Apparatus and Method for Efficient Two-Way Optical Communication Where Transmitter May Interfere with Receiver

摘要

A two-way optical communication apparatus includes a transmit element, a receive element and a transceive processor. The transmit and receive elements are coupled to a light pipe, and configured to transmit a first optical signal and receive a second optical signal, respectively. The transceive processor is configured to direct the transmit element to suspend transmitting the first optical signal during reception periods, and direct the receive element to sample for the second optical signal during sampling intervals within the reception periods. Each reception period lasts for a respective duration of time, and occurs in the first optical signal at a respective duty cycle. The receive element is configured to sense an ambient light level of the surrounding environment during the reception periods, and the transceive processor is configured to adjust the durations of time and the duty cycles of the reception periods according to the sensed ambient light level.

主权项

1. An apparatus for providing two-way optical communication, the apparatus comprising:
a transmit element, coupled to a light pipe, configured to transmit a first optical signal through said light pipe; a receive element, also coupled to said light pipe, configured to receive a second optical signal through said light pipe; and a transceive processor, coupled to said transmit and receive elements, configured to direct said transmit element to suspend transmitting said first optical signal during a plurality of reception periods, and configured to direct said receive element to sample for said second optical signal during one or more sampling intervals within each of said reception periods, wherein: each of the plurality of reception periods lasts for a respective duration of time, and occurs in the first optical signal at a respective duty cycle; and the receive element is configured to sense an ambient light level of the surrounding environment during the reception periods, and the transceive processor is configured to adjust the durations of time and the duty cycles of the reception periods according to the sensed ambient light level.