# US 2014/0193158 A1 · Rf/optical shared aperture for high availability wideband communication rf/fso links > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193158 A1 - Document ID: US20140193158A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/190,035 - Filed: 2014-02-25 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-01 - Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Applicants: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Inventors: Anthony J. Ruggiero; Hsueh-yuan Pao; Paul Sargis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193158A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/2575: Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier - G02B 17/0856: {comprising a refractive element with a reflective surface, the reflection taking place inside the element, e.g. Mangin mirrors} - H01Q 5/22: RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical - H01Q 15/0033: {used for beam splitting or combining, e.g. acting as a quasi-optical multiplexer (H01Q19/191 and H01Q19/195 take precedence)} - H01Q 19/13: the primary radiating source being a single radiating element, e.g. a dipole, a slot, a waveguide termination (H01Q19/15 takes precedence) - H04B 10/1123: {Bidirectional transmission} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An RF/Optical shared aperture is capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals and RF signals simultaneously. This technology enables compact wide bandwidth communications systems with 100% availability in clear air turbulence, rain and fog. The functions of an optical telescope and an RF reflector antenna are combined into a single compact package by installing an RF feed at either of the focal points of a modified Gregorian telescope. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a first reflecting element comprising a concave primary mirror and a concave secondary mirror, wherein said concave primary mirror has an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter and a first curvature, wherein said concave secondary mirror is disposed within said inner perimeter and comprises a central aperture and a second curvature that is greater than said first curvature; a folding mirror facing said concave secondary mirror, wherein said folding mirror is configured to reflect a radio-frequency signal (RFS) and an optical signal (OS); an RFS source configured to direct said RFS through said central aperture such that said RSF will first be reflected by said folding mirror and will then be reflected by said concave primary mirror; and an OS source configured to direct said OS through said central aperture such that said OS will first be reflected by said folding mirror and will then be reflected by said concave primary mirror. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said OS comprises a wavelength of 1550 nm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said folding mirror, said primary mirror and said secondary mirror all comprise material that is reflective to both said RFS and said OS. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said RFS source comprises a slot-array feed antenna. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said slot-array feed antenna comprises a central hole, wherein said central hole is positioned between said OS source and said central aperture such that said RFS will propagate through said central hole and said central aperture to impact said folding mirror. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method, comprising; providing the apparatus of claim 1; producing said RFS from said RFS source; directing said RFS through said central aperture, wherein said RSF is reflected by said folding mirror and is then reflected by said concave primary mirror; producing said OS from said OS source; and directing said OS through said central aperture, wherein said OS is reflected by said folding mirror and is then reflected by said concave primary mirror. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said OS comprises a wavelength of 1550 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said folding mirror, said primary mirror and said secondary mirror all comprise material that is reflective to both said RFS and said OS. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said RFS source comprises a slot-array feed antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said slot-array feed antenna comprises a central hole, wherein said central hole is positioned between said OS source and said central aperture such that said RFS will propagate through said central hole and said central aperture to impact said folding mirror. ### Claim 11 A fabrication method, comprising: providing a first reflecting element comprising a concave primary mirror and a concave secondary mirror, wherein said concave primary mirror has an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter and a first curvature, wherein said concave secondary mirror is disposed within said inner perimeter and comprises a central aperture and a second curvature that is greater than said first curvature; configuring a folding mirror such that it is facing said concave secondary mirror, wherein said folding mirror is configured to reflect a radio-frequency signal (RFS) and an optical signal (OS); configuring an RFS source to direct said RFS through said central aperture such that said RSF will first be reflected by said folding mirror and will then be reflected by said concave primary mirror; and configuring an OS source to direct said OS through said central aperture such that said OS will first be reflected by said folding mirror and will then be reflected by said concave primary mirror. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said folding mirror is configured to reflect an OS comprising a wavelength of 1550 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said folding mirror, said primary mirror and said secondary mirror all comprise material that is reflective to both said RFS and said OS. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said RIPS source comprises a slot-array feed antenna. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said slot-array feed antenna comprises a central hole, wherein said central hole is positioned between said OS source and said central aperture such that said RFS will propagate through said central hole and said central aperture to impact said folding mirror.