Beam Divergence Adjustment via State Disturbance Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication terminals face challenges in maintaining reliable optical signal transmission due to mechanical variability caused by temperature changes, wear, and component performance degradation, which affects pointing accuracy and system reliability.
Innovation Solution
A communication system equipped with sensors and processors that measure system state, estimate disturbance values, and adjust beam divergence of beacon or communication beams based on these measurements to compensate for mechanical variability and maintain a stable communication link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional control techniques are used to manage communication terminal mechanisms, then the system structure remains simple, but the system reliability deteriorates due to inability to compensate for component variability and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring component states (temperature, vibration, position) and adjusting system parameters in real-time to compensate for wear and environmental changes. Sensors provide continuous feedback signals to controllers that modify operational parameters, creating a closed-loop system that maintains reliability despite component degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as beam divergence, transmission power, and tracking adjustments based on real-time component state measurements. By adapting parameters like beam width and power output in response to detected component wear or environmental conditions, the system compensates for performance degradation without requiring complex mechanical replacements.
2Productivity
If beam divergence is kept narrow to improve pointing accuracy, then data throughput is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to mechanical disturbances and pointing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beam divergence adjustment where the beam width is continuously adapted based on real-time tracking conditions and component state. The system transitions between narrow beams for high-data-rate transmission and wider beams for robust tracking, using active control mechanisms to adjust beam parameters dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed beam width.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the beam divergence parameter in response to detected disturbances or component wear. When mechanical disturbances are detected or component accuracy degrades, the beam divergence is increased to maintain link reliability. When conditions are stable and component performance is optimal, the beam divergence is reduced to maximize data throughput.
3Reliability
If beam divergence is increased to compensate for mechanical variability, then tracking robustness is improved, but data throughput decreases due to lower power concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic assessment of component state and link quality, adjusting beam divergence in cycles rather than continuously. During assessment periods, the system evaluates tracking accuracy and component performance, then adjusts beam parameters accordingly. This periodic control approach allows the system to maintain narrow beams for high throughput during stable periods while periodically widening the beam to compensate for detected degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam divergence is dynamically adjusted based on real-time feedback about tracking conditions and component state. The system transitions between narrow and wide beam modes as needed, using active control mechanisms to optimize the trade-off between throughput and robustness. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both high data rates during optimal conditions and maintained connectivity during degraded conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
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.