Alignment system and method for optical satellite communication
US6577421B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/1125
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical communication terminal transmits data via an optical signal with a transmit mirror positioned to direct the optical signal. The optical communication terminal includes a processor configured to develop a control signal for a mirror controller to establish an optimal position of the transmit mirror. The optical communication terminal further includes a modulator coupled to the processor that modulates the optical signal in accordance with a position of the transmit mirror during transmission of the optical signal. The optimal position of the transmit mirror may be established by a scanning routine that adjusts the position of the transmit mirror to a plurality of predetermined offset positions during transmission of the optical signal. The intensity of the optical signal as received by a further optical communication terminal is then determined and provided via modulation of a further optical signal transmitted back to the first-named optical communication terminal. The predetermined offset positions and the corresponding received intensities may then be utilized to determine the optimal position of the transmit mirror.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.