Apparatus and method for free space optical communications beam steering without gimbals

A method of communicating using optical signals, comprising:

• (a) detecting an incoming optical signal from a remote optical transmitter;
• (b) translating a receiver optical fiber comprising a first end and a second end such that the second end of the receiver optical fiber is pointed toward a perceived maximum intensity area of the incoming optical signal, wherein said translating step is performed by means of a plurality of actuators attached to the receiver optical fiber, wherein each of said actuators comprise an arm of constant length and a MEMS device in communication with said arm, and wherein at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises an X-direction translational component and at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises a Y-direction translational component, and said X-direction translational component attaches to and translates said optical fiber in the X-direction without direct lateral translation of said Y-direction translational component in the X-direction, and said Y-direction translational component attaches to and translates said optical fiber in the Y-direction without direct lateral translation of said X-direction translational component in the Y-direction;
• (c) receiving at the second end of the receiver optical fiber the incoming optical signal, and passing the incoming optical signal to the first end of the receiver optical fiber;
• (d) converting the incoming optical signal to an electrical signal;
• (e) formulating an electrical response signal to the incoming optical signal;
• (f) converting the electrical response signal to an outgoing optical signal;
• (g) determining a direction for the transmission of the outgoing optical signal based on the direction from which the incoming optical signal was received;
• (h) translating a transmitter optical fiber comprising a first end and a second end such that the second end of the transmitter optical fiber is pointed in the optimum direction for the transmission of the outgoing optical signal, wherein said translating step is performed by means of an actuator attached to the transmitter optical fiber;
• and
• (i) receiving at the first end of the transmitter optical fiber the outgoing optical signal, and passing the outgoing optical signal to the second end of the transmitter optical fiber.

An optical communications subsystem, comprising:

• (a) an optical fiber lying along a Z-axis of the subsystem when said optical fiber is in an untranslated state;
• and
• (b) a MEMS device lying along an X-Y plane of the subsystem and attached to said optical fiber, wherein said MEMS device comprises a plurality of actuators each comprising an arm of constant length linked to said fiber wherein each of said actuators is attached to said optical fiber and operable to manipulate said optical fiber in at least two dimensions by movement of said MEMS device within the X-Y plane of the subsystem, and wherein at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises an X-direction translational component and at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises a Y-direction translational component, and said X-direction translational component is operable to translate said optical fiber in the X-direction without translation of said Y-direction translational component in the X-direction, and said Y-direction translational component is operable to translate said optical fiber in the Y-direction without translation of said X-direction translational component in the Y-direction;
• and
• (c) at least one of a remote optical signal receiver and a remote optical signal transmitter positioned remotely from said optical fiber.