Free-space laser communication system having six axes of movement
US6347001B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/18504
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A free-space laser communication system having six axes of movement. The system includes a fine tracking and acquisition system comprising a low inertia steering mirror having two axes of movement which points the communication laser transmission optical apertures separately from the optical apertures for the beacon laser, a coarse tracker, and a communication receiver. A fine tracking centroider and the communication lasers have the steerable mirror in common, and thus do not experience any alignment error that might arise from use of a separate deflecting element for each. The fine tracking and acquisition system is preferably mounted on a gimbal having two axes of movement, and the gimbal in turn is preferably mounted in a housing having two axes of movement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.