Electro-optical payload for high-bandwidth free space optical communications

1. An electro-optical payload for free space optical communication comprising:

a plurality of optical beam expanders, each for receiving an optical signal of a plurality of incoming optical signals;

an optical cross-connect switch coupled to the plurality of optical beam expanders for directing each of the plurality of incoming optical signals to an optical output signal, respectively;

a first electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to a first input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal for inputting to the optical cross-connect switch;

a first optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to a first output of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an optical signal output from the optical cross-connect switch to an electrical signal;

a second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to a second output of the optical cross-connect switch;

an electrical regeneration circuit coupled to the second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit for performing regeneration on an electrical signal output from the second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and output a regenerated electrical signal; and

a second electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to the electrical regeneration circuit for converting the regenerated electrical signal to an optical signal to be input to the optical cross-connect switch,

wherein some of the output optical signals from the optical cross-connect switch are inputted to a respective one of the plurality of optical beam expanders for transmission to one or more destinations, as outgoing optical signals;

a single optical main amplifier;

an optical multiplexer for combining the incoming optical signals and outputting the combined optical signals to the single optical main amplifier for amplifying the combined optical signals; and

a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the amplified combined optical signals for outputting to the optical cross-connect switch.

2. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of optical power amplifiers optically coupled to the cross-connect optical switch and respective optical beam expanders for amplifying the outgoing optical signals.

3. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , wherein four optical beam expanders are used for optical communication with two nearest neighboring satellites, one of each side, and two next nearest neighboring satellites, one on each side.

4. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of optical beam expanders associated with optical communications with the ground sites is configured to utilize Dense Wavelength Diversity Multiplexing (DWDM) to provide bi-directional links with each ground site.

5. The electro-optical payload of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of optical beam expanders associated with optical communications with the ground sites is further configured to utilize one or more of polarization and wavelength diversity to isolate two data streams in a bi-directional link.

6. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , wherein the optical cross-connect switch is configured to receive one or more switching commands from a ground operations center to configure optical data paths and to maintain continuous connectivity between desired ground sites.

7. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lasers configured to amplify one or more of the optical signals.

8. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard storage unit, wherein the electrical signal from the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit is input to the on-board storage unit.

9. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard transmitter, wherein the electrical signal from the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit is input to the transmitter for transmission to an off-board destination.

10. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard receiver and an antenna, wherein the electrical signal input to the electrical-to-optical conversion circuit is received from the receiver via the antenna.

11. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard storage unit, wherein the electrical signal input to the electrical-to-optical conversion circuit is received from the on-board storage unit.

12. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard sensor, wherein the electrical signal input to the electrical-to-optical conversion circuit is received from the on-board sensor.

13. The electro-optical payload of claim 1 , further comprising an onboard computer, wherein the electrical signal input to the electrical-to-optical conversion circuit is received from the on-board computer.

14. A satellite for free space optical communication comprising:

a plurality of up/down-link optical telescopes for optical communication with one or more ground sites;

a plurality of inter-satellite telescopes for inter-satellite optical communications; and

an electro-optical payload including:

a plurality of optical beam expanders, each for receiving an optical signal of a plurality of incoming optical signals;

an optical cross-connect switch coupled to the plurality of optical beam expanders for directing each of the plurality of incoming optical signals to an optical output signal, respectively;

a first electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to a first input of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal for inputting to the optical cross-connect switch;

a first optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to a first output of the optical cross-connect switch for converting an optical signal output from the optical cross-connect switch to an electrical signal;

a second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit coupled to a second output of the optical cross-connect switch;

an electrical regeneration circuit coupled to the second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit for performing regeneration on an electrical signal output from the second optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and output a regenerated electrical signal; and

a second electrical-to-optical conversion circuit coupled to the electrical regeneration circuit for converting the regenerated electrical signal to an optical signal to be input to the optical cross-connect switch,

wherein some of the output optical signals from the optical cross-connect switch are inputted to a respective one of the plurality of optical beam expanders for transmission to one or more destinations, as outgoing optical signals;

a single optical main amplifier;

an optical multiplexer for combining the incoming optical signals and outputting the combined optical signals to the single optical main amplifier for amplifying the combined optical signals; and

a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the amplified combined optical signals for outputting to the optical cross-connect switch.

15. The satellite of claim 14 , wherein the electro-optical payload further comprises: a plurality of optical power amplifiers optically coupled to the cross-connect optical switch and respective optical beam expanders for amplifying the outgoing optical signals.

16. The satellite of claim 14 , wherein four optical beam expanders are used for optical communication with two nearest neighboring satellites, one of each side, and two next nearest neighboring satellites, one on each side.