# US 10,484,095 B2 · Communications relay satellite with a single-axis gimbal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,095 B2 - Document ID: US10484095B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/623,732 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-15 - Assignees: The Aerospace Corporation - Applicants: The Aerospace Corporation - Inventors: Richard P. Welle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484095B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/29: Repeaters - H04B 7/18515: {Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays} - H04B 7/195: Non-synchronous stations - H04B 10/118: specially adapted for satellite communication - H04B 10/40: Transceivers - H04B 10/503: {Laser transmitters} - H04B 10/66: Non-coherent receivers, e.g. using direct detection - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A satellite configured to simultaneously receive and transmit data in space, comprising: a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver; an attitude-control system configured to rotate the satellite about an axis parallel to the receive vector; a transmitter configured to generate a transmit beam along a transmit vector; and a gimbal having a single rotation axis, the single rotation axis of the gimbal is substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, wherein the gimbal is configured to rotate a transmit vector using a mirror attached to the gimbal about the single rotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and the receiver comprises an optical receiver configured to receive the incoming beam, and optically amplify the incoming beam prior to converting the incoming beam to an electronic signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises an optical transmitter configured to transmit a laser beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is further configured to directly connect to an optical amplifier and an optical transmitter without conversion to an electronic signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a receive beacon configured to transmit an optical beacon visible to the source, providing alignment information to the source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a receive beacon camera configured to detect a signal from the source for use in aligning the incoming beam with the receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a receive reflector configured to focus the incoming beam onto the receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a transmit beacon configured to transmit a signal to a destination, assisting in aligning of the transmit beam with a receiver at the destination. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a transmit beacon camera configured to monitor an optical beacon sent by the destination to assist in alignment of the transmit beam with the destination. ### Claim 9 A satellite configured to receive and transmit data in space, comprising: a receiver configured to receive an incoming laser beam from a source; an attitude control system configured to rotate the satellite about an axis parallel to the incoming laser beam; and a gimbal having a single rotation axis configured to rotate a mirror about a single rotation axis to allow a transmitter to transmit the laser beam to a destination, wherein the single rotation axis of the gimbal is substantially perpendicular to the incoming laser beam, and the receiver comprises an optical receiver configured to receive the incoming laser beam, and optically amplify the incoming laser beam prior to converting the incoming laser beam to an electronic signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The satellite of claim 9, wherein the source comprises a relay satellite or a ground station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The satellite of claim 9, wherein the destination comprises a relay satellite or a ground station. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The satellite of claim 9, wherein the rotation of the satellite and the rotation of the mirror occur concurrently. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The satellite of claim 9, wherein the rotation of the satellite and the rotation of the mirror occur sequentially. ### Claim 14 A satellite configured to simultaneously receive and transmit data in space, comprising: a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver; an attitude-control system configured to rotate the satellite about an axis parallel to the receive vector; a transmitter configured to generate a transmit beam along a transmit vector; and a gimbal having a single rotation axis, the single rotation axis of the gimbal is substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, wherein the gimbal is configured to rotate the transmitter attached to the gimbal about the single rotation axis, and the receiver comprises an optical receiver configured to receive the incoming beam, and optically amplify the incoming beam prior to converting the incoming beam to an electronic signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, wherein the optical receiver is further configured to directly connect to an optical amplifier and an optical transmitter without conversion to an electronic signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, further comprising: a receive beacon configured to transmit an optical beacon visible to the source, providing alignment information to the source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, further comprising: a receive beacon camera configured to detect a signal from the source for use in aligning the incoming beam with the receiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, further comprising: a receive reflector configured to focus the incoming beam onto the receiver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, further comprising: a transmit beacon configured to transmit a signal to a destination, assisting in aligning of the transmit beam with a receiver at the destination. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The satellite of claim 14, further comprising: a transmit beacon camera configured to monitor an optical beacon sent by the destination to assist in alignment of the transmit beam with the destination.