Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-05
2003-08-26
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S906000, C248S583000, C248S278100, C248S200100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609690
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to free-space optical communications systems, and, more specifically, to an apparatus for mounting free space optical communications system equipment to a window or window frame.
2. Background Information
With the increasing popularity of wide area networks (WANs), such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, network growth and traffic has exploded in recent years. Network users continue to demand faster networks and more access for both businesses and consumers. As network demands continue to increase, existing network infrastructures and technologies are reaching their limits.
An alternative to present day hardwired or fiber network solutions is the use of wireless optical communications. Wireless optical communications utilize point-to-point communications through free-space and therefore do not require the routing of cables or fibers between locations. Thus, wireless optical communications are also known as free-space or atmospheric optical communications. For instance, in a free-space optical communication system, a beam of light is directed through free-space from a transmitter at a first location to a receiver at a second location. Data or information is encoded into the beam of light, and therefore, the information is transmitted through free-space from the first location to the second location.
A conventional free-space optical system is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. The free-space optical system includes a pair of terminals (i.e., transceivers)
110
that are typically located on or in separate buildings or towers, such as depicted by buildings
111
and
112
. Each terminal
110
includes a primary collector
113
to which a secondary mirror
114
is coupled via a plurality of rigid struts
116
. The terminals further include a transmitted signal lens
118
mounted within secondary mirror
114
, and a set of transmitter/receiver optics and electronics
120
. All of components
113
,
114
,
116
,
118
, and
120
are operatively coupled to a yoke that is connected to a base
122
via a gimbal assembly, such that these components are all moved in response to a gimbaled movement of the yoke relative to a static surface on which the base
122
is placed. In the illustrated configuration, terminals
110
are disposed in respective office in buildings
111
and
112
, and the optical signals transmitted and received by the terminals pass through windows
134
and
136
.
With reference to
FIG. 1B
, data is transmitted from a
110
T to a terminal
110
R in the following manner, wherein the suffix “T” indicates components corresponding to transmitter operations, and the suffix “R” indicates components corresponding to receiver operations. An optical signal
124
is generated by transmitter/receiver optics and electronics
120
T of terminal
110
T and directed through and opening
126
T defined in primary collector
113
T towards transmitted signal lens
118
T, which produces a collimated signal
128
. As collimated signal
128
moves toward terminal
110
R, in the width of the signal diverges very gradually. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the divergence of the various optical signals depicted in the Figures contained herein are exaggerated for clarity. Upon reaching terminal
110
R, the outer portions of collimated signal
128
impinge upon primary collector
113
R, which comprises a concave mirrored surface that redirects those portions of the signal that impinge upon it toward secondary mirror
114
R, while an inner portion
132
of the collimated signal is substantially blocked. Collimated signal
128
is then reflected by secondary mirror
114
R towards the secondary mirror's focal point
130
, where it is received by transmitter/receiver optics and electronics
120
R.
The convention terminal mounting technique that employs the base and gimbaled assembly discussed above has several drawbacks. One drawback is that since the base is typically mounted on a floor, the terminal is susceptible to floor motion, such as vibrations caused by people and/or equipment in offices or rooms in which the terminal is located. The conventional terminal is also somewhat obtrusive, occupying a significant amount of office space. Furthermore, the conventional mounting technique enables users to potentially cause damage to a terminal and interfere with received or transmitted signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for mounting a free-space optical communications system (FSO) equipment, such as a terminal, to a window. The apparatus includes a substantially rectangular frame member in which a central opening is defined. In one embodiment, the frame member comprises an extrusion that may be cut to a desired length to fit various window widths. The frame member is coupled to a window frame or the window via a plurality of universal mounting brackets that are disposed toward respective corners of the frame member. A support that is operatively coupled to the frame member provides a mounting interface to couple the frame to an FSO terminal that is disposed within the central opening. In one embodiment, the support comprises a gimbaled support that enables the FSO terminal to be rotated about a pair of orthogonal spin axes and then locked into place once a desired pointing is obtained. In typical installations, the apparatus is mounted toward the top of a window frame and a valance is provided to prevent undesired access to the gimbaled support and FSO terminal and make the apparatus appear less obtrusive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3941001 (1976-03-01), LaSarge
patent: 4232361 (1980-11-01), Kelsall
patent: 5505419 (1996-04-01), Gabrius
patent: 5526433 (1996-06-01), Zakarauskas et al.
Publication No: US2002/0131130 A1, Clark.*
Publication No: US 2002/0149811 A1, Willebrand.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Braun Leslie A.
Terabeam Corporation
Weinhold Ingrid
LandOfFree
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