Terahertz Antenna Alignment via Colored Laser Guide Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Maintaining smooth real-time communication links in remote terahertz communication systems, particularly in on-board and satellite-ground applications, is challenging due to the difficulty in aligning and stabilizing high gain directional antennas.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a terahertz transmitting device and receiving device with high gain directional antennas, laser modules, and optical path adjusting modules using dichroic mirrors and fast steering mirrors to align and adjust the signal paths in real-time, utilizing colored laser signals to control the antenna directions based on signal strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high gain directional antennas are used for terahertz communication, then transmission rate and directionality are improved, but alignment and link maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidalignment and link maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a laser guide signal as an intermediary to facilitate the alignment of high gain directional antennas. The laser signal provides a visible reference that simplifies the alignment process between transmitting and receiving antennas, making the system easier to operate while maintaining high transmission rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements automatic tracking and adjustment mechanisms that use feedback from received signals to continuously adjust the orientation of directional antennas. This feedback system maintains optimal alignment without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between high gain requirements and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If high gain directional antennas are used, then security and penetrability are improved, but real-time communication stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity and penetrabilityVSAvoidreal-time communication stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the directional antennas to continuously adapt their orientation in real-time. This dynamic capability maintains stable communication links despite environmental changes or platform movement, while preserving the security and penetrability benefits of high gain directional antennas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Length of stationary object

If terahertz communication is performed in remote distances, then transmission range is improved, but signal alignment difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rangeVSAvoidsignal alignment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary alignment actions where laser guide signals are transmitted before the main terahertz communication signal. This preliminary action establishes the correct alignment path, making it easier to detect and maintain signals over remote distances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach ensures unobstructed real-time communication links by aligning the high gain directional antennas, maintaining signal strength within a preset scope, and allowing for quick and stable adjustments, thus enhancing the reliability of remote terahertz communication systems.

Implementation Method 1

a first optical path adjusting module and a first control module... the first optical path adjusting module combines the first terahertz signal and the first colored laser signal into a beam of signal light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDichroic reflection: Dichroic Filter

Implementation Method 2

the first fast steering mirror reflects the signal light to the second dichroic mirror... the first control module controls the first optical path adjusting module to adjust the signal transmitting direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3327960B1Remote terahertz communication system
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 CHINA COMM TECH CO LTD
  • EP3327960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3327960B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention provides a remote terahertz communication system, comprising a terahertz transmitting device and a terahertz receiving device; the terahertz transmitting device comprises a terahertz transmitter, a first high gain directional antenna, a first laser transmitting module, a first laser receiving module, a first optical path adjusting module and a first control module; the terahertz receiving device comprises a terahertz receiver, a second high gain directional antenna, a second laser transmitting module, a second laser receiving module, a second optical path adjusting module and a second control module; the first control module is respectively connected with the first laser receiving module and the first optical path adjusting module, and the second control module is respectively connected with the second laser receiving module and the second optical path adjusting module. In the present invention, colored laser signals which are easily identified are used as signal marks to ensure that the high gain directional antenna of the terahertz transmitting device and the high gain directional antenna of the terahertz receiving device are aligned with each other in real time, thus effectively ensuring that communication link of the remote terahertz communication system is unobstructed in real time.