Introduction

This project is a proof-of-concept device that transmits an audio signal using a laser beam, while removing the need for the user to align the beam themselves.

For our project, we created a mono-axial transmitter/receiver setup that converts an analog audio signal, via a standard 3.5mm jack, and transmits it via a laser to a receiver, which converts the signal back into audio. The receiver can be rotated within its horizontal plane, and uses a servo motor controlled by a microcontroller to automatically align it with the receiver. The end result is a wireless audio signal that cannot be “overheard” by other devices.

Project Details

Rationale

Light is already becoming a popular means of communication, thanks to fiber optics, which can guide optical data much like a wire transmits current. It might seem impractical, then, to use lasers without a guiding medium to transmit information. However, in contexts where a physical connection is impossible or unfeasible, and the need for a focused beam arises, it would seem logical to use laser light. In particular, “free space” laser communication has useful applications to military logistics, where information on the front must be kept limited to friendly ears, and ground-to-air links are important. We decided to create a simple and inexpensive proof-of-concept to demonstrate the advantages of this seemingly impractical scheme.

Inspiration for this project came from a design in the book “Gonzo Gizmos: Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek,” a book written by Simon Quellen Field, in which a laser/solar cell combination allowed for the transmission of an audio signal using light. A topic of research at MIT Lincoln Laboratory inspired us to incorporate tracking capability while keeping the project budget affordable at a hobbyist level.

Logical Structure

Our project is divided into two distinct sections: audio transmission via hardware, and alignment control via software. The former can be accomplished once the latter has succeeded, making the two tasks mutually dependent for overall functionality. The alignment is accomplished using a servo motor to rotate the transmitter until it aligns with the receiver. This is done by detecting the light emitted from the receiver’s laser using a phototransistor. The transmitter scans over its free range until it finds the receiver, at which point the transmitting laser is turned on and the audio signal is picked up by an array of photodiodes. The details of this process are explored below.

Safety and Standards

Since we are using lasers, the effects of exposure need to be considered. The lasers we used were purchased commercially, and comply with class IIIA power and safety specifications, as designated by the ANSI Z136.1 consensus. In the US, ANSI and OHSA standards specify the parameters under which lasers can be safely operated. For a class IIIA laser, the beams are generally not hazardous without the use of focusing equipment, though direct exposure to the eye should be avoided. With this in mind, we operated the device in a plane that lacked reflective objects and was well below eye level. Additionally, the transmitting laser is turned off when the exact direction of the laser is not known (i.e. when the transmitter is scanning the area). The receiver’s laser is limited to be just bright enough to be detected by the transmitter, but not at the peak amplitude.

Hardware/Software Tradeoffs

The audio signal sent by the transmitter is provided externally rather than via the microcontroller, since external devices represent more flexibility and mobility in the information that can be sent. Having the audio synthesized by the Mega644 would require some form of external memory and a method of flashing from an external source anyways, so we decided to cut out the middleman.

The audio signal is sent via an analog transmission instead of decoding it into a digital signal. Optical transmission is usually done using with digital signals, requiring hardware for decoding at the receiver end. By transmitting the analog audio signal through laser amplitude modulation, we cut down on the transmitter and receiver hardware by eliminating the need for encoding and decoding processors.