TWI658703B - Optical communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

The optical communication device includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a light guide structure, a driver, a light receiver, and a light transmitter. The first circuit board has an upper surface. The second circuit board is disposed opposite to the first circuit board and has a lower surface. The light guide structure is connected to the second circuit board and is located between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The driver is connected to the light guide structure to drive the light guide structure and the second circuit board to rotate. The light receiver is disposed on the upper surface of the first circuit board. The light transmitter is disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board. The light transmitter emits a signal light to the light receiver through the light guide structure.

Description

Optical communication device

The disclosure relates to an optical communication device, and more particularly to an optical communication device having a light transmitter and a light receiver.

In a conventional optical communication device, a light receiver and a light transmitter are usually arranged in a hollow shaft of a motor. However, this requires the hollow shaft of the motor to be designed separately, and the matching area of the light receiver and light transmitter is also limited to the inside of the hollow shaft of the motor. This limits the design flexibility of optical communication devices.

Therefore, this disclosure proposes an optical communication device, which can improve the aforementioned conventional problems.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical communication device is provided. The optical communication device includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a light guiding structure, a driver, a first optical receiver and a first optical transmitter. The first circuit board has an upper surface. The second circuit board is disposed opposite to the first circuit board and has a lower surface. The light guide structure is connected to the second circuit board and is located between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The driver is connected to the light guide structure to drive the light guide structure and the second circuit board to rotate. The first light receiver is disposed on an upper surface of the first circuit board. The first light transmitter is disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board. The first light transmitter emits a first signal light to the first light receiver through the light guide structure.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical communication device is provided. The optical communication device includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a driver, a first optical receiver, and several first optical transmitters. The first circuit board has an upper surface. The second circuit board is disposed opposite to the first circuit board and has a lower surface. The driver is connected to the second circuit board to drive the second circuit board to rotate. The driver has a casing peripheral surface. The first light receiver is disposed on an upper surface of the first circuit board. A plurality of first optical transmitters are disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board, and each first optical transmitter emits a first signal light to the first optical receiver. These first light emitters are located outside a projection area projected from the peripheral surface of the casing to the lower surface.

In order to have a better understanding of the above and other aspects of this disclosure, the following specific examples are described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings:

100, 200, 300, 400 ‧‧‧ optical communication devices

110‧‧‧first circuit board

110a‧‧‧through hole

110u‧‧‧upper surface

120‧‧‧second circuit board

120b‧‧‧ lower surface

130‧‧‧light guide structure

131‧‧‧Top

131s‧‧‧First reflecting surface

131r‧‧‧ recess

131u‧‧‧upper surface

132‧‧‧side

132s‧‧‧Second reflective surface

132b‧‧‧ lower surface

132r‧‧‧groove

140, 440‧‧‧ Connector

140a1, 140a2, 440a‧‧‧Fixing holes

145‧‧‧locking element

150, 450‧‧‧ turntable

150a‧‧‧Opening

160‧‧‧Driver

160s‧‧‧shell surface

161‧‧‧Shaft

170‧‧‧The first light emitter

180‧‧‧The first optical receiver

270‧‧‧Second light transmitter

280‧‧‧Second Optical Receiver

A1‧‧‧lighting angle

C1‧‧‧rotation axis

C2‧‧‧ Center

L1‧‧‧First Signal Light

L2‧‧‧Second Signal Light

H1‧‧‧Distance

R1‧‧‧ projection area

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an optical communication device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figures 1B and 1C are exploded views of the optical communication device of Figure 1A.

Figure 1D is a top view of the optical communication device of Figure 1A.

Fig. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the optical communication device of Fig. 1D along the direction 1E-1E '.

FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an optical communication device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the optical communication device of Fig. 2A along the direction 2B-2B '.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of an optical communication device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the optical communication device of Fig. 3A along the direction 3B-3B '.

4A and 4B illustrate exploded views of an optical communication device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C shows a top view of the second circuit board, the turntable, the first optical transmitter and the second optical receiver of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram of the coverage of the first signal light of the optical communication device of FIG. 4A.

Please refer to Figs. 1A to 1E. Fig. 1A shows a schematic diagram of an optical communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figs. 1B and 1C show an exploded view of the optical communication device 100 of Fig. 1A. Fig. 1D shows FIG. 1A shows a top view of the optical communication device 100, and FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the optical communication device 100 in the direction 1E-1E ′ of FIG. 1D. The optical communication device 100 can be applied to a laser rangefinder or other electronic products with data transmission requirements.

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the optical communication device 100 includes a first circuit board 110, a second circuit board 120, a light guide structure 130, a connecting member 140, a turntable 150, a driver 160, a first light emitter 170, and a first Light receiver 180.

The first circuit board 110 is disposed opposite the second circuit board 120. the first The circuit board 110 has an upper surface 110u, and the second circuit board 120 has a lower surface 120b. The light guide structure 130 is connected to the second circuit board 120 and is located between the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 120. The driver 160 is connected to the light guide structure 130 to drive the light guide structure 130 and the second circuit board 120 to rotate. The first light receiver 180 is disposed on the upper surface 110 u of the first circuit board 110. The first light emitter 170 is disposed on the lower surface 120b of the second circuit board 120. The first light emitter 170 emits a first signal light L1 (shown in FIG. 1E) to the first light receiver via the light guide structure 130. 180, so that the signal of the second circuit board 120 can be transmitted to the first circuit board 110 through the light guide structure 130. In one embodiment, the first light emitter 170 is, for example, a light emitting diode.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the first circuit board 110 has a through hole 110a, and the driver 160 is disposed through the through hole 110a and has a gap with the through hole 110a. In this way, when the driver 160 is running, the vibration of the driver 160 will not be transmitted to the first circuit board 110, so the stability of the first circuit board 110 will not be negatively affected, and the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 120 can be ensured. Signal transmission quality.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the second circuit board 120 may be fixed on the turntable 150 to rotate with the turntable 150. The driver 160 includes a rotating shaft 161. The rotating shaft 161 is fixed to the first fixing hole 140 a 1 of the connecting member 140. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, at least one locking element 145 (shown in FIG. 1B) passes through the turntable 150, the light guide structure 130, and the connection member 140 to fix the turntable 150, the light guide structure 130, and the connection member 140. Relative position. In this way, when the rotating shaft 161 is rotated, the connecting member 140 and the light guiding structure 130 can be driven to be linked with the turntable 150.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the connecting member 140 has at least one second fixing Hole 140a2. The locking element 145 passes through the through hole 130 a of the light guide structure 130 and is locked to the second fixing hole 140 a 2 to fix the relative positions of the turntable 150, the light guide structure 130 and the connecting member 140. In an embodiment, the through hole 130a may not have a screw structure, so that the screw structure may be prevented from negatively affecting the light transmission quality in the light guide structure 130.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the light guide structure 130 includes a top portion 131 and a side portion 132 connected to each other. The top portion 131 and the side portion 132 provide an optical path for guiding the first signal light L1 from the first light transmitter 170 to the first light receiver 180. As shown, the side portion 132 surrounds the top portion 131 in a full-circle manner, and surrounds a groove 132r. The connecting member 140 is located in the groove 132r, and the driver 160 is partially located in the groove 132r. In this way, the overall thickness of the optical communication device 100 can be reduced. As shown in the figure, the top portion 131 has an upper surface 131u and a first reflective surface 131s, a connection portion between the top portion 131 and the side portion 132 has a second reflective surface 132s, and the side portion 132 has a lower surface 132b. The optical path of the first signal light L1 passes through the upper surface 131u, the first reflective surface 131s, the second reflective surface 132s, and the lower surface 132b in this order.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the first reflecting surface 131s is formed by a recessed portion 131r of the light guide structure 130, wherein the recessed portion 131r provides an accommodation space for the rotation shaft 161 of the driver 160, so that the end of the rotation shaft 161 can extend into the recessed portion 131r . In this way, the overall thickness of the optical communication device 100 can be reduced. The aforementioned recessed portion 131r is, for example, a conical recessed portion, such as a conical recessed portion. As shown in the figure, the second reflecting surface 132s may be formed by the oblique angle of the light guiding structure 130.

In addition, since the side portion 132 surrounds the top portion 131 (that is, the side portion 132 has a closed ring shape), the first signal light L1 is not lost from the side portion 132. detailed In other words, if the side portion 132 has an open ring shape (for example, it has a gap), the first signal light L1 will be lost through the gap of the side portion 132. As such, when the first optical transmitter 170 emits the first signal light L1 at a higher frequency, the first light receiver 180 is more likely to miss the first signal light L1. In contrast, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the side portion 132 is a full-circle type, even if the optical communication device 100 is operated at a high frequency (for example, the transmission frequency of signal light), the problem of missing signals does not occur. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1E, the entire lower surface 132b is of equal height, so that when any part of the lower surface 132b of the light guide structure 130 is rotated to face the first light receiver 180, the distance H1 therebetween is substantially equal, To ensure the signal transmission quality.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the rotation axis C1 of the second circuit board 120 passes through the first light emitter 170 and the first reflecting surface 131s, and the first light emitter 170 and the first reflecting surface 131s are arranged adjacent to each other up and down, so that the first When the two circuit boards 120 rotate, it can ensure that the first signal light L1 emitted by the first light emitter 170 is incident on the first reflecting surface 131s.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the first light receiver 180 faces the lower surface 132b to receive the first signal light L1 emitted from the lower surface 132b. Preferably, but not limited to, the position of the first optical receiver 180 may be directly opposite the optical axis of the first signal light L1 to receive the strongest light intensity of the first signal light L1, and a better signal quality may be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 1E, the turntable 150 carries the second circuit board 120 and has an opening 150 a. The upper surface 131u of the first light emitter 170 and the light guide structure 130 is located in the opening 150a, so that the first signal light L1 emitted by the first light emitter 170 can be restrained in the opening 150a and incident inside the opening 150a. 131u to the top surface, can be reduced Less light leakage.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1E, the first light emitter 170 is located outside the rotation shaft 161 of the driver 160. In this case, the rotating shaft 161 may be a solid shaft, but may also be a hollow shaft. In one embodiment, the driver 160 is, for example, a motor. To sum up, due to the design of the light guide structure 130, the driver 160 of the embodiment of the present invention may use a motor with a solid shaft, but may also use a motor with a hollow shaft.

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an optical communication device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-section of the optical communication device 200 in FIG. 2A along a direction 2B-2B ′. Illustration.

The optical communication device 200 includes a first circuit board 110, a second circuit board 120, a light guide structure 130, a connector 140, a turntable 150, a driver 160, a first light transmitter 170, a first light receiver 180, and a second light emission器 270 and second light receiver 280.

The second optical receiver 280 is disposed on the lower surface 120b of the second circuit board 120, and the second optical transmitter 270 is disposed on the upper surface 110u of the first circuit board 110. The second optical transmitter 270 emits the second signal light L2. Via the light guide structure 130 to the second light receiver 280. In this way, the signals of the first circuit board 110 can be transmitted to the second circuit board 120 through the light guiding structure 130. In this embodiment, the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 120 can transmit signals to each other. Therefore, the optical communication device 200 is a duplex optical communication device.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the first light receiver 180 and the second light transmitter 270 are directly opposite the lower surface 132b. Preferably, but not limited to, the first light receiver 180 The position can be directly opposite to the optical axis of the first signal light L1 to receive the strongest light intensity of the first signal light L1. The optical axis of the second signal light L2 of the second light transmitter 270 is directly opposite the lower surface 132b, so that the second signal light L2 is incident on the lower surface 132b with the strongest light intensity. In this way, the signal transmission quality between the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 120 can be improved. In one embodiment, the second light emitter 270 is, for example, a light emitting diode.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the second light receiver 280 and the first light transmitter 170 are disposed adjacent to the rotation axis C1, and the rotation axis C1 passes through the first reflection surface 131s of the light guide structure 130. The light receiver 280 can receive the second signal light L2 through the first reflection surface 131s, and the first light transmitter 170 can emit the first signal light L1 through the first reflection surface 131s and enter the light guide structure 130.

In addition, the frequency of the first signal light L1 and the frequency of the second signal light L2 may be different to reduce or even avoid mutual interference between the first signal light L1 and the second signal light L2, thereby ensuring signal transmission quality.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the optical path directions of the second signal light L2 and the first signal light L1 are opposite. For example, the optical path of the first signal light L1 sequentially passes through the upper surface 131u, the first reflective surface 131s, the second reflective surface 132s, and the lower surface 132b, and the optical path of the second signal light L2 sequentially passes through the lower surface 132b and the second reflection. Surface 132s, first reflective surface 131s, and upper surface 131u.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of an optical communication device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of the optical communication device 300 in FIG. 3A along a direction 3B-3B ′. Illustration.

Optical communication device 300 includes a first circuit board 110 and a second circuit board 120. The light guide structure 130, the connecting member 140, the turntable 150, the driver 160, the first light transmitter 170, the first light receiver 180, the second light transmitter 270, and the second light receiver 280. The optical communication device 300 in this embodiment has the same or similar structure as the optical communication device 200, except that the second optical transmitter 270 and the second optical receiver 280 of the optical communication device 300 are configured differently.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second optical transmitter 270 and the second optical receiver 280 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the center C2 of the first circuit board 110. For example, the second light transmitter 270 and the second light receiver 280 are arranged in an orientation with a center angle of 180 ° relative to the center C2. In another embodiment, the center angle of the second optical transmitter 270 and the second optical receiver 280 relative to the center C2 may be any angle.

Please refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which are exploded views of an optical communication device 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication device 400 includes a first circuit board 110, a second circuit board 120, a connector 440, a turntable 450, a driver 160, a plurality of first light transmitters 170, a first light receiver 180, and a plurality of second light transmitters. 270 and the second light receiver 280. The optical communication device 400 in this embodiment has the same or similar structure as the aforementioned optical communication device, except that the optical communication device 400 omits the light guide structure 130 and the number of the first optical transmitter 170 and the second optical transmitter 270 is Multiple.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second circuit board 120 may be fixed on the turntable 450 to rotate with the turntable 450. The rotation shaft 161 of the driver 160 is fixed to the fixing hole 440 a of the connecting member 440. At least one locking element 145 can pass through the turntable 450 and the connecting member 440 to fix the relative position of the turntable 450 and the connecting member 440. in this way, When the rotating shaft 161 rotates, the connecting member 440 can be driven to be linked with the turntable 450.

Please refer to FIGS. 4C and 4D. FIG. 4C shows a top view of the second circuit board 120, the turntable 450, the first light emitter 170, and the second light receiver 280 in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4D shows the 4A FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coverage range of the first signal light L1 of the optical communication device 400.

The driver 160 has a casing peripheral surface 160s (shown in FIG. 4A), and the casing peripheral surface 160s is the outermost peripheral surface of the casing of the driver 160. As shown in FIG. 4C, a region where the housing circumferential surface 160 s is vertically projected onto the lower surface 120 b of the second circuit board 120 is a projection region R1. As shown in the figure, the first light emitter 170 and the second light receiver 280 disposed on the second circuit board 120 are located outside the projection area R1. Although not shown in the drawings, the second light transmitter 270 and the first light receiver 180 disposed on the first circuit board 110 are also located outside the projection area R1. Since the first light emitter 170 and the second light emitter 270 in the embodiment of the present invention are both disposed outside the housing peripheral surface 160s, the signal light emitted by the light emitter will not be excessively obstructed by the driver 160 and can be illuminated. To the opposite circuit board.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the areas where the two adjacent ones of the first signal lights L1 of the first light emitters 170 irradiate the upper surface 110 u of the first circuit board 110 partially overlap. In other words, the first signal lights L1 cover the upper surface 110u all around. In this way, when the second circuit board 120 rotates, although the first light transmitters 170 rotate with it, the first light receiver 180 can still be kept in a state of being continuously illuminated by the first signal lights L1. It is possible to prevent the first optical receiver 180 from missing the signal of the first signal light L1. With this design, even if the optical communication device 400 operates At high frequencies, the first optical receiver 180 can still receive the complete signal of the first signal light L1.

In this embodiment, the number of the first light emitters 170 is four, and the light emitting angle A1 of each of the first light emitters 170 is not less than 90 degrees to form a full-circle coverage. However, the light emitting angle A1 of each first light emitter 170 may depend on the arrangement positions and / or the number of the first light emitters 170. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited.

Similarly, although not shown in the figure, the areas where the two adjacent ones of the second signal lights L2 of the second light emitters 270 strike the lower surface 120 b of the second circuit board 120 partially overlap. In other words, the plurality of second signal lights L2 cover the lower surface 120b all around. In this way, when the second circuit board 120 rotates, although the second light receiver 280 rotates with it, the second light receiver 280 can still be kept in a state of being continuously illuminated by the plurality of second signal lights L2, which can be avoided The second optical receiver 280 misses the signal of the second signal light L2. Under such a design, even if the optical communication device 400 operates at a high frequency, the second optical receiver 280 can still receive the complete signal of the second signal light L2.

In summary, although the present disclosure has been disclosed above by way of example, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which this disclosure pertains can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure shall be determined by the scope of the appended patent application.

Claims (12)

An optical communication device includes: a first circuit board having an upper surface; a second circuit board disposed opposite to the first circuit board and having a lower surface; a light guide structure connected to the second circuit board and located at Between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the light guiding structure includes a top portion and a side portion that are connected, the side portion surrounds the top portion and surrounds a groove; a driver is connected to the A light guide structure to drive the light guide structure and the second circuit board to rotate, the driver is partially located in the groove; a first light receiver disposed on the upper surface of the first circuit board; and a first An optical transmitter is disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board. The first optical transmitter emits a first signal light to the first optical receiver through the light guiding structure. The optical communication device according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light guide structure has a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and an opposite upper surface and a lower surface; the optical path of the first signal light is in order Pass the upper surface, the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface, and the lower surface. The optical communication device according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the top portion has the upper surface and the first reflection surface, a connection portion between the top portion and the side portion has the second reflection surface, and the side portion has the lower surface. The optical communication device according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: a turntable, carrying the second circuit board and having an opening, the first optical transmitter is located in the opening; wherein the driver includes a A rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is fixed to the turntable, and the first light transmitter and the first light receiver are located outside the rotating shaft. The optical communication device according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: a second optical receiver disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board; and a second optical transmitter disposed on the first circuit On the upper surface of the board, the second light transmitter emits a second signal light to the second light receiver via the light guiding structure. The optical communication device according to item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein the frequency of the first signal light is different from the frequency of the second signal light. The optical communication device according to item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light guide structure has a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and an opposite upper surface and a lower surface; the optical path of the second signal light is in order Pass the lower surface, the second reflective surface, the first reflective surface, and the upper surface. The optical communication device according to item 5 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the light guide structure has a lower surface, and the first light receiver and the second light transmitter face the lower surface. An optical communication device includes: a first circuit board having an upper surface; a second circuit board disposed opposite to the first circuit board and having a lower surface; a driver connected to the second circuit board to drive the second circuit board The second circuit board rotates, the driver has a casing peripheral surface; a first light receiver is disposed on the upper surface of the first circuit board; and a plurality of first light emitters are disposed on the second circuit board Each of the first light emitters emits a first signal light to the first light receiver on the lower surface, wherein the first light emitters are located in a projection area projected from the peripheral surface of the housing to the lower surface Outside. The optical communication device according to item 9 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the adjacent two areas of the first signal light of the first light transmitters irradiated to the upper surface partially overlap. The optical communication device according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: a second optical receiver disposed on the lower surface of the second circuit board; and a plurality of second optical transmitters disposed on the first On the upper surface of the circuit board, each of the second light emitters emits a second signal light to the second light receiver; wherein the second light emitters are located outside the projection area. The optical communication device according to item 11 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the adjacent two areas of the second signal light of the second light transmitters irradiated to the lower surface partially overlap.