Patent US6043920A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6043920A
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Method and apparatus for laser communication through a lossy medium
Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
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Filing: 1997-08-04
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2017-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A laser transmitter (200, 300) includes a femptosecond pulse forming circuit (214, 308) and an ultra high-speed optical switch (218, 304) which enable the transmitter (200, 300) to generate a modulated pulse stream having pulses with widths of under 200 femptoseconds. The transmitted pulse stream is processed by a laser detector (500), including a wideband optical detector (504) and pulse stretching circuit (506), that regenerates information included in the modulated pulse stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Joseph Leopold
- 👤 Kenneth Maynard Peterson
- 👤 Keith Andrew Olds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for communicating information over a wireless link through a lossy medium, the method comprising the steps of: generating a modulated signal representing input data from at least one information source; modulating a pulse stream with the information signal; applying the modulated pulse stream to a laser to generate laser optical pulses wherein a pulse width of each pulse of the pulse stream is under 200 femptoseconds; and directing the laser optical pulses through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for communicating information over a wireless link through a lossy medium, the method comprising the steps of: generating a modulated signal representing input data from at least one information source; modulating a pulse stream with the information signal; applying the modulated pulse stream to a laser to generate laser optical pulses wherein a pulse width of each pulse of the pulse stream is under 200 femptoseconds; and directing the laser optical pulses through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating a pulse stream comprises the step of: pulse position modulating the pulse stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating a pulse stream comprises the step of: amplitude modulating the pulse stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating a pulse stream comprises the step of: frequency modulating the pulse stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating a pulse stream comprises the step of: phase modulating the pulse stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating a pulse stream comprises the step of: modulating the pulse stream using any combination of modulation methods in a group which includes pulse position modulation, amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase modulation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of directing the laser optical pulses comprises the step of: directing the laser optical pulses through a medium which includes any combination of matter in a group which includes air, water, water vapor, solid obstructions, particulate suspension, and glass fiber.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for communicating information over a wireless link through a lossy medium, the method comprising the steps of: generating an information signal derived from at least one information source; creating an intensity-modulated laser signal by modulating an intensity of a laser using the information signal; generating a substantially fixed-rate pulse stream; modulating the intensity-modulated laser signal with the pulse stream to generate laser optical pulses having widths of under 200 femptoseconds; and directing the laser optical pulses through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for communicating information over a wireless link through a lossy medium, the method comprising the steps of: generating an information signal derived from at least one information source; creating an intensity-modulated laser signal by modulating an intensity of a laser using the information signal; generating a substantially fixed-rate pulse stream; modulating the intensity-modulated laser signal with the pulse stream to generate laser optical pulses having widths of under 200 femptoseconds; and directing the laser optical pulses through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a modulated pulse stream generator which generates a pulse stream comprising a number of digital input data pulses which represent information to be communicated; a pulse forming circuit, coupled to the pulse stream generator, which generates the pulse stream such that a pulse width of each pulse is under 200 femptoseconds for minimizing attenuation when the pulse stream is transmitted through a lossy medium; a laser for generating a laser beam; an optical switch, coupled to the pulse forming circuit and to the laser, which modulates the pulse stream with the laser to generate laser optical pulses; and an optical telescope, coupled to the optical switch, which directs the laser optical pulses over a wireless link through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a modulated pulse stream generator which generates a pulse stream comprising a number of digital input data pulses which represent information to be communicated; a pulse forming circuit, coupled to the pulse stream generator, which generates the pulse stream such that a pulse width of each pulse is under 200 femptoseconds for minimizing attenuation when the pulse stream is transmitted through a lossy medium; a laser for generating a laser beam; an optical switch, coupled to the pulse forming circuit and to the laser, which modulates the pulse stream with the laser to generate laser optical pulses; and an optical telescope, coupled to the optical switch, which directs the laser optical pulses over a wireless link through the lossy medium toward a detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a modulated pulse stream generator which generates a pulse stream comprising a number of digital input data pulses which represent information to be communicated; an extremely short pulse forming circuit, coupled to a pulse stream generator, which generates a pulse stream such that a pulse width of each pulse yields minimal attenuation characteristics when the pulse stream is transmitted through a lossy medium; and an ultra high-speed optical switch, coupled to the pulse forming circuit and to a laser, which modulates the pulse stream with the laser to generate laser optical pulses which are transmitted by an optical telescope over a wireless link through the lossy medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A laser transmitter comprising: a modulated pulse stream generator which generates a pulse stream comprising a number of digital input data pulses which represent information to be communicated; an extremely short pulse forming circuit, coupled to a pulse stream generator, which generates a pulse stream such that a pulse width of each pulse yields minimal attenuation characteristics when the pulse stream is transmitted through a lossy medium; and an ultra high-speed optical switch, coupled to the pulse forming circuit and to a laser, which modulates the pulse stream with the laser to generate laser optical pulses which are transmitted by an optical telescope over a wireless link through the lossy medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A laser detector comprising: an optical telescope for receiving laser optical pulses over a wireless communication link through a lossy medium, wherein the laser optical pulses include a modulated pulse stream which includes pulses having a pulse width of under 200 femptoseconds; a wideband optical detector, coupled to the optical telescope, which detects the laser optical pulses and converts the optical pulses into electrical pulses; a pulse-stretching circuit, coupled to the wideband optical detector, which stretches the electrical pulses into a stream of pulses having a width which is conducive to demodulation; an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the pulse-stretching circuit, for converting the analog signal into a digital pulse stream; and a processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, for extracting information from the digital pulse stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
A laser detector comprising: an optical telescope for receiving laser optical pulses over a wireless communication link through a lossy medium, wherein the laser optical pulses include a modulated pulse stream which includes pulses having a pulse width of under 200 femptoseconds; a wideband optical detector, coupled to the optical telescope, which detects the laser optical pulses and converts the optical pulses into electrical pulses; a pulse-stretching circuit, coupled to the wideband optical detector, which stretches the electrical pulses into a stream of pulses having a width which is conducive to demodulation; an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the pulse-stretching circuit, for converting the analog signal into a digital pulse stream; and a processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, for extracting information from the digital pulse stream.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |