Space Photonics, Inc.

Harris Corporation

Fred J Orlando

Jeffrey T Gregory

Charles Henry Chalfant, Iii

Chad B O'Neal

Paul W Casper

James W Toy

Terry L Tidwell

Ronald R Giri

Peter H Halpern

George A Waschka, Jr

Norman C Seiler

Charles R Patisaul

J Richard Jones

Willie T Burton, Jr

Thomas J Nixon

Matthew Leftwich

Harold Iley

W B Ashley

Chuck H Chalfant, Iii

An acquisition, pointing and tracking system for free space optical communications systems performs the pointing and tracking function internally by way of translating an internal optical fiber in the focal plane of the transceiver telescope with a reflecting mirror in the telescope focal plane of each linked transceiver. The beam reflected from the mirror records the exact direction of the reflected beam at the transmitting beam's transceiver terminal, providing the transmitting source to lock on to the receiving telescope, allowing for the link to be acquired.

Rapid acquisition, pointing and tracking optical system for free space optical communications

A beam steering apparatus and method for free space optical transceivers is disclosed. The beam steering function is performed internally by way of translating an internal optical fiber in the focal plane of the transceiver telescope using miniature micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The optical design of the transceiver provides a wide field of view and a pointing and tracking field of regard that is directly proportional to the translation of the optical fiber in the focal plane of the telescope. The apparatus and method can eliminate the need for external gimballing systems, and replace the gimballed free space optical beam steering function with MEMS that consumes very little power.

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

A targeting and tracking apparatus and method for optical transceivers is disclosed. The tracking function is performed internally by way of translating an internal optical fiber in the focal plane of the transceiver telescope using miniature motorized translation systems and/or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The optical design of the transceiver provides a wide field of view and a pointing and tracking field of regard that is directly proportional to the translation of the optical fiber in the focal plane of the telescope. The apparatus and method can eliminate the need for external gimballing systems and scanning mirrors, and replace the gimballed optical beam steering function with motorized translation systems and/or MEMS that consumes very little power.

Beam steering for optical target identification and tracking without gimbals or scanning mirrors

A MEMS-based optical steering apparatus for free space optical transmitters, receivers, and transceivers is disclosed. The MEMS device comprises actuators linked to an optic fiber, the actuators operable to maneuver the optical fiber in the X-Y plane at the focal point of the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. The MEMS device may thus be used to replace gimbals for beam steering applications.

MEMS-based optical communications beam steering apparatus

A multichannel data link switching control arrangement for synchronizing the substitution of one data channel for another without causing the insertion or deletion of data bits from the data transmitted over the communication path that is coupled to the channels. The switching control arrangement monitors the relative timing between the data on a channel to be replaced and the data on the replacement channel. Precisely controlled delay circuitry delays the data on one channel relative to the other until the data signals on the two channels are within .+-. a quarter bit of each other, at which time the channel substitution is effected. The arrangement includes a pair of control switch units each of which may be selectively controlled to couple either the active channel or the replacement channel to an output communication link. Each switch control unit contains an input multiplexer and an output switch, the operations of which are controlled by a data timing monitoring apparatus or control unit. The outputs of the two switch control units are coupled to signal combining and splitting circuitry the output of which may be phase compared with the data being coupled through either switch unit. A controllable data delay unit is coupled to one channel at the input to the dual switch control unit configuration and serves to selectively delay one channel with respect to the other as the data signals on both are applied to respective switch control units until the data streams on the two channels are synchronized. At that time, a control signal is applied to the two switch control units to effect a simultaneous switching of the output switches in each unit, whereby channel substitution is effected. The delay action of the delay unit remains in the replacement channel, except that no further incrementing of the delay is carried out.

Synchronized protection switching arrangement

A repeatered, multichannel fiber optic communication network includes a plurality of full duplex fiber optic channels and one or more auxiliary channels. In order to supervise and control the operation of the network, for both data transmission and fault/maintenance actions, each terminal station contains a processor-based subsystem capable of network monitoring, first level maintenance action, fault isolation, and remote network control and status reporting. This processor-based subsystem interfaces with each fiber optic channel, with an orderwire communication link, and with external input/output devices and surveillance equipment. Three substantially autonomous processor-based sections which are dedicated to performing specific functions within the overall network operation are employed for carrying out these separate interfacing tasks. Each section of the processor-based subsystem in a terminal station contains its own CPU and associated memory and is programmed to carry out specific functions identified with that section. Each section is interconnected with the other two so that, internally, the subsystem is fully integrated.

Repeatered, multi-channel fiber optic communication network having fault

Growing community of inventors

West Melbourne, FL, United States of America

Fred J Orlando