Multibeam Optical Communications Transmitter/Receiver

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal introduces a stationary gimbal-less multiple beam optical transceiver for future high bandwidth free-space laser communication. With a near 4p field of regards (FOR), the transceiver surpasses theshortcomings of a gimbal based device in terms of bulkiness, slow slew rate, heavy weight, power hungry, and difficult in achieving accurate and multiple beam pointing. The core component is a planar structured wave-guide (WG) optical transmitter [alsotermed as beam steering device (BSD)] integrated with an optical receiver. Other features include compact and motionless package (4 inches and 2 inches in length), random, accurate, and multiple beam pointing with a fast speed in sub-millisecond range,high efficiency, wide receiving angle, and broad spectral bandwidth. Finally, the device is rigid, lightweight, low power consumption, and low cost, meeting the requirements as demanded in the broadband optical reachback for free space laser communicationin military, space, and commercial industry.In Phase I, a feasibility study on the WG transmitter will be carried out to address the concept. In Phase II, prototype transceiver will be developed and tested, followed by Phase III for commercialization not only for military but also for telecom,medical and entertainment. The proposed transceiver primarily suits military application purposes. In addition, the transceiver can find broad applications in commercial fields such as optical wireless communication, display, medical, entertainment, to name a few.