Refractive Multi-Beam Laser Terminal for High Data Rate Satellite Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional satellite communication systems are limited by low data rates, making them inadequate for next-generation military and broadband applications that require higher data transmission rates and duplexed communications with multiple listeners across a theater of operations.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal equipped with a steering module using articulating-turning mirrors and a refractive common optic to direct and receive multiple beams, enabling high data rate duplexed multi-beam satellite communications with multiple listeners, including terrestrial, airborne, and space-based devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional satellite communication systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but data transmission rate is limited to megabit per second range
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal is divided into multiple independent transmitter-receiver modules, each capable of handling separate communication beams. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple data streams, achieving high data transmission rates while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-beam traditional satellite communications to multi-beam optical communications, adding the dimension of spatial multiplexing. By directing multiple beams simultaneously to different listeners, the system achieves gigabit per second data rates through parallel optical channel utilization
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-beam satellite communications are used, then device complexity is low, but the number of simultaneous listeners is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The steering module is segmented into multiple independent transmitter-receiver modules, each capable of directing beams to different listeners. This allows the system to simultaneously communicate with multiple listeners across a theater of operations while maintaining modular complexity management
Solution Approach 2:
Each transmitter-receiver module is designed with universal functionality to handle both transmission and reception operations. The modules can be configured to serve different listeners and communication scenarios, providing versatile multi-functional capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
3Productivity
If high data rate optical communications are implemented, then communication capacity increases, but cost of communication signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple transmitter-receiver modules share common optical components including the refractive common optic and static turning mirrors. This merging of resources allows the system to achieve high data rates through multi-beam operations while reducing overall system cost by avoiding redundant components across all modules
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides high data rate communications in the hundreds of megabits to gigabits per second range, supporting a large number of listeners with low-cost, duplexed communication signals, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional satellite systems.
Implementation Method 1
a refractive common optic optically coupled to the static-turning mirrors... configured to collectively focus a plurality of sets of received beams at select locations in a focal plane of the refractive-common optic, and to collectively collimate a plurality of sets of transmitted beams received from the select locations
Implementation Method 2
a steering module including a plurality of articulating-turning mirrors configured to selectively direct a corresponding plurality of sets of transmitted beams to sets of listeners
Data Source
AI summary
A communication terminal including a steering module including a plurality of articulating-turning mirrors configured to selectively direct a corresponding plurality of sets of transmitted beams to sets of listeners; a plurality of static turning mirrors optically coupled to the articulating-turning mirrors, wherein the articulating-turning mirrors are respectively associated with the static turning mirrors; and a refractive common optic optically coupled to the static-turning mirrors; and an optical module including a plurality of transmitter-receiver modules optically coupled to the refractive common optic.