Transceiver for a wireless optical telecommunication system

• US 6,678,079 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Terabeam Corporation (Proxim Wireless Corporation)
• Inventors: Bajorins, David P., Thomas, Michael, Pratt, Mark, Brown, Harold Alexander, Stapleton, Lawrence Cooper, Lauby, William Joseph, Sparrold, Scott William, Rallison, Richard D., Amadon, Charles Gregory, Riday, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): JUBA JR, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/802,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 359/15, 359/19, 359/34
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements

Abstract

A holographic optical element (HOE) device is mounted in wireless optical telecommunication system transceiver. The HOE device includes a developed emulsion material having an interference pattern recorded thereon, sandwiched between a pair of elements, such as a pair of clear glass plates. In operation, the HOE device uses the recorded interference pattern to diffract received light rays towards an optical processing unit of the system receiver. A transmitter unit can be positioned at least in part behind the HOE device. An opening in the emulsion material allows a light signal transmitted from the transmitter unit to be substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern. The transceiver can also include a spotting scope and an alignment beacon.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device having;

a first element having first and second surfaces, the first surface being positionable to face incident light rays,

an emulsion material disposed over the second surface of the first element and having a recorded interference pattern thereon, and

a second element having a first surface disposed over the emulsion material, the second element being structured to pass resulting light rays, derived from the incident light rays diffracted by the recorded interference pattern, in a direction towards a location facing a second surface of the second element;

an optical processing unit to receive the resulting light rays passed by the second element; and

a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the second surface of the second element, the transmitter unit comprising

an optical fiber capable to provide a light signal,

a first and a second optical element to expand the light signal provided by the optical fiber,

a third optical element to control divergence of the expanded light signal, and

a fourth optical element to collimate light that exits from the transmitter unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide an opening through which to pass a light signal sent from the transmitter unit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mirrors positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the plurality of mirrors being capable to reduce an overall focal length of the HOE device by controlling a direction of the resulting light rays passed from the second element of the HOE device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a steering mirror positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the steering mirror being capable of substantially keeping the resulting light rays focused towards the optical processing unit in response to movement of the HOE device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical processing unit includes a photodetector to convert the resulting light rays received from the second element into electronic signals.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the recorded interference pattern comprises a volume phase hologram.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device disposed in a receiver unit, the HOE device including a recorded interference pattern, the HOE device being positionable to face incident light rays and being capable of passing the incident light rays as resulting light rays diffracted by the recorded interference pattern;

an emulsion material having the interference pattern recorded thereon, wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide a center obscuration to allow the HOE device to collect the incident light rays into a cone;

an optical processing unit to receive the resulting light rays; and

a plurality of mirrors between the optical processing unit and the HOE device to control a direction of the resulting light rays from the HOE device to the optical processing unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the HOE device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an emulsion material having the interference pattern recorded thereon, wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide an opening through which to pass a light signal sent from the transmitter unit.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device disposed in a receiver unit, the HOE device including an interference pattern recorded on an emulsion material; and

a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the HOE device, the emulsion material being shaped to allow transmission of a light signal from the transmitter unit through the HOE device, substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern, wherein the transmitter unit comprises;

an optical fiber capable to provide the light signal,

a first and a second optical element to expand the light signal provided by the optical fiber,

a third optical element to control divergence of the expanded light signal, and

a fourth optical element to collimate light that exits from the transmitter unit.

11. A system, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device having;

a first element having first and second surfaces, the first surface being positionable to face incident light rays,

an emulsion material disposed over the second surface of the first element and having a recorded interference pattern thereon, and

a second element having, a first surface disposed over the emulsion material, the second element being structured to pass resulting light rays, derived from the incident light rays diffracted by the recorded interference pattern, in a direction towards a location facing a second surface of the second element;

an optical processing unit to receive the resulting light rays passed by the second element; and

a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the second surface of the second element, the transmitter comprising an optical fiber capable to provide a light signal and an optical element to expand, control the divergence of, and collimate the light that exits from the transmitter unit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide an opening through which to pass a light signal sent from the transmitter unit.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of mirrors positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the plurality of mirrors being capable to reduce an overall focal length of the HOE device by controlling a direction of the resulting light rays passed from the second element of the HOE device.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a steering mirror positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the steering mirror being capable of substantially keeping the resulting light rays focused towards the optical processing unit in response to movement of the HOE device.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the optical processing unit includes a photodetector to convert the resulting light rays received from the second element into electronic signals.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the recorded interference pattern comprises a volume phase hologram.

17. A system, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device having;

a first element having first and second surfaces, the first surface being positionable to face incident light rays,

an emulsion material disposed over the second surface of the first element and having a recorded interference pattern thereon, and

a second element;

having a first surface disposed over the emulsion material, the second element being structured to pass resulting light rays, derived from the incident light rays diffracted by the recorded interference pattern, in a direction towards a location facing a second surface of the second element;

an optical processing unit to receive the resulting light rays passed by the second element; and

a plurality of mirrors positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the plurality of mirrors being capable to reduce an overall focal length of the HOE device by controlling a direction of the resulting light rays passed from the second element of the HOE device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the second surface of the second element.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide an opening through which to pass a light signal sent from the transmitter unit.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the transmitter unit comprises an optical fiber capable to provide a light signal and an optical element to expand, control the divergence of, and collimate the light that exits from the transmitter unit.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a steering mirror positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the steering mirror being capable of substantially keeping the resulting light rays focused towards the optical processing unit in response to movement of the HOE device.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the optical processing unit includes a photodetector to convert the resulting light rays received from the second element into electronic signals.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the recorded interference pattern comprises a volume phase hologram.

24. A system, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device having;

a first element having first and second surfaces, the first surface being positionable to face incident light rays,

an emulsion material disposed over the second surface of the first element and having a recorded interference pattern thereon, and

a second element having a first surface disposed over the emulsion material, the second element being structured to pass resulting light rays, derived from the incident light rays diffracted by the recorded interference pattern, in a direction towards a location facing a second surface of the second element;

an optical processing unit to receive the resulting light rays passed by the second element; and

a steering mirror positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the steering mirror being capable of substantially keeping the resulting light rays focused towards the optical processing unit in response to movement of the HOE device.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the second surface of the second element.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the emulsion material is shaped to provide an opening through which to pass a light signal sent from the transmitter unit.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the transmitter unit comprises an optical fiber capable to provide a light signal and an optical element to expand, control the divergence of, and collimate the light that exits from the transmitter unit.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of mirrors positionable between the HOE device and the optical processing unit, the plurality of mirrors being capable to reduce an overall focal length of the HOE device by controlling a direction of the resulting light rays passed from the second element of the HOE device.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical processing unit includes a photodetector to convert the resulting light rays received from the second element into electronic signals.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein the recorded interference pattern comprises a volume phase hologram.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

a holographic optical element (HOE) device disposed in a receiver unit, the HOE device including an interference pattern recorded on an emulsion material; and

a transmitter unit disposed at least in part behind the HOE device, the emulsion material being shaped to allow transmission of a light signal from the transmitter unit through the HOE device, substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern, wherein the transmitter unit comprises an optical fiber capable to provide a light signal and an optical element to expand, control the divergence of, and collimate the light that exits from the transmitter unit.