Dynamic optical signal tracking on a detector array in a free space optical communication system

A free-space optical communication system with an optical signal originating from a transmitting source, comprising:

• a detector array, comprising a plurality of detector elements, each detector element operable to receive the optical signal and output a detector signal;
• a tracker coupled to the detector array and operable to electronically track dynamic movement of the optical signal from a first detector element to a second detector element on the detector array, wherein the movement of the optical signal is caused by real-time changes in orientation of the transmitting source;
• and
• a decoder coupled to the tracker and operable to output an output signal derived from at least one of the detector signals corresponding to a detector element illuminated by the optical signal, wherein the decoder comprises at least one multiplexer coupled to the detector array, operable to receive the detector signal from each detector element and select at least one detector signal for output as the output signal as selected by a tracking signal from the tracker.

A method for electronically tracking free-space optical signals incident on a detector array, comprising:

• transmitting an optical signal including a plurality of optical beams from a plurality of transmitting sources toward a detector array having a plurality of detector elements, wherein transmitting the plurality of optical beams comprises encoding each of the plurality of optical beams with a unique identifier;
• receiving the optical signal on the detector array;
• tracking dynamic movement of the optical signal electronically from a first detector element to a second detector element on the detector array to compensate for concurrent dynamic movement caused by changes in orientation of the transmitting source relative to the detector array;
• and
• outputting an output signal, including a plurality of beam output signals, each beam output signal corresponding to an optical beam, wherein the output signal is derived from the optical signal received by at least one of the plurality of detector elements.

A method for electronically tracking free-space optical signals incident on a detector array, comprising:

• transmitting an optical signal including a plurality of optical beams from a plurality of transmitting sources toward the detector array having a plurality of detector elements;
• receiving the optical signal on the detector array;
• tracking dynamic movement of the optical signal electronically from a first detector element to a second detector element on the detector array to compensate for concurrent dynamic movement caused by changes in orientation of the transmitting source relative to the detector array;
• outputting an output signal, including a plurality of beam output signals, each beam output signal corresponding to an optical beam, wherein the output signal is derived from the optical signal received by at least one of the plurality of detector elements;
• and
• mapping a sequence of detector elements that receive the optical signal as a function of time for at least one of the plurality of transmitting sources.