OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER USING COMMON OPTICAL PATH FOR TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION

摘要

An optical transceiver that is particularly adapted for free-space optical telecommunication uses the same optical path for received and transmitted li ght to a large extent to avoid duplication of optical elements. Received light is split so that different portions can be sent to physically spaced photodetectors, one of which is fo r detecting optically received information, and others of which are for detecting misali gnment of the transceiver. In this way, the alignment detectors do not interfere with ligh t reception by the information detector.