Point-to-point laser communication device

• US 5,754,323 A
• Filed: 04/01/1994
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trex Communications Corp. (Tortel USA LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thermotrex Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chan, Victor, Bloom, Scott H., Rivers, Michael D., Menders, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): BACARES, RAFAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/221,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 359/144, 359/145, 359/146, 359/154, 359/167, 359/172, 359/159, 359/152
• US Class Current: 398/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/118 specially adapted for satellite communication

Abstract

For transmitting information via laser beams to and from other similar laser communication transceivers. Each transceiver comprises a wavelength locked beacon laser providing a beacon beam. The transceivers determine the precise location of other transceivers by detecting these beacon beams with beacon receive units comprising atomic line filters matched to the beacon wavelength. Signals are transmitted by imposing an electronic signal on laser beams produced by one or more signal laser devices. These signals are directed with precision at other transceivers, and the signal beams are detected with very narrow field of view signal receive units. In a preferred embodiment, these transceivers are installed on 66 satellites in low earth orbit and on selected mountain tops on earth to provide a global communication system.

Claims

1. A laser communication transceiver for transmitting information via laser beams to other laser communication transceivers and for receiving information via laser beams from other similar laser communication transceivers, a straight line between a transmitting transceiver defining a communication line, said transceiver comprising:

A) a laser transmitter system comprising;

1) at least one wavelength controlled laser means for producing a narrowband signal laser beam, said wavelength controlled laser means comprising a laser and a transmitter atomic line filter,

2) a signal modulation means for modulating said signal laser beam to impose a communication signal on said laser beam,

B) a laser receiver means coaligned with said laser transmitter system for receiving laser communication said laser receiver means comprising;

1) a receiver atomic line filter matched to said narrowband signal laser beam,

2) a signal detector means for detecting communication signals transmitted by one of said other laser communication transceiver and passing through said receiver atomic line filter, and

C) a locating and pointing means comprising a viewing device for locating said other similar laser communication transceivers and for pointing said transceiver in the direction of said communication line.

2. A transceiver as in claim 1 wherein said transmitter atomic line filter is a Voigt filter.

3. A transceiver as in claim 1 where said receiver atomic line filter is a Faraday filter.

4. A transceiver as in claim 1 whereas said locating and pointing means comprises a video camera and an electronic view finder.

5. A transceiver as in claim 1 and further comprising a speaker.

6. A transceiver a in claim 5 wherein said signal modulation means comprises a microphone.

7. A transceiver as in claim 1 wherein said signal modulation means comprises a personal computer.

8. A transceiver as in claim 1 wherein said signal detection means comprises a photodiode, a preamplifier, a frequency to voltage converter and a data converter so that said communication signal can be detected as sound or digital data suitable for input to a personal computer.