The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2025
Filed:
May. 12, 2023
Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US);
Jeff Clark Adams, Seattle, WA (US);
Donald Mitchell Cornwell, Bellevue, WA (US);
Endri Kerci, Mountlake Terrace, WA (US);
AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
Satellites may communicate using an optical communication system that provides high bitrate communication while also facilitating tracking, ranging, and low bitrate communication. Light modulated with a high bitrate signal is also modulated to include a set of orthogonal tones used for tracking, ranging, and low bitrate data. A continuous tracking tone may be sent to facilitate acquisition and tracking at the receiver. Timing signals may be exchanged using the tones. These may be used to calculate range between the satellites or provide precision time synchronization. One or more of these tones may be modulated to send low bitrate data. At the receiving device, the incident light may be detected by a first detector with a wide field of view, such as a quad cell detector, and the tones detected. With tracking established, the incident light is directed on a second detector and the high bitrate signal is detected.