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US 9,106,336 B1Granted
Photo-sensor array to adjust alignment of optical receiver
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorJeremy Brouillet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the context of a balloon network, embodiments described herein may help to maintain an optical communications link between two balloons. For example, an illustrative balloon may include auxiliary photodetectors that are arranged around the photodetector in the balloon's optical receiver system. The balloon may detect intensity differences between the auxiliary photodetectors on opposite sides of an optical receiver, and adjust the positioning in an effort to reduce the intensity difference, and by so doing, better align the optical receiver with the optical transmitter of the transmitting balloon.
Claims22
A balloon system comprising:
- an optical receiver configured to receive an optical signal at a balloon;
- a plurality of alignment sensors comprising at least a first and a second alignment sensors, wherein the first and the second alignment sensors are positioned so as to detect the optical signal at a first and a second location, respectively, and wherein the first location and the second location are proximate to opposite sides of the optical receiver;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- receive first light data that is indicative of the optical signal as received at the first alignment sensor;
- receive second light data that is indicative of the optical signal as received at the second alignment sensor;
- analyze the first and second light data to detect an intensity difference between:
- (a) the optical signal as received at the first alignment sensor and (b) the optical signal as received at the second alignment sensor;
- determine a horizontal movement direction of the optical receiver;
- receive altitudinal wind data;
- determine a desired altitude based on the horizontal movement direction and the received altitudinal wind data, such that the optical receiver moves in the horizontal movement direction at the desired altitude;
- and
- in response to detection of the intensity difference and determination of the desired altitude, initiate a process to control positioning of the optical receiver based on the intensity difference and the desired altitude, wherein the process comprises moving the optical receiver to the desired altitude.
10 more elements
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving first light data that is indicative of an optical signal as received at a first of a plurality of alignment sensors, wherein the plurality of alignment sensors comprises at least the first and a second alignment sensor, wherein the first and the second alignment sensor are positioned so as to detect the optical signal at a first and a second location, respectively, and wherein the first location and the second location are proximate to opposite sides of an optical receiver of a balloon;
- receiving second light data that is indicative of the optical signal as detected at the second alignment sensor;
- analyzing the first and second light data to determine an intensity difference exists between:
- (a) the optical signal as detected at the first alignment sensor and (b) the optical signal as detected at the second alignment sensor;
- determining a horizontal movement direction of the optical receiver;
- receiving altitudinal wind data
- determining a desired altitude based on the horizontal movement direction and the received altitudinal wind data, such that the optical receiver moves in the horizontal movement direction at the desired altitude;
- and
- in response to detecting the intensity difference and determining the desired altitude, positioning the optical receiver based on the intensity difference and the desired altitude, wherein positioning the optical receiver comprises moving the optical receiver to the desired altitude.
6 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
- receiving first light data that is indicative of an optical signal as received at a first of a plurality of alignment sensors, wherein the plurality of alignment sensors comprises at least the first and a second alignment sensor, wherein the first and the second alignment sensor are positioned so as to detect the optical signal at a first and a second location, respectively, and wherein the first location and the second location are proximate to opposite sides of an optical receiver of a balloon;
- receiving second light data that is indicative of the optical signal as detected at the second alignment sensor;
- analyzing the first and second light data to determine an intensity difference exists between:
- (a) the optical signal as detected at the first alignment sensor and (b) the optical signal as detected at the second alignment sensor;
- determining a horizontal movement direction of the optical receiver;
- receiving altitudinal wind data
- determining a desired altitude based on the horizontal movement direction and the received altitudinal wind data, such that the optical receiver moves in the horizontal movement direction at the desired altitude;
- and
- in response to detecting the intensity difference and determining the desired altitude, positioning the optical receiver based on the intensity difference and the desired altitude, wherein positioning the optical receiver comprises moving the optical receiver to the desired altitude.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.