Communications and position location system and method
First Claim
1. A laser communications and position location system for transmitting data and comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver,said laser transmitter further comprising:
- a laser array radiating a plurality of modulated laser beams upward at convergence angles, whereby the modulated laser beams converge at a free space junction at an altitude determined by the convergence angles, wherein said modulated laser beams are scattered at said free space junction, and wherein said laser receiver receives scattered modulated laser beam light and recovers the data, wherein the modulated laser beams form a convergence apex at the free space junction for providing a concentrated laser density area for promoting ability of the receiver to detect the scattered beams;
a modulator for modulating the laser array with the data to provide the modulated laser beams;
a data source for providing the data; and
wherein the laser transmitter further comprises a data link for transmitting an approximate position of the free space junction to the laser receiver to assist in finding the free space junction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laser communications and position location system has a laser transmitter with a laser array radiating modulated laser beams upward at convergence angles that determine altitude of a free space junction where the beams converge. The free space junction scatters the modulated laser beams and a laser receiver receives the scattered modulated laser beam light and recovers the data. A modulator modulates the laser array with data. The laser transmitter may include a data link to transmit the free space junction position to the laser receiver to aid in finding it. The laser receiver has an optical detector with an adjustable field of view and gain to minimize background light noise and to demodulate the received modulated scattered laser beams. The laser receiver determines a precise location of the laser transmitter upon finding the free space junction.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A laser communications and position location system for transmitting data and comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver,
said laser transmitter further comprising: -
a laser array radiating a plurality of modulated laser beams upward at convergence angles, whereby the modulated laser beams converge at a free space junction at an altitude determined by the convergence angles, wherein said modulated laser beams are scattered at said free space junction, and wherein said laser receiver receives scattered modulated laser beam light and recovers the data, wherein the modulated laser beams form a convergence apex at the free space junction for providing a concentrated laser density area for promoting ability of the receiver to detect the scattered beams; a modulator for modulating the laser array with the data to provide the modulated laser beams; a data source for providing the data; and wherein the laser transmitter further comprises a data link for transmitting an approximate position of the free space junction to the laser receiver to assist in finding the free space junction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communications and position location system comprising:
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a laser transmitter for radiating a plurality of laser beams upward at convergence angles whereby the laser beams converge at a multi-laser beam free space junction wherein said laser beams are scattered at said free space junction producing scattered laser beam light, the laser transmitter including a data link for transmitting a position of the free space junction; and a laser receiver pointed at said free space junction to receive the scattered laser beam light, the laser receiver configured for receiving the transmitted position of the free space junction from the laser transmitter and for locating said free space junction based on said transmitted position, the laser receiver further configured for determining a precise location of the laser transmitter upon finding the free space junction; wherein the plurality of laser beams form a convergence apex at the free space junction for providing a concentrated laser density area for promoting ability of the receiver to detect the scattered beams. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of communicating and position locating with a laser communications and position location system comprising the steps of:
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radiating with a laser transmitter a plurality of laser beams upward at convergence angles whereby the laser beams converge at a free space junction wherein a concentration and a scattering of said laser beams occurs at said free space junction thereby providing scattered laser beam light; transmitting with a data link a position of the free space junction for the laser receiver to find the free space junction; and pointing a laser receiver at said free space junction to receive the scattered laser beam light, wherein the plurality of laser beams form a convergence apex at the free space junction for providing a concentrated laser density area for promoting ability of the receiver to detect the scattered beams. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification