US 12,395,242 B2
Optical transport terminal node architecture with free space optical backplane
Yawei Yin, Redmond, WA (US); Binbin Guan, Issaquah, WA (US); Jamie Gaudette, Kirkland, WA (US); and Denizcan Billor, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/335,646.
Prior Publication US 2024/0421902 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. H04B 10/11 (2013.01); H04B 10/80 (2013.01)
CPC H04B 10/11 (2013.01) [H04B 10/80 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A free space optical backplane structure, comprising:
a body comprising a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures comprising a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures; and
a plurality of mirrors, comprising:
a first array of mirrors mounted at a first set of heights within the chamber, wherein the first set of apertures is located in the front panel at the first set of heights and is aligned with the first array of mirrors; and
a second array of mirrors mounted at a second set of heights within the chamber, wherein the second set of apertures is located in the front panel at the second set of heights and is aligned with the second array of mirrors;
wherein the first array of mirrors and the second array of mirrors are arranged to direct laser signals travelling through free space that are transmitted from or to a first device:
(a) through the first set of apertures,
(b) between the first array of mirrors and the second array of mirrors, and
(c) to or from a corresponding second device through the second set of apertures.