Compact free space communication
AssigneeCACI, Inc.—Federal
InventorsGerald Nykolak, Andrew Russell Grant, David C. Nielsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a laser, a modulator configured to cause the laser to output an optical signal comprising a data signal and a beacon signal, a defocuser optically coupled to the laser and configured to receive the optical signal and control a beam divergence of the optical signal, an optical interface configured to receive the optical signal from the defocuser and output the optical signal into free space, and a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.
Claims20
A device for free space optical communication comprising:
- a laser;
- a modulator configured to cause the laser to output an optical signal comprising a data signal and a beacon signal;
- a defocuser optically coupled to the laser and configured to receive the optical signal and control a beam divergence of the optical signal;
- an optical interface configured to receive the optical signal from the defocuser and output the optical signal into free space;
- a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence to a first beam divergence for a first operational mode and a second beam divergence for a second operational mode, wherein the first operational mode comprises a communication mode and the second operational mode comprises one or more of a tracking mode or a link acquisition mode;
- and
- a zoom element configured to receive at least a portion of an additional optical signal received from free space via the optical interface and control a beam divergence of the at least a portion of the additional optical signal upon a spatial detector configured for determining positioning information.
A device for free space optical communication comprising:
- an optical interface configured to receive an optical signal from free space, wherein the optical signal comprises a beacon signal and a data signal;
- a beam splitter optically coupled to the optical interface and configured to split the optical signal into a first signal and a second signal;
- a data detector optically coupled to the beam splitter and configured to receive the first signal, wherein the data detector comprises a photodiode configured to convert, based on the data signal, the first signal to an electrical signal;
- a spatial detector optically coupled to the beam splitter and configured to receive the second signal, wherein the spatial detector is configured to convert, based on the beacon signal, the second signal to an electrical signal for determining positioning information;
- and
- a zoom element optically coupled between the spatial detector and the beam splitter, wherein the zoom element is configured to control a beam divergence upon the spatial detector.
A method for free space optical communication comprising:
- generating, via a laser, a first optical signal comprising a first data signal and a first beacon signal;
- adjusting, based on an operational mode of the laser, a beam divergence of the first optical signal;
- outputting, via an optical interface, the first optical signal in to free space;
- receiving, via the optical interface, a second optical signal comprising a second data signal and a second beacon signal;
- splitting the second optical signal to a third optical signal and a fourth optical signal;
- modifying, via a zoom element, a divergence of the third optical signal upon a spatial detector;
- outputting, based on the third optical signal having the modified divergence and the second beacon signal, positioning information;
- and
- outputting, based on the fourth optical signal and the second data signal, communication information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.