Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Apparatus for Free Space Optical Communications with Moving Focal Plane Array

摘要

An acquisition, pointing, and tracking (ATP) apparatus for free space optical (FSO) communications systems incorporates a multi-element detector array positioned at a focal plane of an optical telescope. An optical communications element lies at the center of the detector array. In lieu of traditional beam steering, the apparatus performs pointing and tracking functions internally by first calculating a position of an optical maximum on the detector array, and then translating the detector array within the focal plane of the telescope such that the optical communications element lies at the optical maximum for transmitting and/or receiving optical communications signals.

主权项

1. An acquisition, tracking, and pointing apparatus for free space optical communications, comprising:
a. a detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements arranged in a focal plane of an optical telescope; b. an optical communications element positioned within the focal plane of the optical telescope and adjacent to at least a subset of the plurality of detector elements in the detector array; and c. at least one actuator attached to the detector array to translate the detector array and optical communications element within the focal plane of the optical telescope.