公开(公告)号：US10476592B1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-12

申请号：US15633971

申请日：2017-06-27

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-hyong Kim ,  Robert Todd Belt

IPC: H04B10/112 ,  H04B10/077 ,  H04B10/079

Abstract: A fully-passive optical system creates a counter-propagating reference beam, which may be used to evaluate a misalignment between a receive beam, a transmit beam, and a tracking beam. The system can be mated to a motorized tip-tilt stage, and can measure power of received signals and automatically adjust the tip-tilt stage in response. Thus, the system would always maintain bore-sight with the received beam regardless of mechanical shift over time.

公开(公告)号：US10359570B1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-23

申请号：US15806960

申请日：2017-11-08

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Robert Todd Belt ,  Nam-hyong Kim ,  Baris Erkmen ,  Edward Keyes

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  G02B6/293 ,  G02B27/10 ,  G02B26/08 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G02B6/32 ,  G02B17/02 ,  G02B6/34 ,  H04B10/112 ,  H04B10/40 ,  H04B10/25 ,  G02B27/30 ,  H04B7/195

Abstract: The technology relates to the design and placement of beacon transmission optics for free space optical communications (“FSOC”). One aspect of the disclosure provides an FSOC device with a beam steering mechanism, a beam column with a beam expander, an optical bus, and beacon transmission optics. The beacon transmission optics includes a prism that directs outgoing beacon beams into the beam column, and toward the beam steering mechanism. In one embodiment, the outgoing beacon beams do not need to travel through the beam expander of the beam column. As a result, backscatter is minimized and incoming or outgoing beams can be controlled with a single beam-steering mechanism.

公开(公告)号：US20180172915A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-21

申请号：US15861073

申请日：2018-01-03

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-hyong Kim ,  Robert Todd Belt ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Edward Allen Keyes

IPC: G02B6/293 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/00 ,  G02B6/26 ,  G02B27/14

CPC classification number: G02B6/29395 ,  G02B6/262 ,  G02B6/29361 ,  G02B27/141 ,  H04B10/1125 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/0005 ,  H04Q2011/0016 ,  H04Q2011/0026

Abstract: An optical communication terminal is configured to operate in two different complementary modes of full duplex communication. In one mode, the terminal transmits light having a first wavelength and receives light having a second wavelength along a common free space optical path. In the other mode, the terminal transmits light having the second wavelength and receives light having the first wavelength. The terminal includes a steering mirror that directs light to and from a dichroic element that creates different optical paths depending on wavelength, and also includes spatially separated emitters and detectors for the two wavelengths. A first complementary emitter/detector pair is used in one mode, and a second pair is used for the other mode. The system also includes at least two ferrules. Each ferrule operates with a single emitter/detector pair. The ferrules are designed to operate interchangeably with either emitter/detector pair.

公开(公告)号：US09939651B1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-10

申请号：US15664424

申请日：2017-07-31

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Robert Todd Belt ,  Nam-hyong Kim ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Edward Allen Keyes

IPC: G02B27/14 ,  H04B10/508 ,  H04B10/572 ,  G02B17/04

CPC classification number: G02B27/145 ,  G02B17/04 ,  G02B27/141 ,  H04B10/508 ,  H04B10/572

Abstract: An example beam splitting apparatus is assembled from multiple prisms that are assembled together along respective mating surfaces to form a single monolithic optical device. The beam splitting apparatus includes optical features, such as dichroic and reflective surfaces, that define optical paths for light that enters the beam splitting apparatus. The optical features allow photons in the light to be directed along different optical paths based on their wavelengths. The optical features in the beam splitting apparatus are provided by coatings, films, and/or surface treatments applied to any of the faces of the prisms. In particular, coatings, films, and/or surface treatments are applied to the mating surfaces of the prisms so that the optical features are internal to the assembled monolithic optical device. The beam splitting apparatus may be implemented in a communication terminal that exchanges data modulated light according to frequency-division duplex communications.

公开(公告)号：US20180088280A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US14959068

申请日：2015-12-04

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-Hyong Kim ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Edward Allen Keyes ,  Robert Todd Belt

IPC: G02B6/293 ,  G02B27/14 ,  G02B6/26 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/29395 ,  G02B6/262 ,  G02B6/29361 ,  G02B27/141 ,  H04B10/1125 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/0005 ,  H04Q2011/0016 ,  H04Q2011/0026

Abstract: An optical communication terminal is configured to operate in two different complementary modes of full duplex communication. In one mode, the terminal transmits light having a first wavelength and receives light having a second wavelength along a common free space optical path. In the other mode, the terminal transmits light having the second wavelength and receives light having the first wavelength. The terminal includes a steering mirror that directs light to and from a dichroic element that creates different optical paths depending on wavelength, and also includes spatially separated emitters and detectors for the two wavelengths. A first complementary emitter/detector pair is used in one mode, and a second pair is used for the other mode. The system also includes at least two ferrules. Each ferrule operates with a single emitter/detector pair. The ferrules are designed to operate interchangeably with either emitter/detector pair.

公开(公告)号：USD809902S1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-13

申请号：US29586313

申请日：2016-12-02

Applicant: X Development LLC

Designer： Robert Todd Belt

公开(公告)号：USD832683S1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-06

申请号：US29632126

申请日：2018-01-05

Applicant: X Development LLC

Designer： Robert Todd Belt

公开(公告)号：US09971095B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-15

申请号：US14959068

申请日：2015-12-04

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-Hyong Kim ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Edward Allen Keyes ,  Robert Todd Belt

IPC: G02B6/293 ,  G02B27/14 ,  G02B6/26 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/29395 ,  G02B6/262 ,  G02B6/29361 ,  G02B27/141 ,  H04B10/1125 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04L5/14 ,  H04Q11/0005 ,  H04Q2011/0016 ,  H04Q2011/0026

Abstract: An optical communication terminal is configured to operate in two different complementary modes of full duplex communication. In one mode, the terminal transmits light having a first wavelength and receives light having a second wavelength along a common free space optical path. In the other mode, the terminal transmits light having the second wavelength and receives light having the first wavelength. The terminal includes a steering mirror that directs light to and from a dichroic element that creates different optical paths depending on wavelength, and also includes spatially separated emitters and detectors for the two wavelengths. A first complementary emitter/detector pair is used in one mode, and a second pair is used for the other mode. The system also includes at least two ferrules. Each ferrule operates with a single emitter/detector pair. The ferrules are designed to operate interchangeably with either emitter/detector pair.

公开(公告)号：US09720243B1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-01

申请号：US14986036

申请日：2015-12-31

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Robert Todd Belt ,  Nam-hyong Kim ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Edward Allen Keyes

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  G02B27/14 ,  G02B17/04 ,  H04B10/572 ,  H04B10/508

CPC classification number: G02B27/145 ,  G02B17/04 ,  G02B27/141 ,  H04B10/508 ,  H04B10/572

Abstract: An example beam splitting apparatus is assembled from multiple prisms that are assembled together along respective mating surfaces to form a single monolithic optical device. The beam splitting apparatus includes optical features, such as dichroic and reflective surfaces, that define optical paths for light that enters the beam splitting apparatus. The optical features allow photons in the light to be directed along different optical paths based on their wavelengths. The optical features in the beam splitting apparatus are provided by coatings, films, and/or surface treatments applied to any of the faces of the prisms. In particular, coatings, films, and/or surface treatments are applied to the mating surfaces of the prisms so that the optical features are internal to the assembled monolithic optical device. The beam splitting apparatus may be implemented in a communication terminal that exchanges data modulated light according to frequency-division duplex communications.