Combined optical sensor and communication antenna system
First Claim
1. A combined potical sensor and communications antenna system, comprising:
- a primary reflector for reflecting radiation, the primary reflector including a centrally located core, the core being adapted to transmit the radiation, an axis extending through the core forming an optical axis of the system;
a secondary reflector positioned along the optical axis of the system for rereflecting and focusing the radiation reflected from the primary reflector toward the core of the primary reflector;
a beam splitter positioned adjacent the primary reflector on the opposite side from the secondary reflector, the beam splitter being adapted for separating and redirecting the radiation rereflected form the secondary reflector into an optical radiation component along a first path and a radiofrequency radiation component along a second path;
a focal plane assembly located adjacent the beam splitter and comprising an array of photodetectors, the focal plane assembly being configured to receive the optical radiation from the beam splitter along the first path, the focal plane assembly being further configured to form an image based on the optical radiation received and registered to the array of photodetectors; and
a radiofrequency feed assembly located adjacent the beam splitter, the assembly being configured to receive the radiofrequency radiation from the beam splitter along the second path to establish radiofrequency communication, the radiofrequency feed assembly being further configured to transmit radiofrequency radiation;
wherein the first path and the second path are generally orthogonal to each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a combined optical sensor and communications antenna system (10). The system includes a primary reflector (12) for reflecting radiation. The primary reflector includes a centrally located core (14), which is adapted to transmit the radiation therethrough. An axis (18) centrally extending through the core forms an optical axis of the system. The system further includes a secondary reflector (16) positioned along the optical axis of the system for rereflecting and focusing the radiation reflected from the primary reflector toward the core of the primary reflector. The system still further includes a beam splitter (20) positioned adjacent the primary reflector on the opposite side from the secondary reflector, for separating and redirecting the radiation rereflected from the secondary reflector into an optical radiation component and a radiofrequency radiation component. Finally, the system includes a focal plane assembly (22) located adjacent the beam splitter to receive the optical radiation from the beam splitter, and a radiofrequency feed assembly (24) located adjacent the beam splitter to receive the radiofrequency radiation from the beam splitter.
207 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A combined potical sensor and communications antenna system, comprising:
-
a primary reflector for reflecting radiation, the primary reflector including a centrally located core, the core being adapted to transmit the radiation, an axis extending through the core forming an optical axis of the system;
a secondary reflector positioned along the optical axis of the system for rereflecting and focusing the radiation reflected from the primary reflector toward the core of the primary reflector;
a beam splitter positioned adjacent the primary reflector on the opposite side from the secondary reflector, the beam splitter being adapted for separating and redirecting the radiation rereflected form the secondary reflector into an optical radiation component along a first path and a radiofrequency radiation component along a second path;
a focal plane assembly located adjacent the beam splitter and comprising an array of photodetectors, the focal plane assembly being configured to receive the optical radiation from the beam splitter along the first path, the focal plane assembly being further configured to form an image based on the optical radiation received and registered to the array of photodetectors; and
a radiofrequency feed assembly located adjacent the beam splitter, the assembly being configured to receive the radiofrequency radiation from the beam splitter along the second path to establish radiofrequency communication, the radiofrequency feed assembly being further configured to transmit radiofrequency radiation;
wherein the first path and the second path are generally orthogonal to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21)
-
-
15. A method of simultaneously receiving optical radiation and transceiving radiofrequency radiation, comprising:
-
providing a primary reflector for receiving and reflecting optical and radiofrequency radiation, the primary reflector including a centrally located core, the core being adapted to transmit the optical and radiofrequency radiation, axis extending through the core forming an optical axis of the primary reflector;
providing a secondary reflector positioned along the optical axis of the primary reflector for rereflecting and focusing the optical and radiofrequency radiation reflected from the primary reflector toward the core of the primary reflector;
providing a beam splitter positioned adjacent the core of the primary reflector on the opposite side from the secondary reflector, the beam splitter being adapted for separating and redirecting the radiation rereflected from the secondary reflector into an optical radiation component along a first path and a radiofrequency radiation component received form the beam splitter along the first path;
forming an image by processing the optical radiation component received from the beam splitter along the first path;
established communication by processing the radiofrequency radiation component received from the beam splitter along the first path;
wherein the first path and the second path are generally orthogonal to each other. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification