Switching control for multiple fiber-guided missile systems
First Claim
1. A multi-channel, bi-directional fiber optic data link (FODL) system, comprising Q uplink fiber optic channels, P downlink fiber optic channels, a fiber optic star coupler for coupling said Q uplink fiber optic channels and said P downlink channels, P remote platform opto-electronic (OE) units respectively connected to said P downlink fiber optic channels, Q control station OE units respectively connected to said Q uplink channels, and a controller for providing remote platform commands addressed to said remote platform OE units for communication over said uplink channels in a time division multiplexed (TDM) scheme, said commands comprising a subcarrier frequency (SCF) code specifying a subcarrier frequency to be utilized by a particular remote platform OE unit to which said command is addressed, said remote platform OE units comprising programmable means responsive to said commands for generating an upconversion subcarrier signal at a subcarrier frequency determined by said SCF code to up-convert remote platform data for downlink transmission to said controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fast and reliable switch (50) for multi-channel, bi-directional fiber optics data link (FODL) systems. The FODL channel switching is accomplished through a software command on the subcarrier frequency (SCF) code without using any moving components or wavelength sensitive optical devices. A fiber star coupler (92) and in-line erbium doped fiber amplifiers (94A-94Q) transform the FODL system into an electrically switchable, fiber star network with low optical power loss penalty. The switch can be used in multiple fiber optics guided missile launch systems and fiber optics based surveillance systems with multiple outposts. The switching scheme allows the launcher/controller (60) to perform a time-sharing control on multiple missiles (or outposts) (80-80P) by switching the SCF code sent to the programmable SCF generator of the OE unit in the controller (launcher). The scheme can also easily be extended to operate in a multiple control station mode that uses multiple control station at the launcher/controller (60) to control multiple missiles or outposts (80A-80P).
49 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A multi-channel, bi-directional fiber optic data link (FODL) system, comprising Q uplink fiber optic channels, P downlink fiber optic channels, a fiber optic star coupler for coupling said Q uplink fiber optic channels and said P downlink channels, P remote platform opto-electronic (OE) units respectively connected to said P downlink fiber optic channels, Q control station OE units respectively connected to said Q uplink channels, and a controller for providing remote platform commands addressed to said remote platform OE units for communication over said uplink channels in a time division multiplexed (TDM) scheme, said commands comprising a subcarrier frequency (SCF) code specifying a subcarrier frequency to be utilized by a particular remote platform OE unit to which said command is addressed, said remote platform OE units comprising programmable means responsive to said commands for generating an upconversion subcarrier signal at a subcarrier frequency determined by said SCF code to up-convert remote platform data for downlink transmission to said controller.
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16. A missile system comprising:
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P fiber guided missiles; a missile launcher controller for controlling said missiles; and a multi-channel, bi-directional fiber optic data link (FODL) system, comprising; Q uplink fiber optic channels; P downlink fiber optic channels; a fiber optic star coupler for coupling said Q uplink fiber optic channels and said P downlink channels; P missile opto-electronic (OE) units respectively connected to said P downlink fiber optic channels; Q launcher control station OE units respectively connected to said Q uplink channels; and a controller for providing remote platform commands addressed to said missile opto-electronic (OE) units for communication over said uplink channels in a time division multiplexed scheme, said commands comprising a subcarrier frequency (SCF) code specifying a subcarrier frequency to be utilized by a particular missile OE unit to which said command is addressed, said missile OE units comprising programmable means responsive to said commands for generating an upconversion subcarrier signal at a subcarrier frequency determined by said SCF code to upconvert remote platform data for downlink transmission to said launcher controller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification