Flexure for mirror adjustment
AssigneeTaara Connect, Inc.
InventorsYuma Ohkura, Markus DeMartini, Andrei Kazmierski
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Abstract
Aspects of the technology relates to alignment of components of an optical communications terminal. Specifically, alignment of a mirror (e.g., steering mirror) with other components of the optical communications terminal using a flexure connected thereto. The flexure may be configured to expand and contract allowing for adjustment of tip and tilt of the mirror. The mirror in conjunction with other components of the optical communications terminal may be configured to transmit and receive signals or beams (e.g., optical communications signals or beams) with remote terminals.
Claims20
A system for adjustment a mirror of an optical communications terminal, the system comprising:
- a mirror configured to direct optical signals between an aperture of the optical communications terminal and an optical phased array (OPA) of an optical communications terminal;
- and
- a flexure configured to receive the mirror, the flexure comprising:
- an outer portion,
- one or more inner portions, and
- one or more discontinuities delineating the one or more inner portions and the outer portion, wherein the one or more discontinuities allow for expansion and contraction of the flexure by movement of the one or more inner portions of the flexure relative to the outer portion of the flexure, wherein expansion and contraction of the flexure allows for adjustment of the mirror.
A method of adjusting a mirror of an optical communications terminal, the method comprising:
- measuring, by one or more receiver components of the optical communications terminal, at least one of power and intensity of a received optical beam;
- and
- upon determining the measured at least one of the power and the intensity is not a maximum power or intensity associated with the optical beam, adjusting one or more fasteners resulting in expansion or contraction of a flexure connected to the mirror of the optical communications terminal, the expansion or contraction allowing for adjustment of tip and tilt of the mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.