Optical data communication system
US11916592B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2022 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W84/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication system has a plurality of LEO satellites in a specified orbital plane and a plurality of trunk satellites in a medium earth orbit. Each LEO satellite acquires satellite-specific data and includes inter-satellite links with adjacent LEO satellites. Each trunk satellite includes inter-satellite links adjacent trunk satellites. One of the trunk satellites operates as a relay trunk satellite in position to maintain optical communication with a specified ground station on the Earth. Each LEO satellite has a limited field of regard to establish optical communication with any trunk satellite. A relay LEO satellite is configured to establish optical communication with a corresponding trunk satellite. The plurality of LEO satellites relay aggregated data to the relay LEO satellite. The relay LEO satellite relays the aggregated data to the corresponding trunk satellite. The relay trunk satellite relays the received aggregated data to the corresponding ground station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.