JP2001313612A - Optical antenna system for optical communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify handling including adjustment work in addition to expediting miniaturization. SOLUTION: A guide optical system 11 is arranged at the point part of an optical antenna 10 through an azimuth angle adjustment mechanism 13 and an elevation angle adjustment-mechanism 15 so as to be able to freely adjust its angle around an optical axis and around two axes crossing almost orthogonally with the optical axis, and the opposite communication station (unillustrated) is tracked to perform an optical communication by performing angle adjustment of the optical system 11 around two axes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical communication using space propagation between space vehicles such as artificial satellites, space stations, space shuttles, and between space vehicles and ground stations. The present invention relates to an optical communication system, and particularly to an optical antenna device used for transmitting and receiving communication light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical communication system employs an optical fiber system in which communication stations are connected by an optical fiber cable and optical communication is performed between the communication stations using the optical fiber cable as a transmission line. . In such an optical communication system, it is possible to dramatically increase the communication capacity as compared with conventional RF communication.

[0003] In the field of recent space development, diversification of communication such as inter-satellite communication has been attempted, and an increase in communication capacity has been demanded. Therefore, in the field of space development, there is a plan to build an optical communication system between a ground station and a spacecraft or spacecraft to increase the communication capacity and realize diversification of communication. .

[0004] In such an optical communication system, unlike the conventional system, the communication light is transmitted to the partner station using space propagation without laying an optical fiber cable as an optical transmission line. A space propagation method for performing optical communication has been considered and studied. In this space-propagation type optical communication system, weak light transmitted from a communication partner station and propagated in space is received using an optical antenna device, and the communication light is transmitted to a subsequent light through a condensing optical system. The information is guided to a signal processing system, and optical signal processing is performed by the optical signal processing system to obtain optical information. At this time, the communication light is so-called coarse tracking by, for example, controlling the direction of the communication direction by adjusting the angle of an optical antenna disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2806659 around two axes (azimuth and elevation) that are substantially orthogonal to each other. After that, the optical axis is adjusted with high precision by the fine tracking system and is incident on the optical signal processing system to perform high-precision communication.

[0005] The coarse tracking system of the above-mentioned optical antenna includes, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in order to realize coarse tracking without adjusting and controlling a condensing optical system disposed inside the antenna. An optical antenna 1 having a mirror and a sub-mirror surface is arranged via an azimuth angle adjusting mechanism 2 and an elevation angle adjusting mechanism 3 so as to be adjustable in angle about two axes in an azimuth direction and an elevation angle direction. Also,
In the optical antenna 1, a condensing optical system incorporating a plurality of reflecting mirrors 4 therein is incorporated corresponding to the two axes to form a desired optical path.

Accordingly, the azimuth angle adjusting mechanism 2 and the elevation angle adjusting mechanism 3 of the optical antenna 1 are driven and controlled to adjust the azimuth and the elevation angle, and are directed to a communication partner station (not shown). When receiving the communication light from the optical signal processing system (not shown), the communication light is guided around the above-described two axes via the condensing optical system, and guided to the subsequent fine tracking system 5. And is subjected to signal processing.

The communication light transmitted from the optical signal processing system (not shown) is guided to the optical antenna 1 of the optical antenna device via the fine tracking system 5 and is transmitted to the communication partner station (not shown). )).

However, in the optical antenna apparatus of the optical communication system, the driving mechanism is large because the optical antenna 1 is angle-adjusted toward the communication partner station (not shown) and coarsely tracks. At the same time, the number of components of the condensing optical system that guides the captured communication light to the fine tracking system 5 is large, and the optical path length is long, so that the arrangement configuration is very complicated, and handling including adjustment work is extremely difficult. Has the problem that it is troublesome.

[0009]

As described above, in the optical antenna device of the conventional optical communication system, the coarse tracking mechanism is large, the number of components is large, and the optical path length is very long. In addition, there is a problem that the arrangement is very complicated, and the handling including the adjustment operation is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an optical communication system with a simplified configuration, which can promote downsizing, and can simplify handling including adjustment work. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical antenna device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention transmits and receives communication light to and from a communication partner station, and receives the first communication light transmitted from the communication partner station to transmit the communication light to an optical signal processing system. An optical antenna for guiding and transmitting the second communication light from the optical signal processing system to the communication partner station; and a tip of the optical antenna, which is provided around the optical axis of the optical antenna and substantially orthogonal to the optical axis A guide optics disposed to be capable of adjusting the angle about an axis that guides the first communication light to the optical antenna and transmitting the second communication light transmitted from the optical antenna to the communication partner station An optical antenna device for an optical communication system, comprising: a system; and a tracking unit for adjusting the angle of the guide optical system around the optical axis of the optical antenna and about an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis to track the communication partner station. It is composed.

According to the above configuration, the angle of the guide optical system is adjusted around the optical axis of the optical antenna and about an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, and the optical antenna is fixedly arranged by tracking the communication partner station. Tracking operation can be performed in the same state as before, so that the optical system in the optical antenna does not have a control system in the same way as in the past, and the communication partner station can be tracked only by providing a drive mechanism for the guide optical system Becomes Therefore, it is possible to keep the components in the optical antenna to a minimum, to keep the optical path length of the internal optical system to a minimum, and to provide tracking only by providing a drive mechanism that adjusts the angle of the guide optical system. The operation is realized, and the miniaturization can be promoted and the handling including the adjustment operation can be simplified.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an optical antenna device of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An optical antenna 10 for optical communication includes a fine tracking system disposed in a spacecraft 9, for example. 16 and is fixedly arranged on the spacecraft 9. The optical antenna 10 includes, for example, a primary mirror 101 and a secondary mirror 102 arranged in combination using a support member 103. For example, communication light from a communication partner station built in another space vehicle (not shown) transmits and receives communication light, which will be described later. Guide optical system 11
When the light is guided to the primary mirror 101 via the sub mirror 102, the light is output to the input / output path via the secondary mirror 102.

At the tip of the optical antenna 10, a rotating member 12 is provided via an azimuth adjusting mechanism 13 so as to be rotatable in azimuth directions (directions of arrows A and B) around the optical axis. The azimuth angle adjusting mechanism 13 has a drive gear portion 131 meshed with a drive gear 133 of a drive motor 132, and selectively rotates the rotary member 12 in the directions of arrows A and B according to the drive direction of the drive motor 132. Drive in rotation.

A pair of support members 14 are erected on the rotating member 12, and an intermediate portion of the guide optical system 11 is provided on the support member 14 via an axis 141 about an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. In the direction of the elevation angle (the directions of arrows C and D). An elevation angle adjusting mechanism 15 described later is assembled to the guide optical system 11 at a base end thereof.
The optical antenna 10 is disposed so as to be adjustable in angle of elevation (in the directions of arrows C and D) with respect to the optical antenna 10 via the.

The elevation angle adjusting mechanism 15 has a cylindrical yoke 151 and a permanent magnet 152 attached to the base end of the guide optical system 11 as shown in FIG. The yoke 151 and the permanent magnet 152 are assembled in the guide groove 155 of the electromagnetic drive coil 154 so as to be movable in the directions of arrows A and B (see FIG. 3). The electromagnetic drive coil 154 is formed, for example, in a substantially semicircular cross section, and is fixed to the spacecraft 9 via a support member 153 so as to be positioned substantially concentrically with respect to the optical antenna 10.

The yoke 151, the permanent magnet 152 and the electromagnetic drive coil 154 together form a magnetic circuit.
One of the inner wall and one of the outer walls of the yoke 151 is formed into a predetermined curved shape so that the yoke 151 can rotate in the directions of arrows C and D according to the curvature of the electromagnetic drive coil 154. When the yoke 151, the permanent magnet 152, and the electromagnetic drive coil 154 are selectively supplied with a drive current to the electromagnetic drive coil 154 by a tracking control unit 19, which will be described later, an arrow moves to the guide optical system 11. A rotation urging force in the directions C and D is applied.

In the input / output path of the optical antenna 10, a fine tracking system 16 is provided. The fine tracking system 16 includes an optical component, for example, the beam splitter 1 on its optical path.
61 are provided. This beam splitter 161 outputs communication light to the fine tracking system 16 from the reflected light path. The fine tracking system 16 optically finely tracks the input received light and outputs it to the optical signal processing system 17. The optical signal processing system 17 performs signal processing on the input communication light from the communication partner station (not shown) to acquire information, generates communication light based on the transmission signal, and generates the communication light via the fine tracking system 16. The signal is output to the antenna 10 and the communication partner station (not shown) is transmitted from the optical antenna 10.
Send to.

In the transmitted light path of the beam splitter 161, an optical axis detection sensor 18 constituting a coarse tracking system is provided. The optical axis detection sensor 18 includes the beam splitter 1
The communication light guided to 61 is incident.

The optical axis detection sensor 18 includes a tracking control unit 19
Are connected, and the optical axis of the input communication light is detected and output to the tracking control unit 19. The tracking control unit 19 is connected to the electromagnetic drive coil 154 and the drive motor 132, calculates an elevation drive signal and an azimuth drive signal based on a detection signal from the optical axis detection sensor 18, and calculates the elevation drive signal and the azimuth drive signal.
54 and the drive motor 132.

When the electromagnetic drive coil 154 is driven in response to the elevation drive signal, the electromagnetic drive coil 154 forms a magnetic circuit in cooperation with the yoke 151 and the permanent magnet 152 to generate a driving force in the arrow C direction or the arrow D direction. Then, the guide optical system 11 is urged to rotate about the shaft 141 in the same direction. here,
The guide optical system 11 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C or the direction of the arrow D corresponding to the biasing direction, and the elevation angle with respect to the communication partner station (not shown) is adjusted and controlled.

On the other hand, when driven in response to the azimuth drive signal, the drive motor 132 selectively drives the drive gear 133 to rotate in the arrow A direction or the arrow B direction. Then, the driving gear 133 is driven by the driving gear unit 1 of the rotating member 12.
31 is turned around the optical antenna 10. here,
The guide member 11 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B via the support member 14 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation member 12, and the azimuth angle with respect to the communication partner station (not shown) is adjusted and controlled. Is done. At this time, the guide optical system 11 has its yoke 151 and permanent magnet 152
Is moved in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B in the guide groove 153, the azimuth angle can be adjusted.

Here, the guide optical system 11 is angle-adjusted around the two axes via the azimuth angle adjustment mechanism 13 and the elevation angle adjustment mechanism 15 in correspondence with the communication light, and communicates with the communication partner station (not shown).
, And the communication light from the communication partner station (not shown) is guided to the optical antenna 10.

When the communication light from the optical signal processing system 17 is guided to the optical antenna 10 via the fine tracking system 16 and transmitted from the optical antenna 10, the guide optical system 11 transmits the communication light. To the communication partner station (not shown).

In the above configuration, the communication light transmitted from the communication partner station (not shown) is received by the guide optical system 11 and guided to the optical antenna 10. Then, the communication light is reflected by the primary mirror 101 and the secondary mirror 102 of the optical antenna 11 and guided to the beam splitter 161 of the fine tracking system 16. Here, the communication light guided to the beam splitter 161 is incident on the optical axis detection sensor 18 via a transmission optical path, and the optical axis is detected by the optical axis detection sensor 18, and the detection signal is transmitted to the tracking control unit 19. Is output to Tracking control unit 19
Calculates the elevation drive signal and the azimuth drive signal based on the detection signal, and calculates the electromagnetic drive coil 154 of the elevation adjustment mechanism 15.
And output to the drive motor 132 of the azimuth adjustment mechanism 13.

A drive current is supplied to the electromagnetic drive coil 154 based on an elevation drive signal, and the yoke 1 is responsive to the drive current.
A magnetic force is generated in cooperation with the permanent magnet 51 and the permanent magnet 152 to apply a rotating force in the direction of arrow C or the direction of arrow D to the guide optical system 11 so that the guide optical system 11 is moved in the same direction around the axis 141. Energize rotation. Here, the guide optical system 11
Corresponds to the direction of the arrow C or the arrow D corresponding to the biasing direction.
To control the elevation angle.

On the other hand, the drive motor 152 is driven and controlled on the basis of an azimuth drive signal, and drives the drive gear 153 in the direction of arrow A or the direction of arrow B in conjunction with the drive to drive the drive gear 152 of the rotary member 12. The optical antenna 10
Is urged to rotate around the periphery of the. Then, the rotating member 12
Rotates the guide optical system 11 in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B via the support member 14 in conjunction with the rotation,
The azimuth is adjusted and controlled.

Here, as described above, the guide optical system 11 is angle-adjusted around two axes via the azimuth angle adjustment mechanism 13 and the elevation angle adjustment mechanism 15 in accordance with the communication light, and the communication partner station (shown in FIG. The communication light is guided to the optical antenna 10 when the communication light from the communication partner station (not shown) is received. Then, the communication light is captured by the primary mirror 101 and the sub-mirror 102 of the optical antenna 10, and the communication light is guided to the fine tracking system 16 from the reflection optical path of the beam splitter 161, and optically finely tracked. The signal is guided to the signal processing system 17, and the optical signal processing system 17 obtains information to realize a receiving operation.

When the communication light from the optical signal processing system 17 is supplied to the optical antenna 10 via the fine tracking system 16, the guide optical system 11 transmits the communication light to the communication partner station (FIG. (Not shown) to execute transmission to the communication partner station (not shown).

As described above, in the optical antenna device of the optical communication system, the guide optical system 11 is provided around the optical axis and at the optical axis via the azimuth adjustment mechanism 13 and the elevation adjustment mechanism 15 at the tip of the optical antenna 10. The optical communication is performed by tracking the communication partner station (not shown) by adjusting the angle of the guide optical system 11 about two axes by freely arranging the guide optical system 11 about two axes substantially orthogonal to the axis. It was configured to be.

According to this, since the tracking operation can be performed in a state where the optical antenna 10 is fixedly arranged on the spacecraft 9, a control system is provided in the condensing optical system in the optical antenna 10 in substantially the same manner as in the related art. In addition, the tracking of the communication partner station can be performed only by providing the driving mechanism of the guide optical system 11 without the need. As a result, the number of components in the optical antenna 10 can be kept to a minimum, the optical path length of the internal optical system of the optical antenna 10 can be minimized, the handling including adjustment work can be simplified, and the tracking thereof can be performed. The miniaturization of the drive mechanism of the system is realized.

In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the electromagnetic drive coil 154 is fixedly arranged on the spacecraft side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And the yoke 151 and the permanent magnet 152 can be arranged on the spacecraft side.

In the above embodiment, the optical antenna 1
0 has been described as being fixedly arranged on the spacecraft side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the optical antenna 10 may be arranged so as to be freely adjustable in angle with respect to a mounting structure such as a spacecraft. It is also possible to configure.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fine tracking system 1
6, the beam splitter 161 is disposed, and the communication light is guided to the optical axis detection sensor 18 from the transmitted light path of the beam splitter 161 to detect the optical axis of the communication light. Without limitation, various other configurations are possible.

In the above embodiment, the elevation angle adjusting mechanism 15 has been described as being configured such that a magnetic circuit is formed by the yoke 151, the permanent magnet 152, and the electromagnetic drive coil 154. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various configurations are possible.

Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the optical communication system has a simplified structure, which can promote the miniaturization, and can simplify the handling including the adjustment work. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical antenna device of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining details of the elevation angle adjustment mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the elevation angle adjusting mechanism of FIG. 1 is viewed from the upper surface side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a problem of an optical antenna device of a conventional optical communication system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a transmission / reception unit of the communication light in FIG. 4 taken out therefrom;

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 ... Spacecraft. 10 An optical antenna. 101 ... Primary mirror. 102 ... Secondary mirror. 103 ... support member. 11 ... Guide optical system. 12 ... rotating member. 13 Azimuth adjustment mechanism. 131 ... drive gear unit. 132 ... drive motor. 133 ... drive gear. 14 ... Support members. 141 ... axis. 15 ... Elevation angle adjustment mechanism. 151 ... yoke. 152 ... permanent magnet. 153... Supporting member. 154 ... Electromagnetic drive coil. 155 ... Guide groove. 16 ... Fine tracking system. 161… a beam splitter. 17: Optical signal processing unit. 18 ... Optical axis detection sensor. 19: Tracking control unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G02B 26/08 (72) Inventor Tatsuo Kawamura 1 Kosuka Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Toshiba Corporation F-term in Komukai Plant (reference) 2H039 AA02 AB16 AB57 AB68 2H041 AA12 AB14 AC05 2H043 BB05 BB07 5K002 AA07 FA05

Claims (5)

[Claims] An apparatus for transmitting and receiving communication light to and from a communication partner station, receiving the first communication light transmitted from the communication partner station, guiding the first communication light to an optical signal processing system, and An optical antenna for transmitting a second communication light from a processing system to the communication partner station; and a tip of the optical antenna capable of adjusting an angle around an optical axis of the optical antenna and an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. Arranged,
A guiding optical system for guiding the first communication light to the optical antenna, and transmitting the second communication light transmitted from the optical antenna to the communication partner station; An optical antenna device for an optical communication system, comprising: tracking means for tracking the communication partner station by adjusting an angle around an axis and an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. 2. The tracking means includes an azimuth adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle of the guide optical system around an optical axis of the optical antenna, a permanent magnet and a yoke for the guide optical system, and an electromagnetic drive. A coil is arranged on the optical antenna side to form a magnetic circuit, and by controlling the current of the electromagnetic drive coil,
The optical antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elevation angle adjustment mechanism that adjusts an angle of the guide optical system around an axis substantially orthogonal to an optical axis. 3. The optical antenna is provided on a mirror surface for receiving the first communication light and transmitting the second communication light, and on an optical path between the mirror surface and the optical signal processing means. 3. The optical antenna device for an optical communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: a converging optical system that converges the first and second communication lights. 4. The optical antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the optical antenna is fixedly arranged on a support structure. 5. The optical antenna and the communication partner station,
The optical antenna device for an optical communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical antenna device is provided in each of the spacecraft deployed in the orbit.