US 12,489,527 B2
Apparatus and methods for exchanging data in a hybrid optical wireless communication system
Michel Germe, Cormelles le Royal (FR)
Assigned to SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 18/270,273
Filed by SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Dec. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/087690
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/148686, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 14, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 21150473 (EP), filed on Jan. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0113780 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. H04B 10/114 (2013.01); H04B 10/116 (2013.01)
CPC H04B 10/1143 (2013.01) [H04B 10/1149 (2013.01); H04B 10/116 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for exchanging data in an optical wireless communication, OWC, system configured to operate:
in a first mode to enable a first functionality, where the apparatus acts as a bridge device between an OWC access point and a first end device out of one or more end devices; or
in a second mode to enable a second functionality, where the apparatus relays data between the first end device and a second end device out of the one or more end devices;
the apparatus comprising:
a first optical transceiver configured to communicate with the OWC access point by means of a first type of optical wireless link using a first modulation scheme;
a second optical transceiver configured to communicate with the first end device by means of a second type of optical wireless link using a second modulation scheme;
a third optical transceiver configured to communicate with the second end device, out of the one or more end devices, by means of the second type of optical wireless link; and
a hub component configured to:
select an operation mode out of a set comprising the first mode, the second mode, and another mode where both the first functionality and the second functionality are enabled; and
connect using at least two out of the first optical transceiver, the second optical transceiver, and the third optical transceiver depending on the operation mode selected;
wherein the first optical transceiver has a wider beam angle as compared to the second optical transceiver or the third optical transceiver.