Patent US3867634A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spaceborne sun pumped laser
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1973-05-01
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1993-05-01
Abstract
Abstract An improved sun pumped laser communication system for synchronous satellites in the galactic plane is provided by mounting the sun pumped laser in a sun tracking telescope pivoted in hollow gimbals placed on the axis of rotation of the satellite. The laser beam is directed to the earth or another spacecraft receiver from the satellite by a tracking telescope also pivoted in hollow gimbals placed on the axis of rotation of the satellite. The laser beam traverses the satellite along its axis of rotation by passing through the hollow gimbals. The polarization of the laser beam is adjusted for maximum efficiency and controlled to compensate for the orientation changes between the laser and modulator. By mounting the laser in the sun tracking telescope with the laser heat sink communicating with a thermally emissive face in the side of the telescope tube, the laser is cooled by thermal radiation which is always automatically directed toward deep space.
Inventors
- 👤 G Matassov
- 👤 J Barry
- 👤 P Freedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/042; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/005; H01S3/0085; H01S3/025; H01S3/0405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
A laser communication system for transmitting a signal from a spacecraft to a remote receiver, said spacecraft having an axis of rotation, comprising: a. a first set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation; b. a second set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation in space-apart relationship to the said first set of gimbals; c. a sun tracking telescope tube having a central axis attached to the said first set of gimbals; d. a remote receiver tracking telescope attached to the said second set of gimbals; e. a first folding mirror positioned in the said first set of gimbals, the said first folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; f. a second folding mirror positioned in the said second set of gimbals, the said second folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; g. a solar pumped laser receiving rays from the sun and generating a plane polarized laser beam along the said sun tracking telescope axis; h. a heat sink cooperating with the said solar pumped laser, positioned in the said sun tracking telescope, radiating heat energy into deep space; i. means for positioning the said laser in the said sun tracking telescope so that the polarization of the laser beam is parallel to the said axis of rotation of the said first folding mirror; j. a first quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said first gimbals, perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said plane polarized laser beam to a substantially circularly polarized beam; k. a second quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said spacecraft perpendicular to the said spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said circularly polarized beam to a plane polarized beam; and l. means responsive to the said signal to be transmitted to the remote receiver, cooperating with the said plane polarized beam from the said second quarter-wavelength plate, for modulating the said laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
338 words
A laser communication system for transmitting a signal from a spacecraft to a remote receiver, said spacecraft having an axis of rotation, comprising: a. a first set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation; b. a second set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation in space-apart relationship to the said first set of gimbals; c. a sun tracking telescope tube having a central axis attached to the said first set of gimbals; d. a remote receiver tracking telescope attached to the said second set of gimbals; e. a first folding mirror positioned in the said first set of gimbals, the said first folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; f. a second folding mirror positioned in the said second set of gimbals, the said second folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; g. a solar pumped laser receiving rays from the sun and generating a plane polarized laser beam along the said sun tracking telescope axis; h. a heat sink cooperating with the said solar pumped laser, positioned in the said sun tracking telescope, radiating heat energy into deep space; i. means for positioning the said laser in the said sun tracking telescope so that the polarization of the laser beam is parallel to the said axis of rotation of the said first folding mirror; j. a first quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said first gimbals, perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said plane polarized laser beam to a substantially circularly polarized beam; k. a second quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said spacecraft perpendicular to the said spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said circularly polarized beam to a plane polarized beam; and l. means responsive to the said signal to be transmitted to the remote receiver, cooperating with the said plane polarized beam from the said second quarter-wavelength plate, for modulating the said laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The laser communication system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a sun seeker detector is positioned in the said sun tracking telescope and means cooperates with the said sun seeker for directing the sun tracking telescope toward the sun.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser communication system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said solar pumped laser is an end pumped laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
347 words
A laser communication system for transmitting a signal from a spacecraft to a remote receiver, said spacecraft having an axis of rotation, comprising: a. a first set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation; b. a second set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation in spaced-apart relationship to the said first set of gimbals; c. a sun tracking telescope tube having a control axis attached to the said first set of gimbals; d. a remote receiver tracking telescope attached to the said second set of gimbals; e. a first folding mirror positioned in the said first set of gimbals, the said first folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; f. a second folding mirror positioned in the said second set of gimbals, the said second folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; g. a solar pumped laser receiving rays from the sun and generating a plane polarized laser beam along the said sun tracking telescope axis; h. a heat sink cooperating with the said solar pumped laser, positioned in the said sun tracking telescope radiating heat energy into deep space; i. means for positioning the said laser in the said sun tracking telescope so that the polarization of the laser beam is perpendicular to the said axis of rotation of the said first folding mirror and perpendicular to the said sun tracking telescope axis; j. a first quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said first gimbals, perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said plane polarized laser beam to a substantially circularly polarized beam; k. a second quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said spacecraft perpendicular to the said spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said circularly polarized beam to a plane polarized beam; and l. means responsive to the said signal to be transmitted to the remote receiver, cooperating with the said plane polarized beam from the said second quarter-wavelength plate, for modulating the said laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
347 words
A laser communication system for transmitting a signal from a spacecraft to a remote receiver, said spacecraft having an axis of rotation, comprising: a. a first set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation; b. a second set of hollow gimbals mounted on said spacecraft on the said axis of rotation in spaced-apart relationship to the said first set of gimbals; c. a sun tracking telescope tube having a control axis attached to the said first set of gimbals; d. a remote receiver tracking telescope attached to the said second set of gimbals; e. a first folding mirror positioned in the said first set of gimbals, the said first folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; f. a second folding mirror positioned in the said second set of gimbals, the said second folding mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation; g. a solar pumped laser receiving rays from the sun and generating a plane polarized laser beam along the said sun tracking telescope axis; h. a heat sink cooperating with the said solar pumped laser, positioned in the said sun tracking telescope radiating heat energy into deep space; i. means for positioning the said laser in the said sun tracking telescope so that the polarization of the laser beam is perpendicular to the said axis of rotation of the said first folding mirror and perpendicular to the said sun tracking telescope axis; j. a first quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said first gimbals, perpendicular to the spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said plane polarized laser beam to a substantially circularly polarized beam; k. a second quarter-wavelength plate mounted in the said spacecraft perpendicular to the said spacecraft axis of rotation for changing the said circularly polarized beam to a plane polarized beam; and l. means responsive to the said signal to be transmitted to the remote receiver, cooperating with the said plane polarized beam from the said second quarter-wavelength plate, for modulating the said laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The laseR communication system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a sun seeker detector is positioned in the said sun tracking telescope and means cooperates with the said sun seeker for directing the sun tracking telescope toward the sun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser communication system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said solar pumped laser is an end pumped laser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |