Diverged-beam communications system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an optical transmitter assembly comprising;
a modulator; and
an optical transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to emit an optical beam that the modulator is configured to modulate with data, the optical transmitter thereby being configured to emit the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam; and
an optical receiver assembly comprising;
a demodulator; and
an optical receiver coupled to the demodulator and configured to detect an optical beam that carries data the demodulator is configured to recover, the optical receiver being configured to detect the optical beam emitted without artificial confinement from an optical transmitter configured to emit the optical beam modulated with the data,wherein the optical transmitter is configured to emit the optical beam with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, and the optical receiver is configured to detect the optical beam emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided that includes a modulator and an optical transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to emit an optical beam that the modulator is configured to modulate with data. The optical transmitter may thereby be configured to emit the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam. The optical transmitter may be configured to emit the optical beam with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%. The photonic efficiency may relate a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an optical transmitter assembly comprising; a modulator; and an optical transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to emit an optical beam that the modulator is configured to modulate with data, the optical transmitter thereby being configured to emit the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam; and an optical receiver assembly comprising; a demodulator; and an optical receiver coupled to the demodulator and configured to detect an optical beam that carries data the demodulator is configured to recover, the optical receiver being configured to detect the optical beam emitted without artificial confinement from an optical transmitter configured to emit the optical beam modulated with the data, wherein the optical transmitter is configured to emit the optical beam with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, and the optical receiver is configured to detect the optical beam emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a modulator; and an optical transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to emit an optical beam that the modulator is configured to modulate with data, the optical transmitter thereby being configured to emit the optical beam carrying with data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam, wherein the optical transmitter is configured to emit the optical beam with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter, and wherein the optical transmitter is configured to emit the optical beam with an adjustable focus or astigmatism, the adjustable focus enabling adjustment of a diameter of the optical beam at a given distance from the optical transmitter, and the astigmatism causing the optical beam to have different vertical and horizontal divergences.
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a modulator; and an optical transmitter coupled to the modulator and configured to emit an optical beam that the modulator is configured to modulate with data, the optical transmitter thereby being configured to emit the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam, wherein the optical transmitter is configured to emit the optical beam with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter, and wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit a heartbeat signal for orientation of the optical transmitter and optical receiver, the heartbeat signal being modulated to carry or indicate a location of the optical transmitter, or a signal to cause the optical receiver to return its location or an indication of its location to the optical transmitter.
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19. A method comprising:
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modulating an optical beam with data; emitting by an optical transmitter, the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam; detecting by an optical receiver, an optical beam emitted without artificial confinement from an optical transmitter configured to emit the optical beam modulated with data; and recovering the data from the optical beam so detected, wherein the optical beam is emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, and the optical beam detected by the optical receiver is emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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modulating an optical beam with data; and emitting by an optical transmitter, the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam, wherein the optical beam is emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter, and wherein the optical beam is emitted with an adjustable focus or astigmatism, the adjustable focus enabling adjustment of a diameter of the optical beam at a given distance from the optical transmitter, and the astigmatism causing the optical beam to have different vertical and horizontal divergences.
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26. A method comprising:
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modulating an optical beam with data; and emitting by an optical transmitter, the optical beam carrying the data and without artificial confinement for receipt by an optical receiver configured to detect and recover the data from the optical beam, wherein the optical beam is emitted with a divergence angle greater than 0.1 degrees, and with a photonic efficiency of less than 0.05%, the photonic efficiency relating a number of photons of the optical beam detectable by the optical receiver, to a number of photons of the optical beam emitted by the optical transmitter, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a heartbeat signal for orientation of the optical transmitter and optical receiver, the heartbeat signal being modulated to carry or indicate a location of the optical transmitter, or a signal to cause the optical receiver to return its location or an indication of its location to the optical transmitter.
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Specification