Laser beam communication between spacecraft
US4982445A · kind A · utility
36Cited by
2References
3Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/118
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A laser beam communication system for spacecraft in which each communication terminal comprises, for steering the beam projected from that terminal, four mirrors, each mounted on a mechanism capable of rotating the mirror about a constant defined axis. The mirrors and their attached mechanisms are arranged in pairs with one pair on either side of a magnifying telescope. All rotating joints in each mechanism are constructed using flexure pivots. Such a pointing element can provide both the range and accuracy required for an important class of free space laser links without introducing any extra friction into the pointing system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.