Terabeam Corporation

Mark Lewis Plett

Herman M Presby

Gerald Nykolak

Robert M Pierce

John A Bell

Nicholas Eichhorn Bratt

Jun Shan Wey

Steven Andrew Cashion

Stuart Ferrier

A mode scrambler comprises an optical fiber adapter having a diffuser disposed between optical fiber mating ends of the optical fiber adapter. When a single mode optical signal is launched in the mode scrambler, the mode scrambler converts the single mode optical signal to a multimode optical signal that has a substantially even intensity distribution across the modes.

Mode scrambler

An optical fiber assembly includes an optical fiber and ferrule. The ferrule's face is partitioned into several regions. Optical elements can be formed on the regions to diffract light incident on the ferrule. Alternatively, the ferrule's face may have several reflective facets. Light incident on the end of the optical fiber propagates to a communications detector. Light incident on the ferrule's face is redirected to tracking detectors, each arranged to receive the redirected light from a preselected region of the ferrule. The output signals of the tracking detectors are used to adjust the alignment between the incident light and the assembly. Alternatively, tracking fibers or a quadrant cell may be used to directly receive light that would otherwise be incident on the ferrule's face.

Free space optical system with multiple function detectors

A holographic element (HOE) with multiple apertures formed in a single substrate for use an optical communication system. The multi-aperture HOE can be use instead of an optics unit having one or more separate optical elements for each aperture needed by an optical transmitter, receiver or transceiver. The single substrate reduces complexity and cost relative to conventional system that the use separate optical elements to implement the optics unit.

Multi-aperture holographic optical element for use in a free space optical communication system

A free space (FSO) receiver includes an illumination sensing unit with multiple illumination apertures. The illumination sensing unit is used in deriving alignment information from portion(s) of a received FSO signal that are incident on the illumination apertures. The FSO receiver provides this information to the FSO transmitter that transmitted the FSO signal so that the FSO transmitter can adjust the direction it is pointing. The illumination apertures can be formed in a holographic optical element on a single substrate. Further, transmission, reception, tracking and/or spotting scope apertures may be formed in the single substrate.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Mark Lewis Plett