Patent Description:
An optical communication technique for communicating with a communication partner by using a laser light has been known (for example, see <CIT>). <CIT> describes a large scale steerable optical switched arrays that may be fabricated on a common substrate including many thousands or more emitters that may be arranged in a curved pattern at the focal plane of a lens thereby allowing the directional control of emitted light and selective reception of reflected light suitable for use in imaging, ranging, and sensing applications including accident avoidance. <CIT> describes a communications system for wireless transceiving of information, comprising an optical array subsystem for transceiving optical signals and a millimeter wave subsystem for transceiving millimeter wave signals, and a beam steering controller for controlling the direction of the optical and millimeter wave signals. The communication system may be on a flying platform, such as a satellite and may communicate with multiple remote terminals.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical communication device is provided. The optical communication device includes a transmitting optical output unit for transmitting information by optical communication. The optical communication device includes a receiving optical sensor for receiving information by optical communication. The optical communication device includes an optical switch that is connected to the transmitting optical output unit and the receiving optical sensor via an optical splitter. The optical communication device includes a plurality of head parts that are connected to the optical switch. The optical communication device includes a control unit for performing control so as to transmit information by emitting a laser from each of the plurality of head parts by switching and guiding a light output by the transmitting optical output unit to the plurality of head parts with the optical switch, and receive information by switching a light received by the plurality of head parts with the optical switch and guiding the light to the receiving optical sensor.

Each of the above-described plurality of head parts has a lens part including an end face lens that is arranged at one end of an optical fiber in which the other end is connected to the above-described optical switch, and a focusing lens for adjusting a focus. Each of the above-described plurality of head parts has a mirror for direction adjustment that is arranged with respect to the above-described lens part, for adjusting a direction of a light emitted from the above-described lens part and adjusting a direction of a light from the outside with respect to the above-described lens part. Each of the above-described plurality of head parts may have a measuring optical sensor for measuring an intensity of the light from the outside. The above-described control unit may, based on an intensity of a light from an optical communication device of a communication partner that is measured with the above-described measuring optical sensor, communicate with the above-described optical communication device of the communication partner, and perform adjustment of an irradiation direction of the light. The above-described control unit may acquire a two-dimensional intensity information of the light from the communication partner based on a measurement result by a plurality of the above-described measuring optical sensors. The above-described control unit may perform adjustment of the irradiation direction of the light by informing the optical communication device of the communication partner of a peak position of a light intensity of a receiving beam, and causing the optical communication device of the communication partner to correct the peak position so as to approach the position of the mirror for direction adjustment. Each of the above-described plurality of head parts may have the mirror for direction adjustment that is arranged with respect to the above-described lens part, for adjusting a direction of a light emitted from the above-described lens part and adjusting a direction of a light from the outside with respect to the above-described lens part, and the measuring optical sensor for measuring an intensity of the light from the outside. The above-described control unit may adjust the above-described mirror for direction adjustment based on the intensity of the light from the optical communication device of the communication partner that is measured with the above-described measuring optical sensor.

The above-described optical communication device may be mounted on a mobile object. The above-described optical communication device may be mounted on a flying object. The above-described optical communication device may be mounted on a flying object having an antenna for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal within a communication area that is formed by irradiating a beam to the ground. The above-described control unit may acquire communication partner information including position information of a flying object of a communication partner, and control the above-described head part such that a beam of a first width is emitted from at least any head part of the above-described plurality of head parts to a position represented by the above-described position information, and in response to receiving information of the above-described flying object of the communication partner by receiving a light from the above-described flying object of the communication partner, the width of the beam of the above-described head part is changed from the above-described first width to a second width that is narrower than the above-described first width.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a program for causing a computer to function as the above-described optical communication device is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a system including the above-described optical communication device and the above-described mobile object on which the above-described optical communication device is mounted, is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an optical communication device is provided. The optical communication device may include an optical output unit. The optical communication device may include an optical switch that is connected to the optical output unit. The optical communication device may include a plurality of head parts that are connected to the optical switch. The optical communication device may include a control unit for performing control so as to transmit information by emitting a laser from each of the plurality of head parts by switching and guiding a light output by the optical output unit to the plurality of head parts with the optical switch.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an optical communication device is provided. The optical communication device may include an optical sensor. The optical communication device may include an optical switch that is connected to the optical sensor. The optical communication device may include a plurality of head parts that are connected to the optical switch. The optical communication device may include a control unit for performing control so as to receive information by switching a light received by the plurality of head parts with the optical switch and guiding the light to the optical sensor.

The above-described summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. In addition, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solving means of the invention.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an optical communication device <NUM>. The optical communication device <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM>, a backbone part <NUM>, and a plurality of head parts <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> controls the backbone part <NUM> and the plurality of head parts <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> and the backbone part <NUM> may be connected by a metal cable or the like. The backbone part <NUM> and each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> may be connected by an optical fiber for communication and a metal cable for control. The control unit <NUM> may control the plurality of head parts <NUM> via the backbone part <NUM>. It should be noted that the control unit <NUM> and each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> may be directly connected, and the control unit <NUM> may control the plurality of head parts <NUM> via that connection.

The backbone part <NUM> may have a transmitting optical output unit for transmitting information by optical communication, a receiving optical sensor for receiving information by optical communication, and an optical switch that is connected to the transmitting optical output unit and the receiving optical sensor via an optical splitter. The plurality of head parts <NUM> may be connected to the optical switch. Each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> may have a lens part and a mirror for direction adjustment that is arranged with respect to the lens part, for adjusting a direction of a light emitted from the lens part and adjusting a direction of a light from the outside with respect to the lens part.

The control unit <NUM> may perform control so as to transmit information by emitting a laser <NUM> from each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> by switching and guiding a light output by the transmitting optical output unit to the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch. The control unit <NUM> may perform control so as to receive information by switching the light received by the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch and guiding the light to the receiving optical sensor.

Conventionally, if a plurality of optical wireless transmission/reception units are to be included in an optical communication device, there is a need to include a plurality of sets of an optical output unit, an optical sensor, and a head part. In contrast, the optical communication device <NUM> according to the present embodiment allows the plurality of head parts <NUM> to share one transmitting optical output unit and one receiving optical sensor by using a configuration of switching a light to the plurality of head parts <NUM> and a light from the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch. In this manner, the plurality of optical wireless transmission/reception units can be included with one optical output unit and one optical sensor, and it is possible to reduce the entire weight or reduce the cost of the optical wireless device.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a configuration of the backbone part <NUM> and the head part <NUM>. Although a case in which three head parts <NUM> are provided is exemplified herein, the number of the head part <NUM> is not limited thereto, and there may be two head parts <NUM>, or four or more head parts <NUM>.

The backbone part <NUM> has an optical output unit <NUM>, an optical sensor <NUM>, an Ether converter <NUM>, an optical splitter <NUM>, and an optical switch <NUM>. The optical output unit <NUM> may be an example of the transmitting optical output unit. The Ether converter <NUM> converts an electrical signal of information to be transmitted into an optical signal, for example. The optical output unit <NUM> may output the optical signal converted with the Ether converter <NUM> to the optical switch <NUM> via the optical splitter <NUM>. When communicating with a plurality of communication partners, the optical output unit <NUM> may change the frequency of a light per communication partner.

The control unit <NUM> may transmit information to each of the plurality of communication partners by, for example, controlling the optical output unit <NUM>, the Ether converter <NUM>, and the optical switch <NUM>, thereby emitting the laser <NUM> from each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> by switching and guiding a light output by the optical output unit <NUM> to the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch <NUM>.

The optical sensor <NUM> may be an example of the receiving optical sensor. The control unit <NUM> performs control such that a light received by the plurality of head parts <NUM> is switched with the optical switch <NUM> and guided to the optical sensor <NUM>. The optical sensor <NUM> outputs the received optical signal to the Ether converter <NUM>, and the Ether converter <NUM> converts the received optical signal into information.

The head part <NUM> has an end face lens <NUM>, a focus adjustment lens <NUM>, and a mirror for direction adjustment <NUM>. The end face lens <NUM> may be arranged at one end of an optical fiber in which the other end is connected to the optical switch <NUM>. A position of the focus adjustment lens <NUM> relative to the end face lens <NUM> is changeable, and the focus adjustment lens <NUM> adjusts a focus of a light emitted from the end face lens <NUM> and a light entering the end face lens <NUM>.

The mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> is arranged with respect to the end face lens <NUM> and the focus adjustment lens <NUM>, and the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> adjusts a direction of a light emitted from the end face lens <NUM> and the focus adjustment lens <NUM>. In addition, the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> adjusts a direction of a light from the outside with respect to the end face lens <NUM> and the focus adjustment lens <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustration for describing adjustment of the laser <NUM> by the head part <NUM>. The end face lens <NUM> emits a light supplied from an optical fiber <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may adjust a focus by moving the focus adjustment lens <NUM> relative to the end face lens <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may control a direction of the laser <NUM> by adjusting an angle of the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM>. In this manner, the head part <NUM> may perform a total of three-axis control, which are two axes of direction control and one axis for focusing.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the head part <NUM>. <FIG> exemplifies the head part <NUM> having a dome shape. The control unit <NUM> adjusts the direction of the laser <NUM> emitted from the end face lens <NUM> and the focus adjustment lens <NUM> by the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM>, and irradiates the laser <NUM> to a communication partner.

The head part <NUM> may have an optical sensor <NUM> for measuring an intensity of a light from the outside. The optical sensor <NUM> may be an example of the measuring optical sensor. Although <FIG> exemplifies a case in which the head part <NUM> has three optical sensors <NUM>, the number of the optical sensor <NUM> is not limited thereto. The number of the optical sensor <NUM> may be other numbers, but is desirably plural.

The control unit <NUM> may, based on an intensity of a light from an optical communication device of a communication partner measured with the optical sensor <NUM>, perform adjustment of an irradiation direction of the light by communicating with the optical communication device of the communication partner. For example, the control unit <NUM> may acquire a two-dimensional intensity information of the light (a peak position of the beam) from the communication partner based on a measurement result by a plurality of the optical sensors <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may perform the adjustment of the irradiation direction of the light by, for example, informing the optical communication device of the communication partner of a peak position of a light intensity of a receiving beam, and causing the optical communication device of the communication partner to correct the peak position so as to approach the position of the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM>. The optical communication device <NUM> and the optical communication device of the communication partner may mutually perform adjustment of the irradiation direction of the light by informing each other. In this manner, the optical communication device <NUM> performs a beam direction correction in an ultra-short cycle. The control unit <NUM> may also adjust the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> based on the intensity of the light from the optical communication device of the communication partner measured with the optical sensor <NUM>.

The optical communication device <NUM> may be mounted on a mobile object. The optical communication device <NUM> is mounted on, for example, a flying object. The optical communication device <NUM> may be mounted on a flying object having an antenna for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal within a communication area that is formed by irradiating a beam to the ground.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a HAPS <NUM>. The HAPS <NUM> may be an example of a flying object having an antenna for providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal <NUM> within a communication area <NUM> that is formed by irradiating a laser <NUM> to the ground.

The HAPS <NUM> includes a fuselage <NUM>, a central part <NUM>, a propeller <NUM>, a pod <NUM>, and a solar panel <NUM>. A control unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> are arranged in the central part <NUM>.

An electrical power generated by the solar panel <NUM> is stored in one or more batteries arranged in at least any of the fuselage <NUM>, the central part <NUM>, and the pod <NUM>. The electrical power stored in the battery is utilized by each configuration included in the HAPS <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> controls a flight of the HAPS <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls the flight of the HAPS <NUM> by, for example, controlling a rotation of the propeller <NUM>. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may also control the flight of the HAPS <NUM> by changing an angle of a flap or an elevator, which are not illustrated. The control unit <NUM> may include various types of sensors such as a positioning sensor such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, a gyro sensor, and an acceleration sensor, and manage the position, moving direction, and moving speed of the HAPS <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> controls communication of the HAPS <NUM> with the ground. The control unit <NUM> forms the communication area <NUM> on the ground by using a Service Link (SL) antenna. The control unit <NUM> forms a service link with the user terminal <NUM> on the ground by using the SL antenna. The SL antenna may also be a multi-beam antenna. The cell communication area <NUM> may also be multi-cell.

The control unit <NUM> may form a feeder link with a gateway <NUM> on the ground by using a Feeder Link (FL) antenna. The control unit <NUM> may access a network <NUM> via the gateway <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may communicate with a communication satellite <NUM> by using a satellite communication antenna.

The control unit <NUM> may access the network <NUM> via the communication satellite <NUM> and a satellite communication station <NUM>.

The user terminal <NUM> may be any communication terminal as long as it can communicate with the HAPS <NUM>. For example, the user terminal <NUM> is a mobile phone such as a smartphone. The user terminal <NUM> may also be a tablet terminal, a Personal Computer (PC), and the like. The user terminal <NUM> may also be a so-called Internet of Thing (IoT) device. The user terminal <NUM> can include all things corresponding to a so-called Internet of Everything (IoE).

The HAPS <NUM> relays communication between the network <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> via, for example, the feeder link or the communication satellite <NUM> and the service link. The HAPS <NUM> may provide the user terminal <NUM> with a wireless communication service by relaying the communication between the user terminal <NUM> and the network <NUM>.

The network <NUM> includes a mobile object communication network. The mobile object communication network may comply with any of 3rd Generation (<NUM>) communication scheme, Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication scheme, 5th Generation (<NUM>) communication scheme, and a communication scheme after 6th Generation (<NUM>) communication scheme. The network <NUM> may include the Internet.

For example, the HAPS <NUM> transmits data received from the user terminal <NUM> within the communication area <NUM> to the network <NUM>. In addition, for example, when receiving data for the user terminal <NUM> within the communication area <NUM> via the network <NUM>, the HAPS <NUM> transmits the data to the user terminal <NUM>.

A management device <NUM> manages a plurality of the HAPSs <NUM>. The management device <NUM> may communicate with the HAPS <NUM> via the network <NUM> and the gateway <NUM>. The management device <NUM> may also communicate with the HAPS <NUM> via the network <NUM>, the satellite communication station <NUM>, and the communication satellite <NUM>.

The management device <NUM> controls the HAPS <NUM> by transmitting an instruction. In order to cover a target area on the ground with the communication area <NUM>, the management device <NUM> may cause the HAPS <NUM> to swirl in the upper air of the target area. For example, the HAPS <NUM> maintains the feeder link with the gateway <NUM> by adjusting an orientation direction of the FL antenna, and maintains the coverage of the target area with the communication area <NUM> by adjusting an orientation direction of the SL antenna, while flying in the upper air of the target area in a circular orbit.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the backbone part <NUM> is arranged near the center of the optical communication device <NUM>, and is connected to the head part <NUM> arranged in the pod <NUM> with the optical fiber <NUM> and a metal cable <NUM>. A case in which four head parts <NUM> are arranged in the HAPS <NUM> is described herein as an example.

The control unit <NUM> retains three-dimensional structural information of the HAPS <NUM>. The three-dimensional structural information includes information such as a structure of the fuselage <NUM> of the HAPS <NUM>, and an installation position of the head part <NUM> in the fuselage <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may acquire spatial coordinates and an attitude angle of the HAPS <NUM> from the control unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM>, and the like, and may constantly updates and maintains them.

The control unit <NUM> may transmit its receiving sensor coordinates and receiving power information by giving these to a header part of a transmission frame to be transmitted by optical communication. At the time of receiving information by optical communication, the control unit <NUM> may read the receiving sensor coordinates and the receiving power information of the communication partner that are included in a header of a reception frame. Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> may perform control of the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> such that a laser for communication reaches coordinates calculated from the information on the spatial coordinates, the attitude angle, and the like of the HAPS <NUM>, and the receiving sensor coordinates and the receiving power information of the communication partner.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an example of an optical communication state between the HAPS <NUM> and other HAPSs <NUM>. A HAPS <NUM> and a HAPS <NUM> are exemplified as the other HAPSs <NUM> herein. The HAPS <NUM> can maintain two links in any arrangement by having two head parts <NUM> in each of right and left.

For example, in an arrangement as exemplified in <FIG>, the link with the HAPS <NUM> and the link with the HAPS <NUM> can be maintained even if the HAPS <NUM> has one head part <NUM> in each of right and left. However, in an arrangement as exemplified in <FIG>, the fuselage of the HAPS <NUM> becomes a dead angle, and thus a link can be maintained with only either of the HAPS <NUM> and the HAPS <NUM> in the case of having one head part <NUM> in each of right and left.

In contrast, the HAPS <NUM> having two head parts <NUM> in each of right and left can maintain the link with the HAPS <NUM> and the link with the HAPS <NUM> even in the arrangement as exemplified in <FIG>. The number of the head part <NUM> to be required depends on a fuselage structure and the like of the HAPS <NUM>. With the optical communication device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, even if the number of the head part <NUM> required becomes large, it is possible to deal with this by adding only the head part <NUM>, and thus it can contribute to reduction of the weight and the cost of the HAPS <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a flow of processing by the optical communication device <NUM>. A flow of processing until the start of communication between the HAPS <NUM>, and the HAPS <NUM> of a communication partner, will be described herein.

In particular, optical communication between flying objects such as HAPSs requires beam tracking of an extremely high accuracy because the flying objects are always moving. Since there are no beam intensity information and the like from a communication partner before linking up with the communication partner, it is difficult to target a reception unit of the communication partner. Spatial positioning of a high accuracy is difficult for an object in the air, and there are no coordinates/attitude acquisition methods other than the Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The HAPS <NUM> according to the present embodiment may perform processing until the start of communication as follows.

In step (step may be abbreviated and described as S) <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> shares position information with a communication partner. The control unit <NUM> acquires position information of the HAPS <NUM> from the control unit <NUM>, and for example, transmits its own device information including the position information to the communication partner via the communication satellite <NUM>, while also receiving communication partner information including position information of the communication partner from the communication partner via the communication satellite <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may transmit its own device information to the management device <NUM> via the communication satellite <NUM>, and may receive the communication partner information from the management device <NUM> via the communication satellite <NUM>. If communication with the communication partner using electric waves can be performed, the control unit <NUM> may communicate its own device information and the communication partner information through communication with the electric waves.

In S104, the control unit <NUM> controls the backbone part <NUM> and the head part <NUM>, and irradiates a beam of a first beam width to a position specified by the position information of the communication partner. The first beam width may be, for example, a width greater than a GPS positioning error. In S106, a beam irradiated by the communication partner is received.

In S108, the control unit <NUM> determines whether a received-light intensity of the beam from the communication partner measured with the optical sensor <NUM> is stronger than a predetermined threshold value. If it is determined to be weaker than the threshold value, the processing proceeds to S110 to adjust the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM>, and returns to S108. If it is determined to be stronger than the threshold value, the processing proceeds to S112.

In S112, the control unit <NUM> controls the head part <NUM> such that the beam width is changed from the first width to a second width narrower than the first width. The control unit <NUM> refers to the received-light intensity measured with the optical sensor <NUM>, and performs adjustment while reducing the beam width in a stepwise manner. The control unit <NUM> may change the beam width to the second width by adjusting the beam width and the orientation of the mirror for direction adjustment <NUM> so that the received-light intensity is maximized. In S114, optical communication with the communication partner starts after the completion of the adjustment.

Although the above-described embodiment described the example in which the optical communication device <NUM> can perform transmission and reception by optical communication, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The optical communication device <NUM> may be able to, among transmission and reception by optical communication, perform only transmission or perform only reception. In the case of the former, the optical communication device <NUM> may include the optical output unit <NUM>, the optical switch <NUM> connected to the optical output unit <NUM>, the plurality of head parts <NUM> connected to the optical switch <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> for performing control so as to transmit information by emitting a laser from each of the plurality of head parts <NUM> by switching and guiding a light output by the optical output unit <NUM> to the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch <NUM>. In the case of the latter, the optical communication device <NUM> may include the optical sensor <NUM>, the optical switch <NUM> connected the optical sensor <NUM>, the plurality of head parts <NUM> connected to the optical switch <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> for performing control so as to receive information by switching a light received by the plurality of head parts <NUM> with the optical switch <NUM> and guiding the light to the optical sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer <NUM> functioning as the optical communication device <NUM>. Programs installed in the computer <NUM> can cause the computer <NUM> to function as one or more "units" of the device according to the above-described embodiment or can cause the computer <NUM> to execute operations associated with the devices according to the above-described embodiment or the one or more "units", and/or can cause the computer <NUM> to execute a process according to the above-described embodiment or steps of the process. Such a program may be executed by a CPU <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks in the flow charts and block diagrams described in the specification.

The computer <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the CPU <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, and a graphics controller <NUM>, which are connected to each other via a host controller <NUM>. Also, the computer <NUM> includes input/output units such as a communication interface <NUM>, a storage device <NUM>, a DVD drive and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller <NUM> via an input/output controller <NUM>. The storage device <NUM> may be a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, and the like. The computer <NUM> also includes a ROM <NUM> and a legacy input/output unit such as a keyboard, which are connected to the input/output controller <NUM> via an input/output chip <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> operates according to the programs stored in the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM>, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller <NUM> obtains image data which is generated, by the CPU <NUM>, in a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM <NUM> or in itself so as to cause the image data to be displayed on a display device <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device <NUM> stores a program and data used by the CPU <NUM> in the computer <NUM>. The IC card drive reads the program and data from the IC card, and/or writes the program and data to the IC card.

The ROM <NUM> stores therein a boot program or the like executed by the computer <NUM> at the time of activation, and/or a program depending on the hardware of the computer <NUM>. The input/output chip <NUM> may also connect various input/output units via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port or the like to the input/output controller <NUM>.

A program is provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as the DVD-ROM or the IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed into the storage device <NUM>, RAM <NUM>, or ROM <NUM>, which are also examples of a computer-readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU <NUM>. Information processing written in these programs is read by the computer <NUM>, and provides cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. A device or method may be constituted by realizing the operation or processing of information in accordance with the usage of the computer <NUM>.

For example, in a case where communication is performed between the computer <NUM> and an external device, the CPU <NUM> may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM <NUM> and instruct the communication interface <NUM> to perform communication processing based on a processing written in the communication program. The communication interface <NUM>, under control of the CPU <NUM>, reads transmission data stored on a transmission buffer region provided in a recording medium such as the RAM <NUM>, the storage device <NUM>, the DVD-ROM, or the IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to a network or writes reception data received from a network to a reception buffer region or the like provided on the recording medium.

In addition, the CPU <NUM> may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or a database to be read into the RAM <NUM>, the file or the database having been stored in an external recording medium such as the storage device <NUM>, the DVD drive (DVD-ROM), the IC card, etc., and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM <NUM>. Then, the CPU <NUM> may write the processed data back in the external recording medium.

Various types of programs, data, tables, and various types of information such as a database may be stored in a recording medium to receive information processing. The CPU <NUM> may execute, on the data read from the RAM <NUM>, various types of processings including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgement, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval/replacement, or the like described throughout the present disclosure and specified by instruction sequences of the programs, and writes the results back to the RAM <NUM>. In addition, the CPU <NUM> may retrieve information in a file, a database, or the like in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored in the recording medium, the CPU <NUM> may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a designated condition, from among the plurality of entries, and read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, thereby obtaining the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute satisfying the predetermined condition.

The programs or software module described above may be stored on the computer <NUM> or in a computer-readable storage medium near the computer <NUM>. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the program to the computer <NUM> via the network.

Blocks in flow charts and block diagrams in the present embodiments may represent steps of processes in which operations are performed or "units" of devices responsible for performing operations. A specific step and "unit" may be implemented by a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit supplied along with a computer-readable instruction stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and/or a processor supplied along with the computer-readable instruction stored on the computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuit may include a digital and/or analog hardware circuit, or may include an integrated circuit (IC) and/or a discrete circuit. The programmable circuit may include, for example, a reconfigurable hardware circuit including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, and a flip-flop, a register, and a memory element, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a programmable logic array (PLA).

The computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing an instruction performed by an appropriate device, so that the computer-readable storage medium having the instruction stored thereon constitutes a product including an instruction that may be performed in order to provide means to perform an operation specified by a flowchart or a block diagram. Examples of the computer-readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, or the like. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a BLU-RAY(registered trademark) disc, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, etc..

The computer-readable instruction may include either of source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages including: an assembler instruction, an instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instruction, a machine instruction, a machine dependent instruction, a microcode, a firmware instruction, state-setting data; or an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk (registered trademark), JAVA (registered trademark), C++, or the like; and a conventional procedural programming language such as a "C" programming language or a similar programming language.

The computer-readable instruction may be provided to a general-purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or a processor or a programmable circuit of another programmable data processing device locally or via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or the like in order that the general-purpose computer, the special purpose computer, or the processor or the programmable circuit of another programmable data processing device is to perform the computer-readable instruction to provide means to perform operations specified by the flowchart or the block diagram. Examples of the processor include a computer processor, a processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a controller, a microcontroller, and the like.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments.

The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performed by a device, system, program, and method shown in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as the order is not explicitly indicated by "prior to," "before," or the like and as long as the output from a previous process is not used in a later process. Even if the operation flow is described using phrases such as "first" or "then" as a matter of convenience in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarily mean that the process must be performed in this order.

Claim 1:
An optical communication device comprising:
a transmitting optical output unit (<NUM>) for transmitting information by optical communication;
a receiving optical sensor (<NUM>) for receiving information by optical communication;
an optical switch (<NUM>) that is connected to the transmitting optical output unit (<NUM>) and the receiving optical sensor (<NUM>) via an optical splitter (<NUM>);
a plurality of head parts (<NUM>) that are connected to the optical switch (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to transmit information by emitting laser light (<NUM>) from each of the plurality of head parts (<NUM>) by switching and guiding a light output by the transmitting optical output unit (<NUM>) to the plurality of head parts (<NUM>) with the optical switch (<NUM>), and to receive information by switching a light received by the plurality of head parts (<NUM>) with the optical switch (<NUM>) and guiding the light to the receiving optical sensor (<NUM>), wherein
each of the plurality of head parts (<NUM>) has a lens part comprising an end face lens (<NUM>) that is arranged at one end of an optical fiber (<NUM>) in which the other end is connected to the optical switch (<NUM>), and a focusing lens (<NUM>) for adjusting a focus, and
each of the plurality of head parts (<NUM>) has a mirror for direction adjustment (<NUM>) that is arranged with respect to the lens part, for adjusting a direction of a light emitted from the lens part and adjusting a direction of a light from the outside with respect to the lens part.