US 11,851,211 B2
Expendable airborne fiber optic link
Max Edward Klein, Huntsville, AL (US); David Porter, Huntsville, AL (US); and Walter Thomas Castleberry, Hampton Cove, AL (US)
Assigned to Sanmina Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Sanmina Corporation
Filed on Oct. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/511,509.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/105,364, filed on Oct. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234758 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 1/36 (2017.01); G02B 6/44 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); H04B 10/25 (2013.01); H04B 10/80 (2013.01); B64U 50/34 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01)
CPC B64F 1/362 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 50/34 (2023.01); G02B 6/4292 (2013.01); G02B 6/4477 (2013.01); H04B 10/25 (2013.01); H04B 10/807 (2013.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01); B64U 2201/202 (2023.01); G02B 6/4457 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, the UAV system comprising:
an expendable airborne fiber-optic link;
a first UAV connected to a distal end of the expendable fiber-optic link;
a first fiber-optic dispenser connected to the first UAV;
a second UAV connected to the first UAV by a second fiber-optic link; and
a fixed ground station connected to a proximal end of the expendable fiber-optic link, the fixed ground station comprising:
a processing system configured to perform executable operational and application specific pre-programmed commands and instructions;
a first electro-optic converter connected to the processing system; and
a strain relief module, connected between the first fiber-optic dispenser and a length of the dispensed fiber, for preventing damage from an axially applied load and strain at a connection point to the first electro-optic converter.