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US 6,445,496 B1Granted
Point-to-multipoint free-space wireless optical communication system
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsHerman Melvin Presby, John A. Tyson
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AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsHerman Melvin Presby, John A. Tyson
Estimating the term…
A free-space wireless optical communication system is disclosed that utilizes a telescope design having aspherical mirrors, such as a Ritchey-Chretien (RC) telescope. RC telescopes are characterized by a concave primary mirror and a convex secondary mirror each having a hyperbolic shape. The disclosed mirror configuration provides a larger focal plane that allows for automatic alignment between a transmitter and receiver with a stationary or fixed mirror design, further contributing to a lower fabrication cost. Among other benefits, the larger focal plane permits an n×n fiber array to be positioned in the focal plane of the RC optical telescope, thereby enabling point-to-multipoint communications with a single optical telescope. Each fiber in the n×n fiber array of a transmitting telescope can be focused on a different receiving telescope in a wireless optical communication system. In this manner, each fiber in the n×n fiber array sends optical energy over a distinct path to address a given receiving telescope. Likewise, for a multipoint-to-point communication system, an n×n fiber array can be positioned in the focl plane 330 of the RC optical receiving telescope, with each fiber in the n×n fiber array receiving optical energy over a distinct path from a given transmitting telescope. A number of fabrication techniques are also disclosed that permit the optical telescopes of the present invention to be fabricated at a reasonable cost that permits such optical telescopes to be deployed in wireless optical communication systems.
A wireless communication system, comprising at least one Ritchey-Chretien (RC) optical telescope, wherein a fiber array comprised of at least two fibers is positioned at a focal plane of said RC optical telescope, each of said fibers in optical communication with a different remote telescope.
A wireless communications system, comprising at least one optical telescope having an aspherical mirror, wherein a fiber array comprised of at least two fibers is positioned at a focal plane of said optical telescope, each of said fibers in optical communication with a different remote telescope.
A Ritchey-Chretien (RC) optical telescope for a wireless communications link, comprising:
A Ritchey-Chretien (RC) optical telescope for a wireless communications link, comprising:
A method for receiving an optical signal in a multipoint-to-point free-space wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:
A method for transmitting an optical signal in a transmitting telescope of a point-to-multipoint free-space wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.