Open AccessRetro-detective control structures for free-space optical communication links
Author(s) -
Xian Jin,
Jason E. Barg,
Jonathan F. Holzman
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.023867
Subject(s) - optics , photodiode , free space optical communication , telecommunications link , corner reflector , optical communication , cube (algebra) , differential (mechanical device) , computer science , triangulation , physics , optoelectronics , telecommunications , mathematics , cartography , combinatorics , thermodynamics , geography
A corner-cube-based retro-detection photocell is introduced. The structure consists of three independent and mutually perpendicular photodiodes (PDs), whose differential photocurrents can be used to probe the alignment state of incident beams. These differential photocurrents are used in an actively-controlled triangulation procedure to optimize the communication channel alignment in a free-space optical (FSO) system. The active downlink and passive uplink communication capabilities of this system are demonstrated.