 6 converts the electrical signal A into a multiplex converter 4 in the signal processor 4.
Send to 2. The multiplexer 42 restores the signal A or the signals A to X before multiplexing the signal A and transmits the signal A to the outside. As a result, the laser communication device A transmits to the laser communication device B.

At the same time, in the transmission from the laser communication device B to the laser communication device A, when the signal a or the signals a to x is input to the multiplex conversion device 41 of the signal processor 4, the laser communication device A described above transmits laser light. Similarly to the transmission to the communication B, the multiplex conversion device 41, the optical modulation device 5, the optical demodulation device 3,
Simultaneous via the multiplex converter 12.

(2) Distance Measuring Method Using Laser Light FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a laser distance measuring apparatus that utilizes reflection of laser light. The laser range finder includes a time difference detector 15, an optical modulator 2, an optical demodulator 3, and a reflector 7.

First, the reflector 7 is installed at a point where the distance is desired to be measured. When performing the distance measurement, the burst-like measurement signal a generated by the time difference detection device 15 is transmitted to the optical modulator 2, and the optical modulator 2 converts the electric signal into laser light, and then the reflector 7. Radiate towards.

The laser beam reflected by the reflector 7 is converted into an electric signal by the optical demodulation device 3 and returned to the time difference detection device 15 as a burst-shaped measurement signal a '. The time difference detection device 15 detects a time difference (delay time) between the time when the measurement signal is transmitted and the time when the signal is received, calculates the distance to the reflector 7 from the speed and delay time of the light, and outputs the distance signal to the outside. Output.

[0011]

As described above, conventionally,
When performing communication using laser light and distance measurement at the same time,
A laser communication device and a laser distance measuring device, which are independent of each other, must be installed side by side, and two independent devices are required, which is expensive.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser communication / ranging device capable of simultaneously performing communication and distance measurement using a laser beam. .

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a laser communication / ranging device for performing information communication and distance measurement between a plurality of relatively moving mobile bodies. The distance device is an optical modulator as a laser transmitter, an optical demodulator as a laser receiver, generates a measurement signal for distance measurement, and a time difference from transmission to reception of the measurement signal generated by itself. And a time difference detecting device having a function of adding delay time information to a measurement signal from a partner device for performing distance calculation, information communication and distance confirmation based on the above, and the time difference detecting device. A first multiplex conversion device for multiplexing the measured signal and the information exchange signal for transmission and outputting them to the optical modulator; and the multiplexed signal received by the optical demodulator for information exchange. It restores the signals and measurement signals,
Second output of the restored measurement signal to the time difference detection device
Of the laser communication / ranging device, and information communication and distance measurement are simultaneously performed.

[0014]

ACTION By adopting such a means, its function appears as follows. That is, each of a plurality of relatively moving moving bodies is provided with an optical modulator and an optical demodulator as a laser transmitter / receiver, and a time difference detection device is incorporated in addition to two multiplex converters for transmitting / receiving. The present invention makes it possible to simultaneously perform laser communication and distance measurement between moving objects by providing a signal processor, and the operation and function thereof will be described below. (The communication itself is omitted.) Laser communication and communication of the distance measuring device can simultaneously send and receive a plurality of signals. This number is called the number of communication lines, and one of the lines is allocated for transmitting and receiving a measurement signal for measuring the distance (measuring the distance).

As for the case where the distance measurement between the A moving body and the B moving body is performed from the A moving body side, the measurement signal generated by the time difference detection device provided in the signal processing unit of A is used for the distance measurement described above. It transmits to the laser communication and range finder of the B mobile through the communication line.

In the received time difference detecting device of the B side device,
It is determined whether or not the received measurement signal is generated by itself, and if it is not, the delay time information in the B-side device is added to the measurement signal, and the mobile unit A is again transmitted through the communication line for distance measurement. It sends it back to the laser communication and ranging device.

The measurement signal returned to the mobile unit A is
The signal is sent to the time difference detection device, and the device determines whether or not the signal is generated by itself. In this case, since the measurement signal is generated by itself, the distance is calculated from the time difference from transmission to reception, the delay time in the mobile unit A and the delay time information added by the mobile unit B, and output to the outside of the unit. To do. In the above, distance measurement from the B moving body side to the A moving body is performed in the same procedure.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a laser communication and distance measuring apparatus according to this embodiment. The laser communication and distance measuring device according to the present invention can simultaneously perform communication and distance measurement (measurement of distance) using laser light.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser communication / distance measuring device of this embodiment comprises a pair of laser communication / distance measuring devices A and B. The laser communication / ranging device A includes a signal processor 50, an optical modulator 51, and an optical demodulator 52. Further, the signal processor 50 includes the multiplex conversion device 501, the time difference detection device 502, and the multiplex conversion device 50.
It consists of 3.

The multiplex converter 501 includes a plurality of signals A to.
It is a conversion device for transmission that multiplexes X and the measurement signal α output from the time difference detection device 502 by a time division multiplexing method, a frequency division multiplexing method, or the like.

The time difference detection device 502 generates the measurement signal α for performing distance measurement by itself and transmits the measurement signal α until the measurement signal α is received via the laser communication and distance measurement device B. The delay information (details will be described later) is added to the distance calculation based on the time difference and the measurement signal β sent from the partner laser communication / ranging device B.

The multiplex conversion device 503 is a reception conversion device that restores the signals multiplexed in the laser communication / distance measuring device B into the original signals a to x and the measurement signal for distance measurement.

The optical modulator 51 performs electric / laser light conversion on the multiplexed signal output from the multiplex converter 501 and directs it to the space (laser communication / distance measuring device B optical demodulator 62) as laser light. It is a laser transmitter that radiates to

The optical demodulator 52 is a laser receiver for converting the laser light output from the optical modulator 61 of the laser communication / ranging device B into laser light / electrical conversion and outputting it as an electric signal to the multiplex converter 503. is there.

The laser communication and distance measuring device B includes a signal processor 6
0, an optical modulator 61, and an optical demodulator 62. Further, the signal processor 60 includes a multiplex converter 601,
It is composed of a time difference detection device 602 and a multiplex conversion device 603.

The multiplex conversion device 601 includes a plurality of signals a to.
x and the measurement signal β output from the time difference detection device 602 are multiplexed by a time division multiplexing method or a frequency division multiplexing method.

The time difference detection device 602 generates a measurement signal β for performing distance measurement by itself and transmits the measurement signal β to the reception of the measurement signal β via the laser communication and distance measurement device A. The delay information is added to the measurement signal sent from the other party's laser communication and distance measuring device A based on the calculation of the distance.

The multiplex conversion device 603 is a reception conversion device that restores the signals multiplexed in the laser communication and distance measuring device A into the original signals A to X and the measurement signal for distance measurement.

The optical modulator 61 performs electric / laser light conversion on the multiplexed signal output from the multiplex converter 601 and directs it as laser light to the space (laser communication / optical demodulator 52 of the distance measuring apparatus A). It is a laser transmitter that radiates to

The optical demodulator 62 is a laser receiver for converting the laser light output from the optical modulator 51 of the laser communication / ranging device A into laser light / electrical conversion and outputting it as an electric signal to the multiplex converter 603. is there.

The operation of the laser communication and distance measuring device ((1) communication function, (2) distance measuring function) will be described below. (1) Communication Function Now, when a signal A or signals A to X (hereinafter, referred to as “signal A”) is externally applied to the laser communication / ranging device A, the multiplex conversion device of the signal processor 50. It is input into 501. The multiplex conversion device 501 superimposes a plurality of signals A by a method such as time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing and sends them to the optical modulator 51. Light modulator 5
1 converts the signal A into electric / laser light and radiates it into space as laser light.

The signal A that has become the laser light reaches the optical demodulation device 62 of the laser communication / ranging device B, where the laser light /
It is converted into electrical signals and replaced with electrical signals. The optical demodulation device 62 sends the signal A, which has become an electrical signal, to the multiplex conversion device 603 in the signal processor 60. Multiplexing device 603
Restores the signal A to the signal A or the signals A to X before multiplexing and transmits the signal A to the outside. As a result, the laser communication / ranging device A transmits to the laser communication / ranging device B.

At the same time, the transmission from the laser communication / ranging device B to the laser communication / ranging device A is also performed by the signal a or the signals a ...
When x is input to the multiplex converter 601 of the signal processor 60, the multiplex converter 6 is processed in the same manner as the transmission from the laser communication / ranging device A to the laser communication / ranging device B described above.
01, the optical modulator 61, the optical demodulator 52, and the multiplex converter 503 simultaneously. (2) Distance measuring function In the communication between the laser communication and the distance measuring devices A and B, it is possible to transmit and receive a plurality of signals (the number of communication lines) at the same time. It is assigned for transmission and reception of a measurement signal used for distance measurement (distance measurement).

Now, when the distance is measured by the laser communication and distance measuring device A, the time difference detecting device 50 in the laser communication and distance measuring device A is used.
2 generates a measurement signal α and sends it to the laser communication and distance measuring device B through the communication line assigned for distance measurement.

The measurement signal α includes unique information (information consisting of a digital coded signal, etc., hereinafter referred to as “device identification information A”) indicating that the measurement signal α is generated by the laser communication and distance measuring apparatus A. It is configured.

FIG. 2 shows the timing of transmission and reception of the measurement signal in the laser communication and distance measuring devices A and B. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. From the laser communication / ranging device A, the measurement signal α is generated at the timing shown in FIG.
It is assumed that (device identification information A) has been transmitted.

The time difference detecting device 602 in the laser communication / ranging device B is a measurement signal α from the laser communication / ranging device A.
Are input via the optical demodulation device 62 and the multiplex conversion device 603. The time difference detection device 602 determines whether or not the sent measurement signal is generated by the device 602 itself based on the device identification information in the measurement signal.

If the result of this determination is that it was not generated by own device 602, time difference detection device 602 determines that
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, delay information corresponding to the delay time in the laser communication / ranging device B and the device of the laser communication / ranging device B are added to the sent measurement signal α. The identification information B is added as a measurement signal α ′ and output to the multiplex conversion device 601.

The multiplex converter 601 sends back the measurement signal α'to the laser communication / ranging device A through the distance measuring communication line via the optical modulator 61. Laser communication and ranging device B
The measurement signal returned from the laser communication and ranging device A from
It is sent to the time difference detection device 502 through the optical demodulation device 52 and the multiplex conversion device 503 in the laser communication and distance measuring device A.

The time difference detecting device 502 determines whether or not the measurement signal sent from the laser communication / ranging device B is generated by the device 502 based on the device identification information in the measurement signal.

As a result of this determination, if the device identification information in the measurement signal matches the device identification information A, it is determined to be the measurement signal generated by the own device 502. In this case, the time difference detection device 502, as shown in FIG. 2D, the time difference from the transmission of the measurement signal α to the reception via the laser communication and distance measuring device B, and the laser communication and distance measuring device. Based on the delay time in A, the delay information added in the laser communication / ranging device B and the measurement signal α ′ including the device identification information of the laser communication / ranging device B, the laser communication / ranging device A Is converted to information indicating the distance from the laser communication / ranging device B to the outside.

On the other hand, when the distance is measured by the laser communication and distance measuring device B, the time difference detecting device 602 generates the measurement signal β, and based on the measurement signal received through the laser communication and distance measuring device A. The information indicating the distance is obtained by the same procedure as described above.

Next, a processing example of "device identification information" will be described below with reference to FIG. 3 in the case where the distance is measured by the laser communication and distance measuring apparatus A described above. Now, it is assumed that the device identification information has a 4-bit digital signal and the delay information has a 8-bit digital signal. Here, the device identification information of the laser communication and ranging device A is "5", the device identification information of the laser communication and ranging device B is "6", and the delay time of the laser communication and ranging device is "10 m.
s ”, the structure of the measurement signal is as shown in FIG. 3 (a).

That is, the device identification information is represented by a hexadecimal code, and a bit string of "0101" for the device identification information "5" and "0110" for the device identification information "6", and further the sending information is a BCD code. "10m
It becomes a bit string of "00010000" for "s".

However, the order of the signals and the bit configuration may be other than the configuration shown in FIG. Next, extraction of measurement signals (temporal change and processing) will be described below with reference to FIG.

The measurement signal sent to the time difference detecting device 602 of the laser communication / ranging device B is "5000" as shown in FIG. 3 (b). The highest 4 bits of this signal
The time difference detection device 602 compares "5" (hexadecimal code "0101") with the device identification information "6" (hexadecimal code "0110") of the laser communication / ranging device B. The time difference detection device 602 compares the device identification information using a digital comparator or the like.

If the device identification information matches as a result of this comparison, the distance is calculated using the delay information of the lower 8 bits of the measurement signal. In this case, since the device identification information does not match, the time difference detection device 602, as shown in FIG. 3B, displays the device identification information of the laser communication / ranging device B at 4 bits next to the highest 4 bits of the measurement signal. 6 ”, the lower 8 bi
Delay information “10” (indicating that “10 ms” is sent) is added to t, and the result is returned to the laser communication / ranging device A.

In this way, by utilizing this device, it is possible to simultaneously perform communication using laser light and distance measurement by a device composed of a pair of laser communication and distance measurement devices A and B. Become.

Note that the communication can be performed simultaneously with a large number of parties by deciding the communication line in advance. Also, when performing distance measurement, it is possible to perform distance measurement for a large number of opponents by adding the device identification information to the delay information added to the measurement signal. (In the case of performing one-to-one communication and distance measurement, the duplication of the device identification signal is unnecessary.) Further, the optical modulators 51 and 61 and the optical demodulators 52 and 62 having wide directivity are adopted. This makes it possible to simplify the optical axis alignment and facilitate communication and distance measurement between moving objects (cars, ships, etc.). Further, the laser communication / ranging device according to the present invention can be applied to a vehicle, a space maintenance control device between ships, and the like.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform communication and distance measurement using laser light without providing a laser communication device and a laser distance measuring device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a laser communication / ranging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for supplementarily explaining the operation of the laser communication and distance measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of addition and extraction of “device identification information” in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional laser communication device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional laser distance measuring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

50,60 ... Signal processor, 501,503,601,6
03 ... Multiplex converter, 502, 602 ... Time difference detecting device, 51, 61 ... Optical modulator, 52, 62 ... Optical demodulator.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser communication / ranging device for communicating information between a plurality of relatively moving mobile objects and measuring a distance, wherein the laser communication / ranging device is a laser transmitter. Optical modulator, optical demodulator as laser receiver, generation of measurement signal for distance measurement, and calculation of distance based on time difference from transmission to reception of the measurement signal generated by the device itself , And a time difference detection device having a function of adding delay time information to a measurement signal from a partner device for confirming information communication and distance, and a measurement signal and information communication of the measurement signal generated by the time difference detection device. A first multiplex conversion device that multiplexes a signal for transmission and outputs the multiplexed signal to the optical modulation device; and the multiplexed signal received by the optical demodulation device into an original signal and a measurement signal for information exchange. A second multiplex conversion device that restores and outputs the restored measurement signal to the time difference detection device; and information communication and distance measurement are performed simultaneously between the laser communication and ranging devices. Laser communication and distance measuring device.