Back to results
US 2009/0214216 A1Published application
Space-time division multiple-access laser communications system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsWilliam J. Miniscalco, Robert D. O'Shea, Irl W. Smith, Howard L. Waldman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A space-time division multiple-access (STDMA) laser communications (lasercom) system and related techniques. The STDMA system includes a plurality of remote nodes and an STDMA access node which uses precise electronic beam steering and beacons to provide access to each of a plurality of remote access nodes by means of both space and time-division multiple access.
Claims26
A space-time division multiple-access (STDMA) laser communications system comprising:
- a plurality of remote nodes;
- and
- an STDMA access node having an optical communications aperture and a plurality of optical pointing, acquisition and tracking (PAT) apertures, with each of the plurality of PAT apertures having a beacon beam in communication with one of said plurality of remotes nodes.
A method for operating an optical communications system, the method comprising:
- transmitting a plurality of beacon beams from an STDMA access node to locate a corresponding plurality of remote nodes;
- and
- selecting a one of said plurality of remote nodes;
- and
- directing an STDMA access node downlink (D/L) transmit beam to the selected remote node to establish a communications link between the STDMA access node and the selected remote node.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.