Back to results
US 7,925,167 B1Granted
Satellite downlink via patterns of uncollimated light
OwnerMarek J. Kozubal, Terence Sean Sullivaninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
OwnerMarek J. Kozubal, Terence Sean Sullivaninventors
Estimating the term…
A satellite or spacecraft in low Earth orbit, when in eclipse and not illuminated by sunlight, represents a low-bandwidth datastream through modulation of a source of uncollimated light, such as a set of light emitting diodes. Transmission modes include generating patterns in the color, intensity or polarization of a light source, or precise timing control of a strobe signal. A ground station tracks the satellite in a telescope, stewing the telescope to follow the satellite as it moves across the sky, recording light generated by the satellite with a light sensor such as a video camera. The datastream is regenerated through analysis of recorded video. Satellite downlink is initiated by detection of eclipse, by command via radio uplink, or in response to a periodic automatic timer. In an alternative embodiment, the satellite represents the datastream through modulation of its effective albedo or reflective flux during periods of solar illumination.
A method for optical downlink from a satellite including at least a first uncollimated light source and a data generation system, comprising the steps of:
A method for recording a data stream optically transmitted from a satellite through patterns of uncollimated light, at a telescope including a telescope aiming system and focal plane light sensor, comprising the steps of
A method for optical downlink from a satellite including at least a first uncollimated light source and a data generation system, comprising the steps of:
A method for optical downlink from a satellite including at least a first uncollimated light source, a second uncollimated light source with spectral characteristics different from said first uncollimated light source, and a data generation system, comprising the steps of:
A method for optical downlink from a satellite including a data generation system and at least a first uncollimated light source including a surface with variable reflective flux, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.