Patent ID: 6944403

Claim:
A system for directing a communications light beam from free-space, said system comprising: a source for generating a reference light beam wherein the reference light beam has a predetermined spatial relationship with the communications light beam; an optical fiber having an end; an optical position detector having a target; an adjustable Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) mirror; a first lens for directing the communications light beam to said MEMS mirror and subsequently toward said end of said optical fiber; a second lens; a mirror, said mirror acting in concert with said second lens to direct the reference light beam to said MEMS mirror and subsequently to an incident point on said optical position detector, said optical position detector configured to generate an error signal indicative of a spatial relationship of the incident point on said optical position detector to the target of said optical position detector; and a closed loop servo control system for moving said MEMS mirror in response to said error signal to nullify said error signal to direct the communications light beam to a predetermined point on said end of said optical fiber.