Radio frequency—free space optical hybrid transceivers

1. A radio frequency (RF)/free space optical (FSO) hybrid transceiver comprising:

at least one FSO sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving optical communication signals;

at least one RF sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving RF communication signals; a processor configured for controlling the at least one RF sub-transceiver and the at least one FSO sub-transceiver, and for processing both the RF communication signals and optical communication signals;

a splitter/combiner;

a plurality of delay systems; and

a plurality of mirrors,

wherein the splitter/combiner, the plurality of delay systems, and the plurality of mirrors are configured to cooperate with the processor produce a plurality of rays, and

wherein the at least one RF sub-transceiver and the at least one FSO sub-transceiver cooperate to simultaneously emit and receive optical and RF communication signals at the RF/FSO hybrid transceiver.

2. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured for simultaneously processing optical communication signals and RF communication signals from at least one of an externally located RF sub-transceiver, an externally located FSO sub-transceiver, and an externally located RF/FSO hybrid transceiver.

3. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver includes a Managed Optical Communications Array (MOCA) sub-transceiver.

4. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 3 ,

wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver is configured for emitting and receiving optical communication signals over a range of angles, wavelengths, and polarization states.

5. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one RF sub-transceiver includes a plurality of RF antennae, each one of the plurality of RF antennae being configured to cover a spectrum range different from each other one of the plurality of RF antennae.

6. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 5 , wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver emits optical signals in at least the same direction as the RF antennae.

7. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 , further comprising:

a coating covering a surface of the at least one FSO sub-transceiver,

wherein the coating is formed of a material that is reflective to RF and is further transmissive over optical communication wavelengths.

8. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 , further comprising:

a radio reflector formed of an RF reflective, IR transmissive material such that the at least one FSO sub-transceiver may emit and receive optical signals through said radio reflector.

9. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver and at least one RF sub-transceiver are configured for enabling automatic transfer between RF and optical communication modes.

10. A radio frequency (RF)/free space optical (FSO) hybrid transceiver comprising:

at least one FSO sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving optical communication signals;

at least one RF sub-transceiver configured for emitting and receiving RF communication signals; and

a coating covering a surface of the at least one FSO sub-transceiver,

wherein the coating is formed of a material that is reflective to RF and is further transmissive over optical communication wavelengths, and

wherein the at least one RF sub-transceiver and the at least one FSO sub-transceiver cooperate to simultaneously emit and receive optical and RF communication signals at the RF/FSO hybrid transceiver.

11. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 10 , further comprising:

a processor configured for controlling the at least one RF sub-transceiver and the at least one FSO sub-transceiver, and for processing both the RF communication signals and optical communication signals.

12. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 11 , further comprising:

a splitter/combiner;

a plurality of delay systems; and

a plurality of mirrors,

wherein the splitter/combiner, the plurality of delay systems, and the plurality of mirrors are configured to cooperate with the processor produce a plurality of rays.

13. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured for simultaneously processing optical communication signals and RF communication signals from at least one of an externally located RF sub-transceiver, an externally located FSO sub-transceiver, and an externally located RF/FSO hybrid transceiver.

14. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 10 ,

wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver includes a Managed Optical Communications Array (MOCA) sub-transceiver.

15. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 14 ,

wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver is configured for emitting and receiving optical communication signals over a range of angles, wavelengths, and polarization states.

16. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 10 ,

wherein the at least one RF sub-transceiver includes a plurality of RF antennae, each one of the plurality of RF antennae being configured to cover a spectrum range different from each other one of the plurality of RF antennae.

17. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 16 , wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver emits optical signals in at least the same direction as one of the plurality of RF antennae.

18. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 10 , further comprising:

a radio reflector formed of an RF reflective, IR transmissive material such that the at least one FSO sub-transceiver may emit and receive optical signals through said radio reflector.

19. The RF/FSO hybrid transceiver of claim 10 , wherein the at least one FSO sub-transceiver and at least one RF sub-transceiver are configured for enabling automatic transfer between RF and optical communication modes.