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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2003
Cecilia Y. Cheng, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Robert R. Hayes, Calabasas, CA (US);
David A. Langsam, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Andrew L. Strodtbeck, El Segundo, CA (US);
The Directv Group, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical communication terminal transmits data via an optical signal with a transmit mirror positioned to direct the optical signal. The optical communication terminal includes a processor configured to develop a control signal for a mirror controller to establish an optimal position of the transmit mirror. The optical communication terminal further includes a modulator coupled to the processor that modulates the optical signal in accordance with a position of the transmit mirror during transmission of the optical signal. The optimal position of the transmit mirror may be established by a scanning routine that adjusts the position of the transmit mirror to a plurality of predetermined offset positions during transmission of the optical signal. The intensity of the optical signal as received by a further optical communication terminal is then determined and provided via modulation of a further optical signal transmitted back to the first-named optical communication terminal. The predetermined offset positions and the corresponding received intensities may then be utilized to determine the optimal position of the transmit mirror.