Hybrid picocell communication system
US6323980A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/25753
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A free-space laser communication system. The system is comprised of a large number of picocells. Each picocell comprises a base station providing conventional communication with at least one user but typically several or many users. Each base stations comprise at least two laser transceivers each transceiver having a pointing mechanism for automatic alignment. These transceivers provide communication with other base stations, relay information between other base stations or transmit information to conventional communication systems. The picocells cover relatively small geographical ranges such as about 100 meters. Applicant has demonstrated that at these distances atmospheric effects attenuating laser beams are not a serious problem. In a preferred embodiment the base stations generally comprise four laser transceivers with micro processor controlled pointing equipment which are aligned automatically to point at other base stations and an RF transceiver to provide communication with users. The present invention is especially suited for providing a communication system, which can be almost immediately installed to compete with established local monopoly (or near monopoly) telephone …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.