The Boeing Company

Stephen G Lambert

David Arthur Whelan

John P Leuer

Matthew M Everett

Steven Fulton Griffin

Nathan D Hiller

James Douglas Franklin

Todd Harding Tomkinson

Yuanjian Xu

Brian K Pheiffer

A flight path clearing system comprising a laser beam system in an aircraft and a controller. The controller is configured to select a number of characteristics for a laser beam based on an object type. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to emit the laser beam with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to move the laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type to scan an area using a pattern that is based on a sequence of locations in the pattern being nearest to a center of the area, wherein a number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.

Laser beam based flight path clearing system

An optical high-power amplifier ('OPHA') circuit, e.g., for a spaceborne satellite-based communication network, includes fiberoptic gain and polarization maintenance (“PM”) stages, a polarization splitter, first and second photodetectors, and an electronic control unit (“ECU”). The gain stage outputs an amplified optical signal in response to a low-power (“LP”) optical input signal. The PM stage outputs separate high and low power output signals in response to the amplified signal. A majority of power of the input signal is allocated to the HP output signal. The polarization splitter transmits the LP output signal along the slow and/or fast polarization axis. The photodetectors are arranged on the slow and fast axes. The ECU outputs a polarizer control signal to a polarization rotator device in response to electrical signals from one or both photodetectors to command the rotator device to output the LP optical input signal with a targeted polarized output state.

Optical high-power amplifier circuit with switchable polarized output state

Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals and have a field of regard covering one hemisphere of the Earth.

Laser communications in super-geosynchronous earth orbit

A free space optical communications network comprises a constellation of relay nodes in serial optical communication to form an optical path. The relay nodes are configured to wavelength-multiplex a plurality of wavelength-dependent optical bent pipe channels into and out of the optical path.

Free space optical communications network with multiplexed bent pipe channels

Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications following an atmospheric event. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals. Further, the method involves adapting, by at least one first processor on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal according to at least one atmospheric event.

Laser communications following an atmospheric event

A method for a plurality of nodes in a free space optical communications network comprises using a bent pipe channel to relay data between at least some of the nodes of the network; and using a pilot channel for pointing, acquisition and tracking to continuously maintain line-of-sight between all of the nodes even when the bent pipe channel is not active.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Stephen G Lambert