Free-space optical communication module for small satellites
US10917173B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2019 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/18517
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Communication bottlenecks, particularly in the downlink direction, are a common problem for many CubeSat developers. As described herein, a CubeSat module for a CubeSat comprises an optical transmitter to transmit data to a remote terminal, a receiver to acquire an optical beacon from a remote terminal, and a fine-pointing module operably and directly coupleable to a coarse-pointing module of the CubeSat. The fine-pointing module is configured to point the optical transmitter toward the remote terminal with an accuracy range that overlaps with an accuracy range of the coarse-pointing module of the CubeSat so as to establish a communications link between the CubeSat and the remote terminal over a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.