Integrated on-chip wireless optical communication terminal
A free-space optical communication system includes an optical phased array (OPA) photonic integrated chip, a transceiver photonic integrated chip, and one or more processors. The OPA chip includes a plurality of array elements and a plurality of phase shifters. The transceiver chip includes one or more transmitter components and one or more receiver components. The one or more processors are configured to transmit a first signal via the OPA chip and the transceiver chip, and receive a second signal via the OPA chip and the transceiver chip.
1 . A free-space optical communication system comprising:
an optical phased array (OPA) chip configured to receive one or more optical communication beams, the OPA chip including:
a plurality of array elements, and
a plurality of phase shifters; and
one or more processors configured to:
measure one or more phase fronts of the received one or more optical communication beams;
determine a wavefront error of the received one or more optical communication beams based on the measured one or more phase fronts; and
adjust a wavefront or pointing direction of the system based on the determined wavefront error.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit one or more communication beams using the adjusted wavefront or pointing direction.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the OPA chip is further configured to transmit one or more optical communication beams.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more phase fronts of the received one or more optical communication beams are measured at the plurality of phase shifters.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to detect phase-shift settings at the plurality of phase shifters in the measurement of the one or more phase fronts of the received one or more optical communications beams.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a tip term and a tilt term in the determination of the wavefront error of the received one or more optical communication beams.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lenses forming a telescope configured to capture light from free space and to transmit light from the OPA chip.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a single mode circulator and a single mode waveguide connecting the OPA chip and the single mode circulator.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a steering mirror, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control the steering mirror to adjust the wavefront or pointing direction of the system.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to electronically steer the plurality of phase shifters to adjust the wavefront or pointing direction of the system.
11 . A free-space optical communication system comprising:
a transceiver chip configured receive one or more optical communication beams, the transceiver chip including:
one or more transmitter components, and
one or more receiver components; and
one or more processors configured to:
measure one or more phase fronts of the received one or more optical communication beams;
determine a wavefront error of the received one or more optical communication beams; and
adjust a wavefront or pointing direction of the system based on the determined wavefront error.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit one or more communication beams using the adjusted wavefront or pointing direction.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver chip is further configured to transmit one or more optical communication beams.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a tip term and a tilt term in the determination of the wavefront error of the received one or more optical communication beams.
15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of lenses forming a telescope configured to capture light from free space and to transmit light from the system.
16 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a steering mirror, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control the steering mirror to adjust the wavefront or pointing direction of the system.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more transmitter components include a seed laser.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more receiver components include a sensor.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more receiver components further include an attenuator and an amplifier.