Method and arrangement for optical information transmission via satellites
AssigneeContraves Space AG
InventorsReinhard Hanno Czichy, Manfred Wittig, Edgar Fischer
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Abstract
The instant invention relates to a method and an arrangement for optical information transmission via satellites by means of broadband optical modulation and reception technology. As a rule, the arrangement is realized in optical satellite terminals, which have optical units, a laser unit, control and supply as well as monitoring units. In the exemplary embodiment, these terminals are designed for a data rate of 1.5 Gbit/s and a transmission distance of more than 1,200 km, while having a weight of less than 8 kg.
Claims10
A satellite device for optically transmitting and receiving information between satellites comprising:
- a beacon laser for transmitting a remote satellite locating search beam;
- a point ahead assembly laser for transmitting information to said remote satellite once said remote satellite has been located by said beacon laser;
- a pair of initial, movable mirrors for selectively directing said beacon and point ahead assembly lasers out of said satellite device and for selectively directing superimposed optical beams which are received by said satellite device;
- a plurality of detectors for detecting beams received by said satellite device through said pair of initial, movable mirrors;
- an arrangement of one or more internal mirrors and beam splitters for routing said received optical beams to appropriate detectors once said received beams have passed through said pair of initial, movable mirrors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.