Abstract: An optical communications transmitter for use in free space communication from the transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter including a light input and an optical fiber array for directing the light input. The optical communications transmitter further includes an optical phased array for receiving the light input from the optical fiber array and transmitting a light output, the optical phased array being configured for modifying a relative phase of the light input such that the light output exhibits a predetermined far-field intensity pattern.

Abstract: An optical communications transceiver, for use in free space communication between a satellite and a ground station, includes multiple sub-apertures for receiving signal over a plurality of angles, wherein the sub-apertures are fixed. In an embodiment, the transceiver is further configured for transmitting signal over the plurality of angles without physically moving the transceiver to those angles.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF)/free space optical (FSO) hybrid transceiver includes at least one FSO sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving optical communication signals, and at least one RF sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving RF communication signals. The RF sub-transceiver and the FSO sub-transceiver cooperate to simultaneously emit and receive optical and RF communication signals at the RF/FSO hybrid transceiver. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver may further include a processor for controlling the RF and FSO sub-transceivers, and for processing both the RF and optical communication signals. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver may also include a splitter/combiner, delay systems, and mirrors configured to cooperate with the processor to produce a plurality of rays.

Abstract: An optical positioning-navigation-timing (PNT) system includes a managed optical communications array (MOCA) transceiver. The MOCA transceiver includes an array of optical transceivers for transmitting and receiving optical signals, each optical transceiver including a laser and a beam steering element, and a controller for controlling the operation of the array of optical transceivers. Each optical transceiver is adjustable for optical parameters of the optical signals so transmitted and received, the optical parameters including at least one of phase, angle, wavelength, time delay, amplitude, pulse delay, polarization, timing offset, phase, and divergence angle. Further, the controller is configured for controlling the optical parameters to include PNT data in a portion of the optical signal transmitted from the MOCA transceiver.

Abstract: An optical communications transceiver, for use in free space communication between a satellite and a ground station, includes multiple sub-apertures for receiving signal over a plurality of angles, wherein the sub-apertures are fixed. In an embodiment, the transceiver is further configured for transmitting signal over the plurality of angles without physically moving the transceiver to those angles.

Abstract: An optical transceiver system for transmitting and receiving optical signals includes a plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers and a control system for controlling components within the plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers. Each one of the plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers is configured for receiving and transmitting optical signals over a range of angles. Additionally, the control system is configured for providing transmit and receive signals to the plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers. Further, the plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers, collectively, allow transmitting and receiving of optical signals over a wider range of angles than the range of angles for each one of the plurality of modular integrated optical transceivers.

Abstract: An optical communications transmitter for use in free space communication from the transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter including a light input and an optical fiber array for directing the light input. The optical communications transmitter further includes an optical phased array for receiving the light input from the optical fiber array and transmitting a light output, the optical phased array being configured for modifying a relative phase of the light input such that the light output exhibits a predetermined far-field intensity pattern.

Abstract: A method for communicating from a transceiver including a sub-transceiver array includes setting the sub-transceiver array to emit an optical signal at an initial pointing angle, and modifying at least one of the sub-transceivers to emit a first optical sub-signal at a first pointing angle having a first offset from the initial pointing angle. The method further includes, during a first transmit period, transmitting to a receiving transceiver from the sub-transceiver array a first optical signal including the first optical sub-signal, at a first data rate. The method also includes further modifying the sub-transceiver to emit a second optical sub-signal at a second pointing angle having a second offset from the initial pointing angle, the second offset being smaller than the first offset, and, in a second transmit period, transmitting to the receiving transceiver from the sub-transceiver array a second optical signal including the second optical sub-signal.

Abstract: A method for communicating from a transceiver including a sub-transceiver array includes setting the sub-transceiver array to emit an optical signal at an initial pointing angle, and modifying at least one of the sub-transceivers to emit a first optical sub-signal at a first pointing angle having a first offset from the initial pointing angle. The method further includes, during a first transmit period, transmitting to a receiving transceiver from the sub-transceiver array a first optical signal including the first optical sub-signal, at a first data rate. The method also includes further modifying the sub-transceiver to emit a second optical sub-signal at a second pointing angle having a second offset from the initial pointing angle, the second offset being smaller than the first offset, and, in a second transmit period, transmitting to the receiving transceiver from the sub-transceiver array a second optical signal including the second optical sub-signal.

Abstract: An optical receiver for use in free space communication from a transmitter to the optical receiver is configured for receiving optical signals from the transmitter. The optical receiver includes optics for collecting the optical signals, a demodulator for converting the optical signals so collected into a data stream, a signal processing unit for processing the data stream into an analog signal, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal into a digital output. The demodulator includes a plurality of apertures and at least one Fabry-Perot etalon, through which at least a portion of the optical signals is transmitted. The demodulator also includes at least one phase detection region for detecting at least the portion of the optical signals transmitted through the at least one Fabry-Perot etalon to form a phase signal.