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System Analysis of Non-Mechanical Compact Optical Transceiver for Wireless Communications with a VCSEL Array

Morio Toyoshima 1, Naoki Miyashita 1, Yoshihisa Takayama 1, Hiroo Kunimori 1, and Shinichi Kimura 2
1. Space Communications Group, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Japan
2. Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Japan

Abstract—Compact, light, and low power consumption communications equipment is required for the small satellites. For such restriction of the resources in the spacecrafts, we propose a non-mechanical, compact optical terminal equipped with a two-dimensional laser array. A laser beam is transmitted by selecting the laser pixel corresponding to the direction of the optical signal received from the counter terminal. The beams are not deflected by a mechanical mirror. Instead, they are turned on and off one after the other in accordance with the direction from which optical signals are received. Multiple-input multiple-output operation is possible in this configuration. The non-mechanical transceiver can facilitate a reduction in the size of the optical communications system. This paper presents the basic concept of a non-mechanical compact transceiver with a two-dimensional laser array for optical wireless communications.

Cite:Morio Toyoshima, Naoki Miyashita, Yoshihisa Takayama, Hiroo Kunimori, and Shinichi Kimura , "System Analysis of Non-Mechanical Compact Optical Transceiver for Wireless Communications with a VCSEL Array," Journal of Communications, vol. 4, no.8, pp.582-587, 2009