High capacity communications satellite

• US 5,680,240 A
• Filed: 06/12/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas W. Glynn
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Glynn
• Inventors: Glynn, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEGASH, KINFE MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/489,567
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 359/172, 359/109, 359/113, 359/117, 359/152, 359/157, 455/12.1, 455/13.3, 385/17, 342/352, 370/24
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/118 specially adapted for satellite communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

A method for optically switching a signal in a two-way communication system using only one satellite includes the steps of receiving a first set of N beams, forming a first set of N optical channels from respective ones of the N beams, spreading each of the N optical channels in one dimension to irradiate a first N×M array, switching a signal existing at one position of the first N×M array to any position of a second N×M array, unspreading the signals from the second N×M array to form a second set of N optical channels, forming a second set of N beams from the second set of N optical channels; and thereafter transmitting the second set of N beams which service M customers simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method for optically switching a signal in a two-way communication system using only one satellite, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first set of N beams;

forming a first set of N optical channels from respective ones of said N beams;

spreading each of said first set of N optical channels in one dimension to irradiate a first N×

M array;

switching a signal existing at one position of the first N×

M array to any position of a second N×

M array;

unspreading the signals from said second N×

M array to form a second set of N optical channels;

forming a second set of N beams from said second set of N optical channels; and

transmitting said second set of N beams, said second set of N beams servicing M customers simultaneously.