Method and apparatus for providing communication using a terahertz link

• US 8,417,121 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David, Miller, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US12/789,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20110293268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 398/118, 398/119, 398124-126, 398/128, 398/129, 398135-137, 398/202, 398/208, 398/209, 398/212
• US Class Current: 398/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/90 Non-optical transmission systems, e.g. transmission systems employing non-photonic corpuscular radiation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a terahertz link using a multi-element lens array that comprises a liquid lens are disclosed. For example, the method receives detected terahertz signals from one or more detectors, where a liquid lens is deployed with each of the one or more detectors. The method determines, for each of the detected signals, if the detected signal is out of focus, and applies a corrective voltage to each liquid lens that corresponds to a detected terahertz signal that is out of focus, wherein the corrective voltage adjusts a focus of the detected signal. The method measures a signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signals, and establishing a terahertz link via at least one of the detected terahertz signals with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a terahertz link, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, detected terahertz signals from a plurality of detectors, where a liquid lens is deployed with each of the plurality of detectors;

determining, by the processor, for each of the detected signals, if the detected signal is out of focus;

applying, by the processor, a corrective voltage to each liquid lens that corresponds to a detected terahertz signal that is out of focus, wherein the corrective voltage adjusts a focus of the detected signal;

measuring, by the processor, a signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signals; and

establishing, by the processor, a terahertz link via one of the detected terahertz signals with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the detected terahertz signals is performed by a cluster of the plurality of detectors having a combined field of view that is hemispherical.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each liquid lens is deployed between a respective detector of the plurality of detectors and a primary lens.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the primary lens comprises a second liquid lens.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the corrective voltage is performed by the processor that adjusts a shape of an interface of the liquid lens.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected signals are transmitted by a transmitter, with each of the detected signal being aimed outward from a center of a spherical structure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected terahertz signals are received by a mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected terahertz signals are received by a base station.

9. A tangible computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for establishing a terahertz link, the operations comprising:

receiving detected terahertz signals from a plurality of detectors, where a liquid lens is deployed with each of the plurality of detectors;

determining, for each of the detected signals, if the detected signal is out of focus;

applying a corrective voltage to each liquid lens that corresponds to a detected terahertz signal that is out of focus, wherein the corrective voltage adjusts a focus of the detected signal;

measuring a signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signals; and

establishing a terahertz link via at I act one of the detected terahertz signals with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.

10. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the receiving the detected terahertz signals is performed by a cluster of the plurality of detectors having a combined field of view that is hemispherical.

11. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each liquid lens is deployed between a respective detector of the plurality of detectors and a primary lens.

12. The non transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the primary lens comprises a second liquid lens.

13. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the applying of the corrective voltage is performed by the processor that adjusts a shape of an interface of the liquid lens.

14. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the detected signals are transmitted by a transmitter, with each of the detected signal being aimed outward from a center of a spherical structure.

15. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the detected terahertz signals are received by a mobile device.

16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the detected terahertz signals are received by a base station.

17. A receiver, comprising:

a plurality of first lens;

a plurality of liquid lens;

a plurality of detectors, for receiving a plurality of terahertz signals, wherein one of the plurality of first lens is arranged with a corresponding one of the plurality of liquid lens and with a corresponding one of plurality of detectors to form a respective combination, wherein when one of the plurality of terahertz signals is received by a respective combination and is out of focus, then a variable voltage source applies a voltage to a respective liquid lens to focus one of the plurality of terahertz signals onto a respective detector; and

a processor for measuring a signal-to-noise ratio of each of the plurality of terahertz signals to determine whether one of the plurality of terahertz signals is received out of focus.

18. The receiver of claim 17, wherein the plurality of first lens comprises a second set of liquid lens.

19. The receiver of claim 17, wherein the receiver is deployed in a mobile device.