Rapid acquisition, pointing and tracking optical system for free space optical communications

• US 8,160,452 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Space Photonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Space Photonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Tidwell, Terry L., Gregory, Jeffrey T., Orlando, Fred J., Chalfant, Charles Henry III, Leftwich, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG T
• Application Number:
  US12/349,570
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 398138-140, 398/142
• US Class Current: 398/140
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/118 specially adapted for satellite communication

Abstract

An acquisition, pointing and tracking system for free space optical communications systems performs the pointing and tracking function internally by way of translating an internal optical fiber in the focal plane of the transceiver telescope with a reflecting mirror in the telescope focal plane of each linked transceiver. The beam reflected from the mirror records the exact direction of the reflected beam at the transmitting beam'"'"'s transceiver terminal, providing the transmitting source to lock on to the receiving telescope, allowing for the link to be acquired.

Claims

1. An optical communication apparatus, comprising:

(a) an optical fiber comprising a first and second end;

(b) at least one of an optical signal receiver and an optical signal transmitter in communication with said first end of said optical fiber;

(c) a mirror lying in a focal plane of the apparatus, wherein said mirror comprises an opening to receive said second end of said optical fiber; and

(d) a translation device in communication with said optical fiber and said mirror, wherein said translation device is operable to move said mirror and said second end of said optical fiber within the focal plane of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said translation device comprises a plurality of actuators.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of actuators comprises:

(a) a translation motor;

(b) an arm connected to said translation motor; and

(c) a linkage connecting said arm to said mirror.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a mirror and optical fiber support annularly connected to said optic fiber and pivotally in communication with each of said linkages.

5. apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mirror is substantially flat.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an optical telescope opposite said second end of said optical fiber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said optical telescope comprises a plurality of lenses, said plurality of lenses operable to focus an incoming signal received by said optical telescope to a location on said mirror within the focal plane of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of actuators are operable to move said second end of said optical fiber to the location on the focal plane where the incoming signal is maximized by said plurality of lenses.

9. A method of communicating with optical signals transmitted between first and second optical devices, wherein the second optical device comprises an optical fiber comprising a first and second end with an optical signal receiver and an optical receiver transmitter in communication with said first end of said optical fiber, and a mirror within a focal plane of the second optical device, wherein said mirror comprises an opening to receive said second end of said optical fiber, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first optical signal from the first optical device to the second optical device;

(b) receiving the first optical signal on the mirror of the second optical device;

(c) reflecting the first optical signal from the mirror of the second optical device back to the first optical device; and

(d) deflecting an end of the optical fiber of the second optical device to lie at a maximum intensity point of the first optical signal received on the mirror at the focal plane of the second optical device by means of a translation device operable to move said mirror and said second end of said optical fiber within the focal plane of the second optical device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of sending a second optical signal from the optical fiber of the second optical device to the first optical device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first optical device comprises an optical fiber and a mirror within a focal plane of the first optical device, further comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the second optical signal on the mirror of the first optical device; and

(b) deflecting an end of the optical fiber of the first optical device to lie at a maximum intensity point of the second optical signal received on the mirror at the focal plane of the first optical device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of sending a third optical signal from the optical fiber of the first optical device to the second optical device.