PHASE-MODULATING COMMUNICATION DEVICE
First Claim
1. A phase-modulating communication device, comprising:
- a housing;
a lens arrangement configured to pass a communication signal into the housing;
a beam splitter optically coupled to the lens arrangement and configured to direct a first part of the communication signal along a reference path and a second part of the communication signal along a modulation path;
a phase modulator configured to vary a length of the modulation path in relation to a length of the reference path responsive to a control signal;
a photodetector configured to detect the communication signal and to output a receive data signal; and
a processor coupled to the phase modulator and the photodetector and configured to modulate the control signal based on the receive data signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and communication device are disclosed. The system can include an optical interrogator and a phase-modulating communication device. The communication device can include a retro-optimized lens, a phase modulator, and a processor. The retro-optimized lens can be a non-imaging optical arrangement configured to minimize deviation between an incoming signal and a reflected signal used for return link communications. The processor can be configured to calibrate a modulation path length of the communication device based on a wavelength of the communication signal and can control an operation of the phase-modulator to send phase-coded messages to the interrogator. Optionally, the processor can perform a real-time phase calibration of the communication device using feedback from the interrogator.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A phase-modulating communication device, comprising:
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a housing; a lens arrangement configured to pass a communication signal into the housing; a beam splitter optically coupled to the lens arrangement and configured to direct a first part of the communication signal along a reference path and a second part of the communication signal along a modulation path; a phase modulator configured to vary a length of the modulation path in relation to a length of the reference path responsive to a control signal; a photodetector configured to detect the communication signal and to output a receive data signal; and a processor coupled to the phase modulator and the photodetector and configured to modulate the control signal based on the receive data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of phase-modulated communication using a device with a reference path and a modulation path, the method comprising:
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retrieving calibration data from a memory of the device; applying a bias signal to one or more actuators of the device according to the calibration data; adjusting a length of the modulation path in response to the bias signal; receiving the communication signal at the device; directing a first part of the communication signal along the reference path and a second part of the communication signal along the modulation path; varying the length of the modulation path using the one or more actuators to create a phase difference between the second part of the communication signal and the first part of the communication signal; and reflecting the first part of the communication signal and the second part of the communication signal back along their respective reference path and modulation path away from the device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication device, comprising:
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a housing having an aperture for receiving a communication signal; an optical arrangement disposed within the housing comprising a retro-optimized lens optically coupled with at least one reflector, the retro-optimized lens configured to minimize a deviation of a reflected signal from an incident path of the communication signal when the communication signal is reflected away from the communication device by the at least one reflector; and a phase modulator coupled to the optical arrangement and configured to selectively vary a phase of the reflected signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A phase-modulating retro-reflector, comprising:
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a housing having first and second apertures; a first lens optically coupled to the first aperture for receiving a first portion of an incoming communication signal; a first reflector optically coupled to the first lens and configured to reflect the first portion of the incoming communication signal along a reference path and toward a source of the communication signal; a second lens optically coupled to the second aperture for receiving a second portion of the incoming communication signal; a second reflector optically coupled to the second lens and configured to reflect the second portion of the incoming communication signal along a modulation path toward the source of the communication signal; an actuator configured to change a state of the second reflector so as to vary a length of the modulation path; and a processor coupled to the actuator for controlling a length of the modulation path in response to information from the second portion of the incoming communication signal.
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Specification