Optical: systems and elements – Deflection using a moving element – Using a periodically moving element
Patent
1994-08-15
1997-01-07
Boudreau, Leo
Optical: systems and elements
Deflection using a moving element
Using a periodically moving element
359152, 359172, H04B 1000
Patent
active
055923208
ABSTRACT:
An improved system for acquiring and tracking an optical beam. In the illustrative application, the inventive system is used to facilitate optical communication between two satellites and provides an improved technique for acquiring and tracking two optical beams. The illustrative embodiment includes an optical transmitter (26) mounted on the first satellite for transmitting a first optical beam. The beam is scanned over a predetermined area in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined rate. When the beam is detected at the second satellite, the receiver at the second satellite generates a signal indicative of the time at which the beam is detected. This signal is used to modulate a second beam transmitted by the second satellite. The second beam is scanned over a predetermined area in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined rate. A receiver (34, 35, 38, 40, 42) mounted on the first satellite receives the second beam and modulates the first beam with a second signal indicative of the time at which the second beam is detected. Processors (38, 40, 18, 20, 22, 24) on each satellite adjust the scan of the transmitted beam to nutate about the line-of-sight to the remote receiver to track the acquired beam. Thereafter, satellite-to-satellite communication may be effected by continuously detecting and correcting pointing errors and injecting the corrective signals into the normal data stream.
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Hemmati et al, "Laser Transmitter Aims at Laser Beacon", NASA Tech Briefs, Nov. 1993, p. 68.
Boudreau Leo
Denson-Low W. K.
Hughes Aircraft Company
Mehta Bhavesh
Schubert W. C.
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