High-speed free-space optical (FSO) laser communications have been used increasingly for short- and long-distance ground-to-ground transmissions, ground-to-air, air-to-air, ground-to-space and inter-spacecraft links. Optical wireless communications involving moving parties, especially at extra-long distances, require precise beam pointing and mutual tracking of communicating transceivers in order to maintain Gbps optical links. Shortwave infrared (SWIR) cameras, based on InGaAs detector technology, image the YAG and "eye-safe" laser wavelengths (1.06 and 1.5 µm) typically used for free-space communications.
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A space-to-ground-to-air FSO communications system, much like this one, would require precise alignment of the utitlized laser beams. |
SUI offers high-frame rate cameras specifically for locating the laser source while full-frame imaging. This permits the control electronics to quickly slew the FSO system to center the beam in the image. The camera can then be switched to image just the center portion at high-speed to keep the high-speed detector centered in the laser beam despite rapid movements of both the transmitter and receiver platforms. These cameras can also be used in adaptive optics systems for increasing link distance in FSO by correcting for atmospheric distortions and attenuation. These windowing camera models from SUI, SU320KTSW and SU640SDWH, can serve your FSO needs.
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The 640SDWH (left) and 320KTSW (right) windowing InGaAs cameras have high frame rates that locate the laser while imaging full frames. |
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