公开(公告)号：US11009595B1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-18

申请号：US17097374

申请日：2020-11-13

Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Inventor： Robert T. Carlson

IPC: G01S7/499 ,  G02B27/28 ,  G01S17/08

Abstract: A continuously adjustable optical beam splitter includes a circular to linear polarization converter, a polarization rotator, and a polarization beam splitter that apportions light between two outputs. The polarization converter can include a quarter wave plate. The polarization rotator can include a mechanically rotated half wave plate or an electronically controlled liquid crystal variable retarder. The light source can be astronomical, reflected LIDAR light, or a laser beam from a remote laser communication node. Also disclosed is a free space laser communication terminal that implements the disclosed optical beam splitter, wherein the optical beam splitter diverts substantially all received laser light to an alignment channel during initial alignment, and then during message communication diverts more than 90%, and in embodiments up to 98%, of the received light to a communication channel, while alignment is maintained by continuing to divert the remaining laser light to the alignment channel.

公开(公告)号：US10158427B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-18

申请号：US15457081

申请日：2017-03-13

Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC.

Inventor： Robert T. Carlson

IPC: H04B10/118 ,  B64G3/00 ,  G01C21/02 ,  G01C21/16 ,  G01S3/786 ,  G01S5/16

Abstract: A laser communication system its integrated microradian-accuracy Acquisition and Tracking Sensor (ATS) to perform a celestial navigation fix to determine the attitude of the laser communications payload, including the integrated ATS and the co-boresighted laser beam, prior to establishing a laser communication link with a second vehicle such as a high-altitude aircraft or satellite. The laser communication system may use a legacy platform INS to initially point its narrow FOV ATS at one or more stars to obtain the vehicle's attitude therefrom. Then the precision payload attitude determined with the ATS star tracker fix is used to point the co-boresighted laser beam to establish a laser communications link with the second vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20180262271A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15457081

申请日：2017-03-13

Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC.

Inventor： Robert T. Carlson

IPC: H04B10/118 ,  G01C21/02 ,  B64G3/00 ,  G01C21/16

CPC classification number: H04B10/118 ,  B64G3/00 ,  G01C21/025 ,  G01C21/165 ,  G01S3/7867 ,  G01S5/163

Abstract: A laser communication system its integrated microradian-accuracy Acquisition and Tracking Sensor (ATS) to perform a celestial navigation fix to determine the attitude of the laser communications payload, including the integrated ATS and the co-boresighted laser beam, prior to establishing a laser communication link with a second vehicle such as a high-altitude aircraft or satellite. The laser communication system may use a legacy platform INS to initially point its narrow FOV ATS at one or more stars to obtain the vehicle's attitude therefrom. Then the precision payload attitude determined with the ATS star tracker fix is used to point the co-boresighted laser beam to establish a laser communications link with the second vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20140347720A1

公开(公告)日：2014-11-27

申请号：US14455314

申请日：2014-08-08

Applicant: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Inventor： Robert T. Carlson ,  Daniel J. Creeden

IPC: H01S3/067 ,  H04B10/50 ,  H04B10/11

CPC classification number: H01S3/06754 ,  H01S3/094003 ,  H01S3/10015 ,  H01S3/1312 ,  H04B10/11 ,  H04B10/112 ,  H04B10/503

Abstract: In the method for processing a signal light from free-space by amplifying said signal for free-space optical communications. wherein the improvement includes the steps of (a) pre-amplifying said signal light with low noise; and (b) coupling said signal light into a multimode filter which reduces coupling hisses compared to single mode filters.

Abstract translation: 在用于通过放大用于自由空间光通信的信号来处理来自空间的信号光的方法中。 其中所述改进包括以下步骤：（a）以低噪声预放大所述信号光; 和（b）将所述信号光耦合到多模式滤波器中，其与单模滤波器相比减少耦合嘶嘶声。

公开(公告)号：US11002956B1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16952589

申请日：2020-11-19

Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Inventor： Robert T. Carlson

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G02B27/00 ,  H04B10/572 ,  H04B10/50 ,  G02B7/18

Abstract: A co-boresight refractive beam director for a full duplex laser communication terminal includes a chromatic beam steering element, such as a two or three prism Risley prism assembly, and a dispersion compensation mechanism (DCM) inserted in either the transmit or receive path. The DCM adjusts a beam direction of either the transmit or receive laser beam to compensate for a pointing difference introduced by the beam steering element due to a difference between the transmit and receive wavelengths. The DCM can include a tip/tilt mirror and actuator, which can be a commercially available FSM assembly. The beam steering element can be temperature stabilized. Position feedback sensors can increase DCM speed and accuracy. The pointing difference can be calculated and/or interpolated from a pre-established look-up table or fitted curve relating pointing differences to transmit and receive frequencies and the pointing direction of the beam steering element.