Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for free-space undersea communications

US10491309B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 3, 2017
Grant dateNov 26, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/564
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multi-rate, burst-mode, photon-counting receiver can communicate at data rates up to 10.416 Mb/s over a 30-foot water channel. With added attenuation, the maximum link loss is 97.1 dB at λ=517 nm. In clear ocean water, this equates to link distances up to 148 meters. For λ=470 nm, the achievable link distance in clear ocean water is 450 meters. The receiver incorporates soft-decision forward error correction (FEC) that supports multiple code rates to achieve error-free performance. A burst-mode receiver architecture provides robust performance with respect to unpredictable channel obstructions. The receiver can detect the data rate on-the-fly and adapts to changing levels of signal and background light. The receiver updates its phase alignment and channel estimates every frame, allowing for rapid changes in water quality as well as motion between transmitter and receiver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.