Abstract: Systems and methods enabling nodes of a free-space optical communication system to maintain pointing alignment of their transmitted optical beams. A first node scans its optical antenna through a path centered on a target direction. The second node captures signal strength measurements during the scan, and sends those measurements to the first node. The first node separately measures signal strength of the optical signal being received from the second node. The two sources of information (locally measured and remotely measured) are used to compute angular errors. The first node uses the angular errors to adjust the target direction of its optical antenna. The second node may employ the same method (with roles reversed) to adjust its target direction. By cycling back and forth between to the two nodes, the target directions of the two nodes maintain alignment in spite of movements of the structures on which they are mounted.

Abstract: An adaptive transversal filter is characterized by a first adaptive filter for generating a plurality of estimated impulse response coefficients representing an impulse response of a transmission path. An averaging circuit is coupled with the first adaptive filter, and generates a plurality of average estimated impulse response coefficients having values in accordance with the average values over a most recent time interval of associated ones of the estimated impulse response coefficients, and a second adaptive filter receives the average estimated coefficients. The average estimated impulse response coefficients more closely represent and have less variance with respect to the actual impulse response of the transmission path than do the estimated coefficients, and the second filter generates an estimate of an echo signal through a process including convolution of the average estimated coefficients and an input signal.

Abstract: An improved DX circuit may be connected to signaling and reference leads of a DX signaling link, without need to balance the internal impedance of the DX circuit against that of the external DX signaling link. The DX circuit senses the magnitude and direction of current flow on the leads, and operates on the principle that when a near end signaling circuit is on-hook, a positive current flow indicates that a far end signaling circuit is off-hook and a current flow of zero indicates that it is on-hook, while if the near end signaling circuit is off-hook, a negative current flow indicates that the far end signaling circuit is on-hook and a current flow of zero indicates that it is off-hook. The arrangement allows the DX circuit to properly function irrespective of the resistive load presented by the DX signaling link.