公开(公告)号：US12044949B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-23

申请号：US18489116

申请日：2023-10-18

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Paul Epp ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: G02F1/29 ,  G02B27/00

CPC classification number: G02F1/292 ,  G02B27/0087 ,  G02F2203/50

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first communications terminal. The first communications terminal may include an optical phased array (OPA) including a plurality of phase shifters configured to receive an optical communications beam from a second communications terminal. The first communications terminal may also include one or more processors configured to determine a link axis for communication with the second communications terminal based on the received optical communications beam, identify a compensatory wavefront curvature for mitigating cross-coupling, and generate a wavefront of an outgoing optical communications beam using the plurality of phase shifters based on the determined link axis and the compensatory wavefront curvature.

公开(公告)号：US20240192572A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18489116

申请日：2023-10-18

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Paul Epp ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: G02F1/29 ,  G02B27/00

CPC classification number: G02F1/292 ,  G02B27/0087 ,  G02F2203/50

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first communications terminal. The first communications terminal may include an optical phased array (OPA) including a plurality of phase shifters configured to receive an optical communications beam from a second communications terminal. The first communications terminal may also include one or more processors configured to determine a link axis for communication with the second communications terminal based on the received optical communications beam, identify a compensatory wavefront curvature for mitigating cross-coupling, and generate a wavefront of an outgoing optical communications beam using the plurality of phase shifters based on the determined link axis and the compensatory wavefront curvature.

公开(公告)号：US11909452B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US18112081

申请日：2023-02-21

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Bruce Moision ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/291 ,  H04B10/564

CPC classification number: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/291 ,  H04B10/564

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and one or more processors. The optical transmitter is configured to output an optical signal, and includes an average-power-limited optical amplifier, such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The one or more processors are configured to receive optical signal data related to a received power for a communication link from a remote communication system and determine that the optical signal data is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a time interval. In response to the determination, the one or more processors are configured to determine a duty cycle of the optical transmitter based on a minimum on-cycle length and a predicted EDFA output power and operate the optical transmitter using the determined duty cycle to transmit an on-cycle power that is no less than the minimum required receiver power for error-free operation of the communication link.

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：US20230208533A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-29

申请号：US18112081

申请日：2023-02-21

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Bruce Moision ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/291 ,  H04B10/564

CPC classification number: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/291 ,  H04B10/564

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and one or more processors. The optical transmitter is configured to output an optical signal, and includes an average-power-limited optical amplifier, such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The one or more processors are configured to receive optical signal data related to a received power for a communication link from a remote communication system and determine that the optical signal data is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a time interval. In response to the determination, the one or more processors are configured to determine a duty cycle of the optical transmitter based on a minimum on-cycle length and a predicted EDFA output power and operate the optical transmitter using the determined duty cycle to transmit an on-cycle power that is no less than the minimum required receiver power for error-free operation of the communication link.

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：US20210028866A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-28

申请号：US17066624

申请日：2020-10-09

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Bruce Moision ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/291 ,  H04B10/564

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and one or more processors. The optical transmitter is configured to output an optical signal, and includes an average-power-limited optical amplifier, such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The one or more processors are configured to receive optical signal data related to a received power for a communication link from a remote communication system and determine that the optical signal data is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a time interval. In response to the determination, the one or more processors are configured to determine a duty cycle of the optical transmitter based on a minimum on-cycle length and a predicted EDFA output power and operate the optical transmitter using the determined duty cycle to transmit an on-cycle power that is no less than the minimum required receiver power for error-free operation of the communication link.

公开(公告)号：US20200228209A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-16

申请号：US16529337

申请日：2019-08-01

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Bruce Moision ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/80 ,  H04B10/564 ,  H04B10/291

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and one or more processors. The optical transmitter is configured to output an optical signal, and includes an average-power-limited optical amplifier, such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The one or more processors are configured to receive optical signal data related to a received power for a communication link from a remote communication system and determine that the optical signal data is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a time interval. In response to the determination, the one or more processors are configured to determine a duty cycle of the optical transmitter based on a minimum on-cycle length and a predicted EDFA output power and operate the optical transmitter using the determined duty cycle to transmit an on-cycle power that is no less than the minimum required receiver power for error-free operation of the communication link.

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：US10708009B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-07

申请号：US16781381

申请日：2020-02-04

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Bruce Moision ,  Edward Keyes ,  Oliver Bowen ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Erkmen

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  H04L1/18 ,  H04B10/112

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques for automatic repeat request (ARQ) in a free-space optical communication (FSOC) architecture. These techniques, including block-selective ARQ, adaptive retransmission delay, and random seed scrambling, can be used individually or in combination to combat problems involving frame loss or corruption. These techniques enable the system to rapidly recover by streamlining the retransmission process. For instance, block-selective ARQ acknowledges variable length blocks of frames in the return stream from the receiver to the transmitter. Adaptive retransmission delay allows the retransmission delay to grow in the absence of feedback by the receiver, up to some defined limit. And with random seed sampling, a scrambling sequence is incorporated to aid with frame syncing, which avoids the need for a line code. These aspects of the technology provide a robust communication process, and also reduce overhead costs associated with unnecessary retransmissions.