Shared Telescope Optics for Satellite Links and Weather LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite optical communication and weather LiDAR systems require separate hardware setups, leading to high costs and inefficiencies in network rollout, while lacking effective atmospheric distortion correction for communication beams.
Innovation Solution
A combined system that shares a telescope and optics for both optical communication and weather LiDAR, utilizing adaptive optics to correct atmospheric distortions using an artificial guide star or satellite beacon, minimizing hardware duplication and enhancing communication performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate hardware setups are used for satellite optical communication and weather LiDAR systems, then each system can be optimized independently, but hardware costs increase and network rollout efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines satellite optical communication and weather LiDAR systems into a single integrated platform, sharing common hardware components including telescope, optical benches, sensors, and control systems. This merging eliminates hardware duplication while maintaining the functional independence and optimization capabilities of both systems through software-controlled operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system employs universal hardware components that serve multiple functions: the telescope and optics platform support both communication beam transmission and LiDAR atmospheric measurement, the positioning mechanism handles both satellite tracking and atmospheric profiling, and the control system manages both communication protocols and weather measurement operations through software configuration.
2Reliability
If adaptive optics is added to correct atmospheric distortions, then communication performance improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive optics system is integrated into the shared hardware platform, using the same telescope, deformable mirror, and wavefront sensor for both communication beam correction and LiDAR atmospheric compensation. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate adaptive optics systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an artificial guide star generated by the LiDAR laser itself to perform wavefront sensing and adaptive optics correction for communication beams. The LiDAR's atmospheric probing function serves dual purposes: weather measurement and providing reference signals for communication beam correction, eliminating the need for separate guide star generation systems.
3Device complexity
If a shared telescope and optics platform is used, then hardware costs reduce, but atmospheric distortion correction becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The LiDAR system generates an artificial guide star by transmitting laser beams into the upper atmosphere where they scatter off sodium atoms or other atmospheric constituents. This self-generated guide star provides reference signals for wavefront sensing and adaptive optics correction, allowing the shared platform to compensate for atmospheric distortions without requiring external guide stars from both systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback control through wavefront sensing using the artificial guide star, measuring atmospheric distortions affecting the communication beam path, and dynamically adjusting the deformable mirror to correct these distortions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains communication performance despite atmospheric turbulence.
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 combined system reduces costs and improves communication efficiency by sharing hardware, while effectively correcting atmospheric distortions for precise satellite communication.
Implementation Method 1
adjust for atmospheric distortion
Implementation Method 2
an adaptive optics system is configured to adjust for atmospheric distortion
Implementation Method 3
a LiDAR laser is used to generate transmit weather laser beams
Implementation Method 4
measuring reflected or scattered back laser light from laser beams
Implementation Method 5
The shared telescope is used to at least collect and focus laser beams
Implementation Method 6
Communications through a satellite optical communication system is achieved with laser beams that are modulated with communication signals
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for optical communication and weather measurement is provided. The system includes a shared telescope used to collect and focus laser beams. The optical communication system includes an optical communication transceiver and optical communication beam steering optics. The optical communication beam steering optics are configured to steer generated transmit communication laser beams to a communication satellite. The optical communication beam steering optics further are configured to steer received communication laser beams from the shared telescope to the optical communication transceiver. The weather LiDAR system includes a LiDAR laser, LiDAR beam steering optics and LiDAR weather instruments. The LiDAR laser is used to generate transmit weather laser beams. The LiDAR beam steering optics is configured to direct the generated transmit weather laser beams. The LiDAR weather instruments are configured to process scattered laser light captured by the shared telescope to determine environmental information.