Patents by Inventor William J. Miniscalco
William J. Miniscalco 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: 9680565Abstract: A system includes a network having multiple network nodes each configured for free-space optical communication. Each network node includes one or more apertures through which optical beams are transmitted and received over optical links. The optical links include (i) a traffic link that transports higher-rate traffic between nodes and (ii) an acquisition/tracking link that transports lower-rate signals used to establish and maintain location knowledge of other nodes. Each network node also includes a network processor configured to determine one or more backup paths through the network. Each network node further includes a beam steering unit configured to redirect an optical beam from the traffic link onto the acquisition/tracking link to create a backup traffic link.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: William J. Miniscalco, Irl W. Smith
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Patent number: 9379815Abstract: An electro-optical payload for free space optical communication includes: a plurality of optical beam expanders, each for receiving a respective optical signal; an optical cross-connect switch for directing respective optical signals to respective optical output signals; an electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to an input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal for inputting to the optical cross-connect switch; an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit for converting an optical signal output from the optical cross-connect switch to an electrical signal; and an electrical regeneration circuit including a second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to an output of the optical cross-connect switch and a second electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to an input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an optical out signal of the optical cross-connect switch to an electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Gary D. Coleman, William J. Miniscalco, Evan J. Matthews
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Publication number: 20160065308Abstract: An electro-optical payload for free space optical communication includes: a plurality of optical beam expanders, each for receiving a respective optical signal of incoming optical signals; an optical cross-connect switch for directing respective optical input signals to respective optical output signals; an electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to an input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal for inputting to the optical cross-connect switch; an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to an output of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an optical signal output from the optical cross-connect switch to an electrical signal; and an electrical regeneration circuit including a second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to an output of the optical cross-connect switch and a second electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to an input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an optical out signal ofType: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Gary D. Coleman, William J. Miniscalco, Evan J. Matthews
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Patent number: 9270372Abstract: The disclosure provides a practical system and methods for implementing an adaptive free-space optical network with a high-connectivity, dynamic mesh topology. The network can have operational characteristics similar to those of RF mobile ad-hock networks. Each node has one or more optical terminals that may utilize space-time division multiplexing, which entails rapid spatial hopping of optical beams to provide a high dynamic node degree without incurring high cost or high size, weight, and power requirements. As a consequence the network rapidly sequences through a series of topologies, during each of which connected nodes communicate. Each optical terminal may include a plurality of dedicated acquisition and tracking apertures which can be used to increase the speed at which traffic links can be switched between nodes and change the network topology. An RF overlay network may be provided to act as a control plane and be used to provide node discovery and adaptive route planning for the optical network.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: William J. Miniscalco
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Patent number: 9042734Abstract: A laser relay module for free space optical communications including an optical telescope for receiving and transmitting optical beams; an optical diplexer for separating transmitting and received optical beams; an optical amplifier; a modulated beacon laser for line of sight control of a plurality of communicating remote network nodes; a beacon beam detector for detecting an incoming beacon optical beam for line of sight control of the optical telescope and receiving data from other network nodes; and means for inserting an output of the modulated beacon laser into the optical telescope for transmission to another network node, and for transporting the incoming beacon optical beam to the beacon detector.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Maciej D. Makowski, Gary D. Coleman, William J. Miniscalco, Stephen D. Nordel
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Publication number: 20140376914Abstract: The disclosure provides a practical system and methods for implementing an adaptive free-space optical network with a high-connectivity, dynamic mesh topology. The network can have operational characteristics similar to those of RF mobile ad-hock networks. Each node has one or more optical terminals that may utilize space-time division multiplexing, which entails rapid spatial hopping of optical beams to provide a high dynamic node degree without incurring high cost or high size, weight, and power requirements. As a consequence the network rapidly sequences through a series of topologies, during each of which connected nodes communicate. Each optical terminal may include a plurality of dedicated acquisition and tracking apertures which can be used to increase the speed at which traffic links can be switched between nodes and change the network topology. An RF overlay network may be provided to act as a control plane and be used to provide node discovery and adaptive route planning for the optical network.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventor: William J. Miniscalco
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Publication number: 20140270749Abstract: A system includes a network having multiple network nodes each configured for free-space optical communication. Each network node includes one or more apertures through which optical beams are transmitted and received over optical links. The optical links include (i) a traffic link that transports higher-rate traffic between nodes and (ii) an acquisition/tracking link that transports lower-rate signals used to establish and maintain location knowledge of other nodes. Each network node also includes a network processor configured to determine one or more backup paths through the network. Each network node further includes a beam steering unit configured to redirect an optical beam from the traffic link onto the acquisition/tracking link to create a backup traffic link.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: William J. Miniscalco, Irl W. Smith
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Patent number: 8693947Abstract: Various embodiments provide a satellite communication system including a first transceiver and a second transceiver geographically fixed on the earth, and a first satellite configured to communicate with the first transceiver through a first link. The system further includes a second satellite configured to communicate with the second transceiver through a second link and communicate with the first satellite through a laser communication crosslink. The first satellite and the second satellite are at a low earth orbit or medium earth orbit below the geostationary earth orbit of approximately 36000 km.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Inventors: John F. Silny, Gary D. Coleman, C. Thomas Hastings, Jr., William J. Miniscalco, James McSpadden
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Publication number: 20120302160Abstract: Various embodiments provide a satellite communication system including a first transceiver and a second transceiver geographically fixed on the earth, and a first satellite configured to communicate with the first transceiver through a first link. The system further includes a second satellite configured to communicate with the second transceiver through a second link and communicate with the first satellite through a laser communication crosslink. The first satellite and the second satellite are at a low earth orbit or medium earth orbit below the geostationary earth orbit of approximately 36000 km.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: John F. SILNY, Gary D. COLEMAN, C. Thomas HASTINGS, JR., William J. MINISCALCO, James MCSPADDEN
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Patent number: 8116632Abstract: A space-time division multiple-access (STDMA) laser communications (lasercom) system and related techniques. The STDMA system includes a plurality of remote nodes and an STDMA access node which uses precise electronic beam steering and beacons to provide access to each of a plurality of remote access nodes by means of both space and time-division multiple access.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: William J. Miniscalco, Robert D. O'Shea, Irl W. Smith, Howard L. Waldman
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Publication number: 20090214216Abstract: A space-time division multiple-access (STDMA) laser communications (lasercom) system and related techniques. The STDMA system includes a plurality of remote nodes and an STDMA access node which uses precise electronic beam steering and beacons to provide access to each of a plurality of remote access nodes by means of both space and time-division multiple access.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: William J. Miniscalco, Robert D. O'Shea, Irl W. Smith, Howard L. Waldman
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Publication number: 20080031627Abstract: An optical communication system having nodes that include add/drop units. The add/drop unit includes: a network input port for receiving optical energy having a plurality of different wavelengths from other nodes in the network; a network output port for coupling to destination nodes in the network; an add port for receiving optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths from a local source for transmission to other nodes in the network; and a drop node for receiving optical energy from other nodes in the network for local processing. A wavelength demultiplexer is included to separate the plurality of wavelengths received by the network input port so that the electronically controllable beam steerer can process them individually. A wavelength multiplexer is included to combine the plurality of wavelengths received from the electronically controlled beam steerer for delivery to the network output port for transmission to other nodes in the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Irl W. Smith, William J. Miniscalco, Terry A. Dorschner
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Patent number: 5524016Abstract: A host acting as an optical emitter and a process of making the same for the .sup..about. 1.3 .mu.m to .sup..about. 1.55 .mu.m spectral region utilized in optical communications is disclosed. The host is Cr-activated willemite (Zn.sub.2 SiO.sub.4). Efficient band-emission at room temperature, with peak at 1.42 .mu.m, is observed on exiting the material in the near infrared, typically at 730 nm and 829 nm.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1994Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: Romano G. Pappalardo, Thomas E. Peters, Karen Lee, William J. Miniscalco
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Patent number: 5287216Abstract: A fiber optic amplifier is disclosed utilizing a doped fiber to provide amplification through stimulated emission. The doped fiber is simultaneously pumped by multiple pump lasers generating optical waves of differing wavelengths. The optical waves from the lasers are combined using a wavelength division multiplexer before introduction into the doped fiber. The use of multiple pump lasers decreases the power requirements of each laser, reduces the cost of the amplifier, and increases reliability without compromising the gain of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1992Date of Patent: February 15, 1994Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: Jagannath Chirravuri, Ta-Sheng Wei, William J. Miniscalco
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Patent number: 5121450Abstract: A fiber optical Y-junction device includes a l.times.N optical fiber coupler connected to N fiber optic amplifier module structures constructed from a doped optical fiber. When the optical Y-junction structure contains a fiber optic amplifier, the fiber optical Y-junction device is operable as either a modulator or lossless power divider. A nonblocking optical switch is constructed by coupling M.times.l optical fiber couplers to the outputs of the fiber optic amplifier module structures utilizing the fiber optical Y-junction.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1991Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: Elliot Eichen, William J. Miniscalco, Leonard J. Andrews
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Patent number: 4962995Abstract: Glass compositions for high efficiency erbium.sup.3+ -doped optical fiber lasers, amplifiers and superluminescent sources are optimized for pumping by high power solid state lasers in the vicinity of 800 nm to provide amplified signals in wavelengths between 1.5 and 1.7 microns, a principal telecommunications window. A number of suitable host glasses for doping with erbium 3+ are identified wherein the excited state absorption/ground state absorption intensity ratio calculated at 800 nm is 1.00 or less.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1989Date of Patent: October 16, 1990Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: Leonard J. Andrews, William J. Miniscalco
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Patent number: 4788687Abstract: A laser has been made using a Nd.sup.3+ -doped fluoro-zirconate heavy metal fluoride (HMF) glass multimode fiber which lases in a range equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers. The fiber laser was made for forming a glass fiber from a core glass composition comprising 52.8 mole % ZrF.sub.4, 19.9 mole % BaF.sub.2, 2.5 mole % LaF.sub.3, 3.0 mole % AlF.sub.3, 19.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF.sub.3, and 1.5 mole % NdF.sub.3 the active dopant and the composition of the cladding glass comprises 39.6 mole % ZrF.sub.4, 17.9 mole % BaF.sub.2, 4.0 mole % LaF.sub.3, 3.0 mole % AlF.sub.3, 21.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF.sub.3, and 13.2 mole % HfF.sub.4.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1987Date of Patent: November 29, 1988Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: William J. Miniscalco, Leonard J. Andrews, Barbara A. Thompson
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Patent number: 4607916Abstract: Apparatus employing a light beam to affect another light beam. A primary beam of linearly polarized monochromatic light is directed on an element of chromium chalcogenide spinel magnetic semiconductor, specifically single crystal CdCr.sub.2 Se.sub.4. A control beam of monochromatic light is selectively elliptically polarized and directed at the element. As the light beams traverse the same path through the element the circularly polarized control beam interacts with the element thereby changing the effect of the element on the linearly polarized primary beam to rotate the plane of linear polarization of the primary beam. A linear polarization analyzer receives the primary beam from the element and passes, blocks, or diverts light depending upon the plane of linear polarization of the incident light.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1984Date of Patent: August 26, 1986Assignee: GTE Laboratories IncorporatedInventors: Norman A. Sanford, William J. Miniscalco, Alexander Lempicki