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US 7,406,263 B2Granted
Combined wavefront sensor and data detector for a free space optical communications system with adaptive optics
AssigneeAOptix Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJ. Elon Graves, Malcolm J Northcott, J. Christopher Shelton
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Abstract
In an adaptive optics module, wavefront sensing and data detection are implemented in a single device. For example, an optical-to-electrical converter converts a data-encoded optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, which contains both the data encoded in the beam and also wavefront information about the beam. The data and wavefront information are later separated, for example by frequency filtering.
Claims43
A device for wavefront sensing and data detection, the device comprising:
- an optical-to-electrical converter for receiving an optical beam encoded with data and converting the optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, the intermediate electrical signal containing the data and further containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront of the optical beam by the optical-to-electrical converter;
- and
- a separation module coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter for generating an electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the intermediate electrical signal, the electrical wavefront signal containing the wavefront information and the electrical data signal containing the data.
An adaptive optics module for wavefront correction and data transmission, the adaptive optics module comprising:
- a combined wavefront/data sensor for receiving an optical beam encoded with data and generating an electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the optical beam, the electrical wavefront signal containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront of the optical beam by the combined wavefront/data sensor and the electrical data signal containing the data;
- and
- a variable phase device coupled to the combined wavefront/data sensor and located in an optical path of the optical beam, the variable phase device for introducing an adjustable phase in the optical path in response to the electrical wavefront signal.
An FSO transceiver comprising:
- telescope optics for collecting an optical beam encoded with data;
- a deformable curvature mirror located in an optical path of the optical beam, the deformable curvature mirror for introducing an adjustable phase in the optical path in response to an electrical wavefront signal;
- and
- a device for wavefront sensing and data detection located in the optical path downstream of the deformable curvature mirror, the device comprising:
- an optical-to-electrical converter for converting the optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, the intermediate electrical signal containing the data and further containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront curvature of the optical beam by the optical-to-electrical converter;
- and
- a separation module coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter for generating the electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the intermediate electrical signal, the electrical wavefront signal containing the wavefront information and the electrical data signal containing the data.
4 more elements
A method for wavefront sensing and data detection comprising:
- receiving an optical beam encoded with data;
- converting the optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, the intermediate electrical signal containing the data and further containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront of the optical beam during said conversion;
- and
- generating an electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the intermediate electrical signal, the electrical wavefront signal containing the wavefront information and the electrical data signal containing the data.
1 more element
A method for wavefront correction and data transmission comprising:
- receiving an optical beam encoded with data;
- converting the optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, the intermediate electrical signal containing the data and further containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront of the optical beam during said conversion;
- generating an electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the intermediate electrical signal, the electrical wavefront signal containing the wavefront information and the electrical data signal containing the data;
- and
- adjusting a phase in an optical path of the optical beam in response to the electrical wavefront signal.
2 more elements
A method for FSO data transmission comprising:
- collecting an optical beam encoded with data;
- converting the optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, the intermediate electrical signal containing the data and further containing wavefront information sensed from a wavefront curvature of the optical beam during said conversion;
- generating an electrical wavefront signal and an electrical data signal from the intermediate electrical signal, the electrical wavefront signal containing the wavefront information and the electrical data signal containing the data;
- and
- adjusting a phase in an optical path of the optical beam in response to the electrical wavefront signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.