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US 2026/0312684 A1Published application
Intra-satellite optical networking (ison) system
AssigneeWildstar, LLC
InventorGREGORY THANE WYLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed technology is generally directed to Intra-Satellite Optical Networking (ISON). In one example of the technology, a system for ISON is provided. The system includes a plurality of satellite components, an illuminator device, a conversion device, and a fiber optic cable. The illuminator device generates optical input signals based on desired input signals to operate the plurality of satellite components. The conversion device converts the optical input signals to electrical input signals. The illuminator device transmits the optical input signals to the conversion device by way of the fiber optic cable. The plurality of satellite components receive the electrical input signals and perform corresponding operations based on the electrical input signals.
Claims43
A system for intra-satellite optical networking (ISON), the system comprising:
- an element plane of a satellite, the element plane comprising:
- a plurality of radiating elements of a phased array antenna system formed thereon;
- an illuminator device comprising:
- an optical source configured to generate optical input signals based on desired input signals for operating at least one of the plurality of radiating elements;
- and
- a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the optical source and configured to control at least one parameter of the optical input signals including at least one of an intensity, a phase, and an amplitude of the optical input signals;
- a conversion device;
- a fiber optic cable coupling the illuminator device to the conversion device;
- the conversion device comprising:
- a set of photovoltaic (PV) panels configured to convert the optical input signals into electrical input signals;
- and
- a set of directing elements disposed on the set of PV panels, each directing element including a mirror-coated top surface and mirror-coated side surfaces configured to receive the optical input signals and reflect the optical input signals toward a respective PV panel of the set of PV panels;
- and
- a feedback device coupled between the conversion device and the illuminator device, the feedback device comprising:
- a power output measuring device configured to determine a power output of the electrical input signals;
- an optical relay coupled to the power output measuring device and configured to convert the power output of the electrical input signals into optical feedback signals;
- a second fiber optic cable coupled to the optical relay;
- a second conversion device coupled to the second fiber optic cable and configured to convert the optical feedback signals into electrical feedback signals;
- and
- a controller coupled to the second conversion device and configured to compare the electrical feedback signals with the desired input signals to generate a difference signal and transmit the difference signal to the illuminator device,
- wherein the DSP is configured to control the optical source based on the difference signal such that the electrical input signals are adjusted toward the desired input signals.
18 more elements
A system for intra-satellite optical networking (ISON), the system comprising:
- an element plane comprising a substrate and a plurality of radiating elements formed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of radiating elements are part of a phased array antenna system;
- a plurality of illuminator devices, each illuminator device comprising:
- an optical source configured to generate optical input signals based on desired input signals for operating at least one radiating element;
- and
- a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the optical source and configured to control phase and amplitude of the optical input signals to perform digital beam forming (DBF);
- a plurality of fiber optic cables, each fiber optic cable coupling a respective illuminator device to a respective conversion device;
- a plurality of conversion devices, each conversion device being configured to:
- receive the optical input signals,
- convert the optical input signals into electrical input signals, and
- transmit the electrical input signals to at least one radiating element;
- and
- a processing system configured to synchronize the DSPs of the plurality of illuminator devices to perform digital beam forming across the plurality of radiating elements.
9 more elements
A conversion device for use in an intra-satellite optical networking system, the conversion device comprising:
- a set of photovoltaic (PV) panels configured to convert received optical input signals into electrical input signals;
- a set of directing elements disposed on the set of PV panels, each directing element including a mirror-coated top surface and mirror-coated side surfaces configured to receive optical input signals from a fiber optic cable termination and reflect the optical input signals toward a respective region of a PV panel;
- and
- an electrical interface configured to provide the electrical input signals to at least one radiating element or satellite component.
1 more element
A system for Intra-Satellite Optical Networking (ISON), the system comprising:
- a plurality of satellite components;
- an illuminator device configured to generate optical input signals based on desired input signals to operate the plurality of satellite components;
- a conversion device configured to convert the optical input signals to electrical input signals;
- and
- a fiber optic cable coupled between the illuminator device and the conversion device, wherein the illuminator device is further configured to transmit the optical input signals to the conversion device by way of the fiber optic cable, and wherein the plurality of satellite components are coupled to the conversion device, and configured to receive the electrical input signals and perform corresponding operations based on the electrical input signals.
2 more elements
A system for intra-satellite optical networking (ISON), the system comprising:
- an element plane comprising a plurality of radiating elements of a phased array antenna formed on a substrate;
- a processor;
- a plurality of illuminator devices, each including:
- an optical source configured to generate optical input signals based on desired input signals for operating a plurality of radiating elements;
- and a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to perform digital beam forming (DBF) operations by controlling the phase and amplitude of the optical input signals;
- a plurality of fiber optic cables, each configured to transmit the optical input signals from a respective illuminator device;
- and
- a plurality of conversion devices, each configured to receive and convert the optical input signals into electrical input signals,
- wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements are coupled to at least one of the plurality of conversion devices, wherein each of the plurality of conversion devices is configured to transmit the electrical input signals to at least one of the respective radiating elements, and wherein the plurality of radiating elements are each configured to receive the electrical input signals from the at least one of the plurality of conversion devices coupled to respective radiating element.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.