US 11,990,946 B2
Remotely pumped free-space optical (FSO) communication terminals
Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Lexington, VA (US); and Paul F Szajowski, Chatham Borough, NJ (US)
Assigned to Attochron, LLC, Lexington, VA (US)
Filed by Attochron, LLC, Lexington, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/194,843.
Application 18/194,843 is a continuation of application No. 17/682,009, filed on Feb. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,621,787.
Application 17/682,009 is a continuation of application No. 15/923,900, filed on Mar. 16, 2018, granted, now 11,265,088.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/472,423, filed on Mar. 16, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0246718 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04B 10/00 (2013.01); H04B 10/11 (2013.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04B 10/80 (2013.01); H04B 10/40 (2013.01); H04B 10/50 (2013.01); H04J 14/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 10/807 (2013.01) [H04B 10/11 (2013.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04B 10/40 (2013.01); H04B 10/503 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A free-space optical communications network, comprising:
one or more first transceivers that do not have source(s) of electrical power; and
a second transceiver that does have a source of electrical power and has one or more transmit apertures,
wherein
the second transceiver is configured to transmit, via laser beam(s), both data signals and optical pump power to activate the one or more first transceivers, and
the one or more first transceivers are configured to couple the optical pump power to optical amplifier(s) of the one or more first transceivers to amplify incoming data signals.