Patents by Inventor Heinz Willebrand
Heinz Willebrand has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7110678Abstract: A hybrid wireless optical and radio frequency (RF) communication link utilizes parallel free-space optical and RF paths for transmitting data and control and status information. The optical link provides the primary path for the data, and the RF link provides a concurrent or backup path for the network data, as well as a reliable and primary path for the control and status information. When atmospheric conditions degrade the optical link to the point at which optical data transmission fails, the hybrid communication link switches to the RF link to maintain availability of data communications. The switch may occur automatically, based on an assessment of the quality of the optical signal communicated through the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Maha Achour
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Patent number: 6934477Abstract: Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Patent number: 6889009Abstract: A method of managing a free-space optical network includes monitoring environmental and weather conditions in the vicinity of one or more free-space optical links in the network. Data is gathered by environmental condition instruments, such as visibility meters, and is used to assess whether atmospheric conditions have deteriorated to the point where operation of one or more free-space links might be in jeopardy. If data from an environmental condition instrument falls below a predetermined level, network data traffic is routed over an alternate communication path, which may include radio frequency (RF) paths, fiber optic cables, wire cables, or other free-space links.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2001Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Patent number: 6868237Abstract: Optical signals are received from a free-space link by directing received light onto a plurality of microlenses and then directing light received through each of the microlenses into a respective single mode optical fiber (SMF). Light beams from the SMFs are combined into a single light beam in one SMF. The single light beam is amplified with a multi-wavelength fiber amplifier and attenuated with a variable optical attenuator. The power gain of the multi-wavelength fiber amplifier and the attenuation of the variable optical attenuator are controlled. The single light beam is directed into a fiber optic communication system that is optically coupled to the variable optical attenuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Gerald R. Clark
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Publication number: 20040208591Abstract: A hybrid wireless optical and radio frequency (RF) communication link utilizes parallel free-space optical and RF paths for transmitting data and control and status information. The optical link provides the primary path for the data, and the RF link provides a concurrent or backup path for the network data, as well as a reliable and primary path for the control and status information. When atmospheric conditions degrade the optical link to the point at which optical data transmission fails, the hybrid communication link switches to the RF link to maintain availability of data communications. The switch may occur automatically, based on an assessment of the quality of the optical signal communicated through the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Maha Achour
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Patent number: 6763195Abstract: A hybrid wireless optical and radio frequency (RF) communication link utilizes parallel free-space optical and RF paths for transmitting data and control and status information. The optical link provides the primary path for the data, and the RF link provides a concurrent or backup path for the network data, as well as a reliable and primary path for the control and status information. When atmospheric conditions degrade the optical link to the point at which optical data transmission fails, the hybrid communication link switches to the RF link to maintain availability of data communications. The switch may occur automatically, based on an assessment of the quality of the optical signal communicated through the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2000Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Maha Achour
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Publication number: 20040037566Abstract: A hybrid wireless optical and radio frequency (RF) communication link utilizes parallel free-space optical and RF paths for transmitting data and control and status information. The optical link provides the primary path for the data, and the RF link provides a concurrent or backup path for the network data, as well as a reliable and primary path for the control and status information. When atmospheric conditions degrade the optical link to the point at which optical data transmission fails, the hybrid communication link switches to the RF link to maintain availability of data communications. The switch may occur automatically, based on an assessment of the quality of the optical signal communicated through the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Maha Achour
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Publication number: 20020167697Abstract: Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Publication number: 20020149811Abstract: A method of managing a free-space optical network includes monitoring environmental and weather conditions in the vicinity of one or more free-space optical links in the network. Data is gathered by environmental condition instruments, such as visibility meters, and is used to assess whether atmospheric conditions have deteriorated to the point where operation of one or more free-space links might be in jeopardy. If data from an environmental condition instrument falls below a predetermined level, network data traffic is routed over an alternate communication path, which may include radio frequency (RF) paths, fiber optic cables, wire cables, or other free-space links.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Patent number: 6462847Abstract: Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAS) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Publication number: 20020012139Abstract: Optical signals are received from a free-space link by directing received light onto a plurality of microlenses and then directing light received through each of the microlenses into a respective single mode optical fiber (SMF). Light beams from the SMFs are combined into a single light beam in one SMF. The single light beam is amplified with a multi-wavelength fiber amplifier and attenuated with a variable optical attenuator. The power gain of the multi-wavelength fiber amplifier and the attenuation of the variable optical attenuator are controlled. The single light beam is directed into a fiber optic communication system that is optically coupled to the variable optical attenuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventors: Heinz Willebrand, Gerald R. Clark
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Publication number: 20020012150Abstract: Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Applicant: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Patent number: 6239888Abstract: Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1998Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: LightPointe Communications, Inc.Inventor: Heinz Willebrand
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Patent number: 5838470Abstract: An optical receiver suitable for use in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system is able to tolerate shifts in the transmitting lasers' wavelength. During a periodically repeated wavelength synchronization phase, only a single transmitter laser is operating, and a peak finder locks onto the wavelength having greatest power and notes the corresponding detector pixel's position. Thus, the receiver knows the relative wavelength of the transmitting laser in terms of the detector pixel illuminated with the brightest light, and can store this information for later reference. The active transmitter lasers take turns synchronizing their wavelengths during successive synchronization phases. During the multi-wavelength data transmission phase, many lasers in the system transmit information at the same time, at different wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignees: University Technology Corporation, Eagle Optoelectronics, LLCInventors: Christian Volker Radehaus, Jon Robert Sauer, Heinz Willebrand