Patent ID: 7146105

Claim:
A MEMS-based optical, wireless communication system comprising: A. a first receiving and transmitting optical unit having means for receiving and processing an input data signal and producing a modulated laser beam that is transmitted through free space, and B. a second receiving and transmitting optical unit located at a distance but within line-of-sight from said first unit, wherein said second unit having means for receiving and processing the first modulated laser beam applied from said first unit, wherein said second unit also having means for producing a second modulated laser beam that is transmitted through free space and received and processed by said first unit, thus creating a bi-directional communication system, wherein said first and second receiving and transmitting optical units further comprise: a) a transmitting subsystem comprising: (1) a microcontroller having means for receiving and processing the input data signal and producing an electrical output data signal, (2) a laser driver having means for receiving and processing the output data signal and producing a modulated laser signal, (3) a laser diode having means for being energized by the modulated laser signal and producing a modulated laser beam, (4) an adjustable collimator having means for receiving the modulated laser beam and producing a collimated laser beam of adjustable divergence, (5) a MEMS mirror assembly having means for reflecting and positioning the collimated laser beam, and (6) a transmitting telescope having means for receiving the modulated laser beam and producing a steerable modulated laser beam that is transmitted through free space, and (b) a receiving subsystem comprising: (1) a receiving telescope that is positioned within line-of-sight of said transmitting telescope having a steerable field of regard and, said receiving telescope having means for receiving the modulated laser beam transmitted from said transmitting telescope and producing a focused laser beam, (2) a narrow-band filter having means for receiving and passing only the focused laser beam, and producing a focused and filtered laser beam, (3) a photodiode having means for receiving the focused and filtered laser beam and producing an electrical signal, and (4) an amplifier having means for receiving the electrical signal from said photodiode and producing an amplified signal that is applied to said microcontroller for further processing.