US 12,348,266 B2
Pointing units and methods of operating pointing units
Crisanto Quintana Sanchez, Bristol (GB); Gavin Erry, Bristol (GB); and Yoann Thueux, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS SAS, Blagnac (FR)
Filed by Airbus SAS, Blagnac (FR)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/976,718.
Claims priority of application No. 2115614 (GB), filed on Oct. 29, 2021; and application No. 2202764 (GB), filed on Feb. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0135567 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 10/11 (2013.01); B64D 47/02 (2006.01); G02F 1/29 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 10/11 (2013.01) [B64D 47/02 (2013.01); G02F 1/292 (2013.01); G02F 2202/30 (2013.01); G02F 2203/05 (2013.01); G02F 2203/07 (2013.01); G02F 2203/50 (2013.01); G02F 2203/58 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pointing unit configured for use with a free space optical communications terminal, the pointing unit comprising:
an optical arrangement comprising an optically transmissive steering element arranged in an optical path of an incident beam entering the optical arrangement, wherein the optically transmissive steering element has a principal axis parallel to an input direction of the incident beam, and the optically transmissive steering element includes:
a first portion configured to steer the incident beam by a first steering angle relative to the first portion, and
a second portion configured to steer the incident beam by a second steering angle smaller than the first steering angle, wherein the first steering angle and the second steering angle are co-planar;
a rotational housing or rotational mount supporting the optical arrangement, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the steering element are fixed together and turn together by the rotational housing or the rotational mount, and
at least one controller configured to:
steer the incident beam to the first steering angle by causing the rotational housing or rotational mount to rotate the optically transmissive steering element in a plane perpendicular to the principal axis, and
steer the incident beam to the second steering angle by electrically controlling the second portion,
wherein the steering of the incident beam to the first steering angle and to the second steering angle directs the incident beam to a target.