US 11,606,160 B1 · Power control loop for stabilization of link power

Abstract

The technology employs a state-based power control loop (PCL) architecture to maintain tracking and communication signal-to-noise ratios at suitable levels for optimal tracking performance and data throughput in a free-space optical communication system. Power for a link is adjustable to stay within a functional range of receiving sensors in order to provide continuous service to users. This avoids oversaturation and possible damage to the equipment. The approach can include decreasing or increasing the power to counteract a surge or drop while maintaining a near constant received power at a remote communication device. The system may receive power adjustment feedback from another communication terminal and perform state-based power control according to the received feedback. This can include re-initializing and reacquiring a link with the other communication terminal automatically after loss of power, without human intervention. There may be a default state and discrete states including rain, fade, surge and unstable states.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A communication terminal configured to receive free space optical signals, the communication terminal comprising:

a beam splitter configured to split an input optical beam received from another communication terminal into a beacon wavelength and one or more communication wavelengths;
a position-sensing detector configured to receive the beacon wavelength from the beam splitter and to determine target tracking location information;
an optical attenuator configured to receive the one or more communication wavelengths from the beam splitter and to attenuate at least one of the one or more communication wavelengths;
a power monitoring block configured to receive the determined target tracking location information and to output a control signal to adjust the optical attenuator for the attenuation of the at least one of the one or more communication wavelengths;
and
at least one photodiode configured to receive the attenuated at least one communication wavelength and output one or more detected communication signals;
wherein the power monitoring block is further configured to receive power adjustment feedback from a power control block of the other communication terminal and to perform state-based power control of the communication terminal according to the received power adjustment feedback.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power control loop for stabilization of link power

Life of this patent

Power control loop for stabilization of link power

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20