Optical router for a light-based communication network

• US 6,559,993 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seafort International Trading, S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Dominion Lasercom, Inc., A Nevada Corporation
• Inventors: Panak, David L., Doucet, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEGASH, KINFE MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/054,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 359/172, 359/152, 359/169-170, 359/129, 359/128, 379/56.1, 379/56.2
• US Class Current: 398/126
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4405 with longitudinally spaced waveguide clamping G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4411 Matrix structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1125 using a single common optical path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1127 using two distinct parallel optical paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission

Abstract

A point-to-multipoint bi-directional wide area telecommunications network employing atmospheric optical communication. The network comprises a primary transceiver unit, a plurality of subscriber transceiver units and an optical router. The primary transceiver unit may send data destined for the subscriber transceiver units through the optical router, and the subscriber transceiver units may send data destined for the primary transceiver unit through the optical router. The primary transceiver unit and optical router communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere. Similarly, the optical router and the subscriber transceiver units communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere.

Claims

1. An optical router comprising:

an optical antenna configured to receive a first light beam comprising first data from the atmosphere;

a mirror; and

a first X-Y beam deflector optically positioned between said optical antenna and said mirror, wherein said first X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive the first light beam from the optical antenna and to deflect the first light beam onto one or more positions on a surface of the mirror;

wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the first light beam in one or more directions into the atmosphere corresponding to the one or more positions on the mirror surface.

2. The optical router of claim 1,

wherein the mirror is configured to receive one or more second light beams, each comprising corresponding second data, from the atmosphere, and to reflect the one or more second light beams to the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the one or more second light beams to the optical antenna; and

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit the one or more second light beams into the atmosphere.

3. The optical router of claim 1 further comprising a lens set which circumscribes said mirror;

wherein said lens set has an aperture which admits passage of the first light beam after deflection from the first X-Y beam deflector and before reflection from said mirror; and

wherein said lens set is configured to re-collimate said first light beam after reflection from said mirror.

4. The optical router of claim 3, wherein the lens set comprises an array of positive lenses.

5. The optical router of claim 3, wherein said mirror and said lens set are optimized for the access area of the optical router.

6. The optical router of claim 2 further comprising a lens set which circumscribes said mirror;

wherein said lens set has an aperture which admits passage of the one or more second light beams after reflection from said mirror and before deflection on said first X-Y beam deflector; and

wherein said lens set is further configured to focus the one or more second light beams received from the atmosphere onto the mirror.

7. The optical router of claim 2 further comprising a receiver and an active optics control system;

wherein the first light beam, received by the optical antenna from the atmosphere, is transmitted into the atmosphere by a primary transceiver unit;

wherein the one or more second light beams, transmitted by the optical antenna into the atmosphere, are received by the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the first light beam comprises a first beam portion which carries beam stabilization information, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the one or more second beams on a primary antenna of the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive said first beam portion of said first light beam, to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the first beam portion, and to provide the beam stabilization information to the active optics control system;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to control the optical antenna to stabilize the one or more second light beams on the primary antenna of the primary transceiver unit in response to the beam stabilization information.

8. The optical router of claim 7 further comprising a beam adjuster optically positioned between the optical antenna and the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the active optics control system is additionally configured to control the beam adjuster to stabilize the one or more second light beams on the primary antenna of the primary transceiver unit in response to the beam stabilization information.

9. The optical router of claim 7 wherein the first beam portion is a wavelength component of the first light beam or a time-slice of the first light beam.

10. The optical router of claim 2 further comprising an active optics control system;

wherein the one or more second light beams, received at the mirror from the atmosphere, include a particular light beam transmitted into the atmosphere by a first subscriber transceiver unit;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to receive a portion of the particular light beam, detect misalignment of the particular light beam on the mirror based on said portion of the particular light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first subscriber transceiver unit to adjust a transmission direction of the particular light beam to optimally direct the particular light beam to the mirror of the optical router.

11. The optical router of claim 10 further comprising a beam splitter optically positioned between the optical antenna and the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the mirror and first X-Y beam deflector direct the particular light beam to the beam splitter;

wherein the beam splitter is configured to redirect said portion of the particular light beam to the active optics control system, and to pass a remaining portion of the particular light beam to the optical antenna.

12. The optical router of claim 10 further comprising a light source and a beam modulator;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to provide the beam stabilization information to the beam modulator;

wherein the light source is configured to generate a control light beam;

wherein the beam modulator is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information onto the control light beam;

wherein the mirror and first X-Y beam deflector direct the modulated control light beam to the optical antenna;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit the modulated control light beam into the atmosphere to a transceiver source of the first light beam.

13. The optical router of claim 1,

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the first light beam onto a first position of said one or more positions on the mirror surface during a first time period, wherein the mirror reflects the first light beam in a first direction into the atmosphere based on said first position on said mirror surface;

and

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the first light beam onto a second position of said one or more positions on the mirror surface during a second time period, wherein the mirror reflects the first light beam in a second direction into the atmosphere based on said second position on said mirror surface.

14. The optical router of claim 13,

wherein the first position on the mirror surface is selected so that the first direction corresponds to a first subscriber transceiver unit;

wherein, during the first time period, (a) the mirror receives a third light beam from the first subscriber transceiver unit, (b) the X-Y beam deflector deflects the third light beam to the optical antenna, and (c) the optical antenna transmits the third light beam to a transceiver source of the first light beam.

15. The optical router of claim 1, wherein the mirror is a hemispherical mirror, or a conical mirror.

16. The optical router of claim 1 further comprising a receiver and a beam deflector control system;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the first light beam onto a third position on the mirror surface during a third time period, wherein the third position is selected so that the mirror reflects the first light beam onto a optical path which targets the receiver, wherein the first light beam carries routing control information during the third time period;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive the first light beam, to demodulate the routing control information from the first light beam, and to provide the routing control information to the beam deflector control system; and

wherein the beam deflector control system controls the orientation of the first X-Y beam deflector in response to the routing control information.

17. The optical router of claim 16, wherein said beam deflector control system controls switching times of the first X-Y beam deflector in response to the routing control information.

18. The optical router of claim 16, wherein the receiver comprises a photodiode.

19. The optical router of claim 1, wherein said first light beam comprises a first wavelength beam component carrying a first portion of said first data and a second wavelength beam component carrying a second portion of said first data;

wherein said optical router further comprises a second X-Y beam deflector and a means for separating the first and second wavelength components from the first light beam; and

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive the first wavelength component and to deflect the first wavelength component onto a first position of said one or more positions on the mirror surface so that the mirror reflects the first wavelength component in a first direction into the atmosphere; and

wherein the second X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive the second wavelength component and to deflect the second wavelength component onto a second position of the mirror surface so that the mirror reflects the second wavelength component in a second direction.

20. The optical router of claim 19, wherein the first position on the mirror surface is selected so that the first direction corresponds to a first subscriber, wherein the second position on the mirror surface is selected so that the second direction corresponds to a second subscriber.

21. The optical router of claim 19, wherein the first X-Y beam deflector and second X-Y beam deflector are configured to simultaneously deflect the first and second wavelength components respectively.

22. The optical router of claim 1 further comprising a receiver and a beam deflector control system;

wherein the first light beam comprises a first beam portion which carries control information;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive said first beam portion of said first light beam, to demodulate the control information from the first beam portion, and to provide at least a portion of the control information to the beam deflector control system;

wherein the beam deflector control system is configured to control the orientation of the first X-Y beam deflector in response to said at least said portion of the control information.

23. The optical router of claim 22, wherein the first beam portion of said first light beam comprises a first time-slice of the first light beam.

24. The optical router of claim 22, wherein the first beam portion of said first light beam comprises a first wavelength component of the first light beam.

25. The optical router of claim 1, wherein the first X-Y beam deflector comprises a galvanometer mirror pair.

26. The optical router of claim 1, wherein the first X-Y beam deflector comprises an acousto-optic deflector.

27. The optical router of claim 1, wherein the first X-Y beam deflector comprises a solid state beam deflector.

28. The optical router of claim 1 further comprising a beam splitter, an active optics beam control system;

wherein said beam splitter is optically positioned between said optical antenna and said first X-Y beam deflector, wherein beam splitter is configured to redirect a first portion of the first light beam to the active optics beam control system;

wherein the active optics beam control system is configured to receive said first portion of the first light beam, detect misalignment of the first light beam on the optical antenna based on said first portion, and generate corresponding first beam stabilization information, wherein the first beam stabilization information is usable by a transceiver source of the first beam to adjust the transmission direction of the first beam to minimize the misalignment of the first light beam on the optical antenna.

29. The optical router of claim 28 further comprising a light source and a beam modulator;

wherein the active optics control system is further configured to provide the first beam stabilization information to the beam modulator;

wherein the light source is configured to generate a control light beam;

wherein the beam modulator is configured to modulate the first beam stabilization information onto the control light beam;

wherein the beam modulator is oriented so that the modulated control light beam is directed to a first position on the mirror surface;

wherein the first position on the mirror surface is chosen so that the mirror reflects the modulated control light beam to the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the modulated control light beam to the optical antenna;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit the modulated control light beam into the atmosphere to the transceiver source of the first light beam.

30. The optical router of claim 28 further comprising beam adjuster optically positioned between the optical antenna and the beam splitter;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to control the beam adjuster so that the first light beam is optimally directed to the first X-Y beam deflector.

31. An optical router comprising:

an optical antenna configured to receive a first light beam comprising a plurality of wavelength components from the atmosphere, wherein each of said wavelength components carries corresponding first data;

a mirror; and

first and second X-Y beam deflectors optically positioned between said optical antenna and said mirror;

wherein said first X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive a first wavelength component of the first beam and to deflect the first wavelength component onto a first position on a surface of the mirror;

wherein said second X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive a second wavelength component of the first beam and to deflect the second wavelength component onto a second position on the mirror surface;

wherein the mirror is configured to simultaneously (a) reflect the first wavelength component into the atmosphere in a first direction corresponding to the first position on the mirror surface, and (b) reflect the second wavelength component into the atmosphere in a second direction corresponding to the second position on the mirror surface.

32. The optical router of claim 31 further comprising a means for splitting the first light beam received from the optical antenna into said first wavelength component and said second wavelength component.

33. The optical router of claim 31,

wherein the mirror is configured to simultaneously (c) receive a first subscriber light beam, comprising a third wavelength component, from the atmosphere, and reflect the first subscriber light beam to the first X-Y beam deflector, and (d) receive a second subscriber light beam, comprising a fourth wavelength component, from the atmosphere, and reflect the second subscriber light beam to the second X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the third wavelength component carries first subscriber data, wherein the fourth wavelength component carries second subscriber data;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector and second X-Y beam deflector are configured to deflect the first subscriber light beam and the second subscriber light beam respectively to the optical antenna;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit a combined light beam comprising the first subscriber light beam and the second subscriber light beam into the atmosphere.

34. An optical router comprising:

a secondary transceiver unit configured to receive a first light beam comprising first data from the atmosphere, and to demodulate the first data from the first light beam;

one or more transceiver modules, wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules comprises a module light source, configured to generate a corresponding second light beam, a module beam modulator and a module X/Y beam deflector;

an electronic router configured to receive the first data from the secondary transceiver unit, and to route portions of the first data to the one or more transceiver modules;

wherein the module beam modulator of a first transceiver module of said one or more transceiver modules is configured to receive one or more of said portions of said first data from said electronic router, and modulate said one or more portions onto the corresponding second light beam;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module is configured to receive the modulated second light beam and to deflect the modulated second light beam into the atmosphere in one or more spatial directions.

35. The optical router of claim 34, wherein said one or more portions of said first data comprise a first portion and a second portion;

wherein, during a first time period, (a) the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module modulates the first portion onto the corresponding second light beam, and (b) the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module deflects the modulated second light beam, carrying the first portion, into the atmosphere in a first spatial direction; and

wherein, during a second time period, (c) the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module modulates the second portion onto the corresponding second light beam, and (d) the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module deflects the modulated second light beam, carrying the second portion, into the atmosphere in a second spatial direction.

36. The optical router of claim 35,

wherein the first spatial direction corresponds to a first subscriber transceiver unit which receives the modulated second light beam;

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit transmits a third light beam carrying second data into the atmosphere;

wherein, during the first time period, the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module receives a third light beam from the atmosphere and deflects the third light beam to the module beam demodulator of the first transceiver module, and the module beam demodulator demodulates the second data from the third light beam;

wherein the module beam demodulator provides the second data to the secondary transceiver unit through the electronic router;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit modulates the second data onto a fourth light beam and transmits the modulated fourth light beam into the atmosphere.

37. The optical router of claim 34,

wherein the module beam modulator of a second transceiver module of said one or more transceiver modules is configured to receive a second of said portions of said first data from the electronic router, and modulate the second portion on the second light beam of the second transceiver module;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector in the second transceiver module is configured to deflect the modulated second light beam of the second transceiver module into the atmosphere in a first spatial direction;

wherein the module beam modulator of the second transceiver module is configured to modulate the second portion of the first data on the second light beam of the second transceiver module while the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module modulates the one or more portions of the first data on the second light beam of the first transceiver module.

38. The optical router of claim 34 further comprising a beam deflector control system;

wherein the first light beam includes control information;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is further configured to demodulate the control information from the first light beam;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is configured to provide the control information to the beam deflector control system through the electronic router;

wherein the beam deflector control system is configured to control the deflection orientation of the module X/Y beam deflector in the first transceiver module in response to the control information.

39. The optical router of claim 38, wherein said control information determines the one or more spatial directions in which the modulated second light beam is deflected.

40. The optical router of claim 38, wherein said beam deflector control system controls switching times of the module X/Y beam deflector in the first transceiver unit in response to the control information.

41. The optical router of claim 38, wherein said beam deflector control system is configured to control the deflection orientation of the module X/Y beam deflector in each of the one or more transceiver modules in response to the control information.

42. The optical router of claim 38,

wherein the control information comprises beam stabilization information, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the second light beam of the first transceiver module on a subscriber transceiver unit;

wherein the beam deflector control system is configured control an angular orientation of the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module so as to minimize the misalignment of the second light beam at the subscriber transceiver unit.

43. The optical router of claim 34,

wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules further comprises a module beam demodulator;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module is further configured to receive a third light beam comprising second data from the atmosphere, and to deflect the third light beam onto a optical path which targets the corresponding module beam demodulator;

wherein the corresponding module beam demodulator is configured to demodulate the second data from the third light beam, and to provide the second data to the electronic router;

wherein the electronic router is configured to route the second data to the secondary transceiver unit;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is configured to modulate the second data onto a fourth light beam, and to transmit the modulated fourth light beam into the atmosphere.

44. The optical router of claim 43,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit comprises an optical antenna, a secondary light source and a secondary beam modulator;

wherein the secondary light source is configured to generate the fourth light beam;

wherein the secondary beam modulator is configured to receive the second data from the electronic router, modulate the second data onto the fourth light beam, and provide the modulated fourth light beam to the optical antenna;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam, and transmit the modulated fourth light beam into the atmosphere.

45. The optical router of claim 44,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises an active optics control system and a secondary beam demodulator;

wherein the first light beam is transmitted into the atmosphere by a primary transceiver unit;

wherein the first light beam further comprises beam stabilization information;

wherein the secondary beam demodulator is configured to receive the first light beam, demodulate the beam stabilization information and the first data from the first light beam;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to receive the beam stabilization information, and adjust a transmission angle of the optical antenna so as to stabilize the modulated fourth light beam on a primary transceiver antenna of the primary transceiver unit in response to the beam stabilization information.

46. The optical router of claim 45,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises a beam adjuster optically positioned between the optical antenna and the secondary beam modulator;

wherein the beam adjuster is configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam from the secondary beam modulator and to pass the modulated fourth light beam to the optical antenna with an adjusted propagation direction;

wherein the active optics control system is further configured to control the beam adjuster to stabilize the modulated fourth light beam on the primary transceiver antenna of the primary transceiver unit.

47. The optical router of claim 43,

wherein the first light beam, received from the atmosphere by the secondary transceiver unit, is transmitted into the atmosphere by a primary transceiver;

and

wherein the secondary transceiver unit transmits the modulated fourth light beam through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver.

48. The optical router of claim 43,

wherein the first transceiver module further comprises a module beam splitter optically positioned between the module X/Y beam deflector and the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module;

wherein the module beam splitter is configured to receive the third light beam from the module X/Y beam deflector, and to redirect a first portion of the third light beam to the module beam demodulator;

wherein the module beam demodulator is configured to demodulate the second data from the first portion of the third light beam.

49. The optical router of claim 48, wherein the module beam splitter of the first transceiver module is configured to receive the modulated second light beam from the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module, and to pass the modulated second light to the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module.

50. The optical router of claim 48,

wherein the first transceiver module further comprises a module beam alignment detector;

wherein the module beam splitter is configured to redirect a second portion of the third light beam to the module beam alignment detector;

wherein the module beam alignment detector is configured to detect misalignment of the third light beam on the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module based on the second portion of the third light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the third light beam, received by the module X/Y beam deflector from the atmosphere, is transmitted into the atmosphere by a subscriber transceiver unit;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the subscriber transceiver unit to adjust a transmission angle of the third light beam into the atmosphere so as to stabilize the third light beam on the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module.

51. The optical router of claim 50,

wherein the module beam alignment detector is further configured to provide the beam stabilization information to the secondary transceiver unit via the electronic router;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information in addition to the second data onto the fourth light beam.

52. The optical router of claim 34, wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises an optical antenna and a secondary transceiver beam demodulator;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to receive the first light beam from the atmosphere and to direct the first light beam onto an optical path which targets the secondary transceiver beam demodulator;

wherein the secondary transceiver beam demodulator is configured to demodulate the first data from the first light beam, and provide the first data to the electronic router.

53. The optical router of claim 52, wherein the optical antenna comprises a mirror, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the first light beam onto an optical path which targets the secondary transceiver beam demodulator.

54. The optical router of claim 53, wherein the optical antenna further comprises a lens set which circumscribes said mirror;

wherein said lens set is configured to receive the first light beam from the atmosphere and focus the first light beam on said mirror; and

wherein said lens set has an aperture which admits passage of the first light beam after reflection from said mirror.

55. The optical router of claim 54, wherein the lens set comprises an array of positive lenses.

56. The optical router of claim 34,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises an optical antenna and a secondary beam alignment detector;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to receive the first light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the secondary beam alignment detector is configured to receive a first portion of the first light beam, detect misalignment of the first light beam on the optical antenna based on the first portion of the first light beam, and generate beam stabilization information;

wherein the first light beam, received from the atmosphere by the optical antenna, is transmitted into the atmosphere by a primary transceiver unit, wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the primary transceiver unit to adjust a transmission angle of the first light beam so as to stabilize the first light beam on the optical antenna of the optical router.

57. The optical router of claim 56,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises a secondary beam splitter;

wherein the secondary beam splitter is configured to receive the first light beam from the optical antenna and redirect said first portion of the first light beam to the secondary beam alignment detector.

58. The optical router of claim 57,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises a secondary beam demodulator;

wherein the secondary beam splitter is further configured to pass a second portion of the first light beam;

wherein the secondary beam demodulator is configured to receive the second portion of the first light beam, demodulate the first data from the second portion of the first light beam, and provide the first data to the electronic router.

59. The optical router of claim 56,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises an active optics control system, a secondary light source and a secondary beam modulator, wherein the secondary light source is configured to generate a fourth light beam;

wherein the active optics control system is configured to provide the beam stabilization information to the secondary beam modulator via the electronic router;

wherein the secondary beam modulator is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information onto the fourth light beam, and direct the modulated fourth light beam to the optical antenna;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit the modulated fourth light beam into the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit.

60. The optical router of claim 59,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises a secondary beam demodulator and a secondary beam adjuster;

wherein the secondary beam adjuster is configured to receive the first light beam from the optical antenna and to change a direction of travel of the first light beam;

wherein the active optics control system is further configured to control the beam adjuster so as to optimize an amount of the first light beam arriving at the secondary beam demodulator in response to the beam stabilization information.

61. The optical router of claim 34, wherein the one or more transceiver modules are arrayed in a circular configuration to provide a 360 degree range of coverage for atmospheric optical communication with subscribers.

62. The optical router of claim 34, wherein the one or more transceiver modules are configured to couple to a circular backplane, wherein the electronic router is also configured to couple to the circular backplane.

63. An optical router comprising:

an optical antenna configured to receive a first light beam comprising first data from the atmosphere;

a secondary transceiver beam demodulator configured to receive the first light beam from the optical antenna and demodulate the first data from the first light beam;

one or more transceiver modules, wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules comprises a module light source, configured to generate a corresponding second light beam, a module beam modulator and a module X/Y beam deflector;

an electronic router configured to receive the first data from the secondary transceiver beam demodulator and to transmit at least a first portion of the first data to a first transceiver module of said one or more transceiver modules;

wherein the module beam modulator of said first transceiver module is configured to modulate said at least the first portion of the first data onto the corresponding second light beam, wherein the module X/Y beam deflector is configured to receive the modulated second light beam and to deflect the modulated second light beam into the atmosphere in a first controllable direction.

64. The optical router of claim 63 further comprising a secondary transceiver beam modulator;

wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules further comprises a module beam demodulator;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module is further configured to receive a third light beam comprising second data from the atmosphere, and to deflect the third light beam to the corresponding module beam demodulator;

wherein the corresponding module beam demodulator is configured to demodulate the second data from the third light beam, and to provide the second data to the electronic router;

wherein the electronic router is configured to provide the second data to the secondary transceiver beam modulator;

wherein the secondary transceiver beam modulator is configured to modulate the second data onto a fourth light beam;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to transmit the modulated fourth light beam into the atmosphere.