公开(公告)号：US20230318705A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-05

申请号：US17709544

申请日：2022-03-31

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Paul Csonka ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: H04B10/11

CPC classification number: H04B10/11

Abstract: The technology relates to free-space optical communication systems that correct for errors in tracking and pointing accuracy to maintain connection integrity. Such systems can both proactively and reactively correct for errors in tracking performance and pointing accuracy of terminals within the system. An aspect includes receiving information indicative of at least one external disturbance associated with a communication device. A determination is made for a proactive estimation indicative of a first error associated with an effect of the at least one external disturbance at a current timestep. A determination is made for a reactive estimation indicative of a second error associated with the effect of the at least one external disturbance at a previous timestep. A final control signal is determined based on the proactive estimation and the reactive estimation. A controller is able to actuate an optical assembly of the communication device based on the determined final control signal.

公开(公告)号：US20220352984A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-03

申请号：US17867858

申请日：2022-07-19

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Travis Lantz ,  Paul Csonka ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/114 ,  H04W16/28 ,  H04B10/077 ,  H04B10/079

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for reacquiring a communication link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method includes using one or more processors of the first communication device to receive historical data related to the first communication device and an environment surrounding the first communication device. The one or more processors are then used to determine one or more trends in the historical data related to fading of the communication link. Based on the one or more trends, the one or more processors are used to determine a starting time and an initial search direction for a search for the communication link. The one or more processors then execute the search at the starting time from the initial search direction.

公开(公告)号：US11454769B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-27

申请号：US17062169

申请日：2020-10-02

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Devin Brinkley ,  Paul Csonka ,  Sanam Mozaffari ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  G02B6/42 ,  H04B10/69 ,  H04B10/25 ,  H04B10/112

Abstract: A free-space optical communication device includes an optical fiber bundle and one or more processors. The optical fiber bundle includes a central fiber connected to a first photodetector, and a plurality of surrounding fibers, each surrounding fiber connected to a corresponding second photodetector. The one or more processors are in communication with the first photodetector and each second photodetector. The one or more processors are also configured to receive a current or voltage generated at the first photodetector and each second photodetector and to determine a pointing accuracy of a beam received at the optical fiber bundle based on the current or voltage generated at the second photodetectors.

公开(公告)号：US20210143914A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-13

申请号：US17156725

申请日：2021-01-25

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Paul Csonka ,  Travis Lantz

IPC: H04B10/564 ,  H04B17/318 ,  H04B17/10 ,  H04B10/079

Abstract: A communication device is provided that estimates one or more disturbance values associated with one or more components of the communication device, and adjusts the communication device to change a received power of the output signal. The communication device includes a transmitter having a seed laser configured to provide an amount of bandwidth for an output signal, an Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) configured to increase an amplitude of the output signal, and a single mode variable optical attenuator (SMVOA) configured to decrease the amplitude of the output signal.

公开(公告)号：US20210083768A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-18

申请号：US17108513

申请日：2020-12-01

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Travis Lantz ,  Paul Csonka ,  Bruce Moision

IPC: H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/112

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a communication system that includes one or more sensors and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive, during a first timeframe, a first indication of an error rate of a communication link, a second indication of an amount of received power at a remote communication system, and one or more measurements related to the state of the communication system. The one or more processors are then configured to estimate a plurality of disturbance values to the communication system according to the one or more measurements and the second indication. Each disturbance value is associated with a set of components of the communication system. The one or more processors are configured to adjust a beam divergence of a beacon beam or a communication beam transmitted from the communication system based on the plurality of disturbance values and the first indication.

公开(公告)号：US20200228201A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-16

申请号：US16828111

申请日：2020-03-24

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Devin Brinkley ,  Bruce Moision ,  Paul Csonka ,  Baris Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/11

Abstract: The disclosure provides a communication system that includes sensors, a plurality of components, and processors. The sensors receive measurements related to a state of the communication system. The processors receive an indication of an amount of received power at a remote communication system and estimate a state of the plurality of components based on the received one or more measurements and the received indication. Using the indication and the estimated state, the processors determine whether the amount of received power is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a given time interval. When it is likely, the processors select an adjustment technique of a plurality of adjustment techniques for adjusting a data rate of the outbound signal and adjust a given component of the communication system using the selected adjustment technique to change the data rate of the outbound signal.

公开(公告)号：US10686522B1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-16

申请号：US16570517

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Paul Csonka ,  Edward Allen Keyes

IPC: H04B10/27 ,  H04B10/11

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of forming a communication link between two communication devices using a primary search pattern and a secondary search pattern. A misalignment between a first optical system of a first communication device and a second optical system of a second communication device is detected. The first optical system is rotated according to the primary search pattern, and the second optical system according to the secondary search pattern. At the second communication device, a set of frames is captured. Then, it is determined whether a beacon beam transmitted from the first communication device is detected in the one or more of the captured frames. When it is determined that the beacon beam is detected, the communication link is formed between the first communication device and the second communication device.

公开(公告)号：US10686521B1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-16

申请号：US16255263

申请日：2019-01-23

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Travis Lantz ,  Paul Csonka ,  Bruce Moision

IPC: H04B10/08 ,  H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/112

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a communication system that includes one or more sensors and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive, during a first timeframe, a first indication of an error rate of a communication link, a second indication of an amount of received power at a remote communication system, and one or more measurements related to the state of the communication system. The one or more processors are then configured to estimate a plurality of disturbance values to the communication system according to the one or more measurements and the second indication. Each disturbance value is associated with a set of components of the communication system. The one or more processors are configured to adjust a beam divergence of a beacon beam or a communication beam transmitted from the communication system based on the plurality of disturbance values and the first indication.

公开(公告)号：US11817943B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US18164879

申请日：2023-02-06

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Paul Csonka ,  Travis Lantz ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: H04J14/02 ,  H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/112

CPC classification number: H04J14/0221 ,  H04B10/07955 ,  H04B10/1123

Abstract: The technology employs a state-based power control loop (PCL) architecture to maintain tracking and communication signal-to-noise ratios at suitable levels for optimal tracking performance and data throughput in a free-space optical communication system. Power for a link is adjustable to stay within a functional range of receiving sensors in order to provide continuous service to users. This avoids oversaturation and possible damage to the equipment. The approach can include decreasing or increasing the power to counteract a surge or drop while maintaining a near constant received power at a remote communication device. The system may receive power adjustment feedback from another communication terminal and perform state-based power control according to the received feedback. This can include re-initializing and reacquiring a link with the other communication terminal automatically after loss of power, without human intervention. There may be a default state and discrete states including rain, fade, surge and unstable states.

公开(公告)号：US11705967B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-18

申请号：US17867858

申请日：2022-07-19

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Travis Lantz ,  Paul Csonka ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  H04B10/114 ,  H04W16/28 ,  H04B10/077 ,  H04B10/079

CPC classification number: H04B10/1149 ,  H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/0779 ,  H04B10/1143 ,  H04W16/28

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for reacquiring a communication link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method includes using one or more processors of the first communication device to receive historical data related to the first communication device and an environment surrounding the first communication device. The one or more processors are then used to determine one or more trends in the historical data related to fading of the communication link. Based on the one or more trends, the one or more processors are used to determine a starting time and an initial search direction for a search for the communication link. The one or more processors then execute the search at the starting time from the initial search direction.