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:
Oct. 23, 2012
Filed:
May. 10, 2010
James A. Cunningham, Dayton, OH (US);
David R. Wickholm, Beavercreek, OH (US);
Dean S. Grinch, Dublin, OH (US);
Daniel L. Baber, Hamilton, OH (US);
James A. Cunningham, Dayton, OH (US);
David R. Wickholm, Beavercreek, OH (US);
Dean S. Grinch, Dublin, OH (US);
Daniel L. Baber, Hamilton, OH (US);
Exelis Inc., McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
A technique for simultaneously transmitting wide and narrow optical beacon signals includes generating a laser beam and splitting the laser beam into a first signal on a first path and a second signal on a second path via a wavelength-dependent beamsplitter. A wide beacon signal having a first beam divergence is generated from the first signal, and a narrow beacon signal having a second, lesser beam divergence is generated from the second signal. The wavelength of the laser beam determines an allocation of the laser energy between the wide and narrow beacon signals based on transmittance/reflectance characteristic of the beamsplitter at that wavelength. The wide and narrow beacon signals are simultaneously transmitted in a overlaid manner into free space to support acquisition and tracking in a free-space optical communication system. The beamsplitter can simultaneously transmit or reflect substantially all of a data signal at a different wavelength.