Acquisition, tracking, and pointing apparatus for free space optical communications with moving focal plane array
US9800332B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2014 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An acquisition, pointing, and tracking (ATP) apparatus for free space optical (FSO) communications systems incorporates a multi-element detector array positioned at a focal plane of an optical telescope. An optical communications element lies at the center of the detector array. In lieu of traditional beam steering, the apparatus performs pointing and tracking functions internally by first calculating a position of an optical maximum on the detector array, and then translating the detector array within the focal plane of the telescope such that the optical communications element lies at the optical maximum for transmitting and/or receiving optical communications signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.