Technology Licensing View
Technology
Inexpensive High Speed Electronic Wavefront Error Correction for Free-Space Optical Systems | |
Description: | The design of a system for random wavefront error correction by means of a detector array that compares an incoming signal with a local reference wavefront, and the electronic signal processing chip that outputs an undistorted signal. Free-space optical communication has become an alternative to fiber based technologies, and is implemented when physical connectivity is impractical (e.g. satellite communication). Unfortunately, transmission of light through the atmosphere induces devastating wavefront distortions that ruin the signal’s content. Therefore, the inclusion of signal corrective technologies is required. Currently, adaptive optics techniques are used to perform this correction, and consist of feedback loops with deformable mirrors that sample and iteratively correct the signal. While this technology has allowed free-space communication to become successful, physical correction of the optical signal is both costly and slow. Technical DetailsResearchers at UCF have developed a new solution that replaces the slow and costly deformable mirror loop with a detector array and digital signal processing (DSP) chip. The proposed system samples an incoming signal, be it for communication or imaging, through a detector array that references against a local oscillator source generating an interference pattern from which the atmospheric wavefront distortion is calculated. These readings are subtracted from the incoming signal as correction. Performance of this technique approaches a system free of wavefront distortion, and could be used to greatly increase the capabilities of any system that suffers from random media wavefront distortion. Benefits
Applications
|
Research Terms: |
Physical Sciences > Optics |
Keywords: | Optics and Photonics, Optical Data Transmission; |
Technology Information URL: | http://technologies.tt.research.ucf.edu/technologies/31370_inexpensive-high -speed-electronic-wavefront-error-correction-for-free-space-optical-systems |
University: | University of Central Florida |
Tech Transfer URL: | http://tt.research.ucf.edu/ |
Associated Patents
Patent Name: | Electronic Wavefront Correction for Free-Space Optical Communications |
Patent Number: | US Patent Pending US-2010-0080565-A1 |
Patent Status: | Application |
Patent Record: |
View full record at google patents View full record at United States Patent and Trademark Office |
Patent Inventors: |
|
Patent Name: | Electronic wavefront correction for free-space optical communications |
Patent Number: | US Patent 9,374,158 |
Patent Status: | Issued |
Issue Date: | June 21, 2016 |
Patent Record: |
View full record at google patents View full record at United States Patent and Trademark Office |
Patent Inventors: |
|
Share