초록 ▼

An antenna system for receiving both RF wave and optical wave radiation via a single antenna aperture that may be moved between stowed and deployed configurations as needed. The system includes a wavefront correction system for correcting optical wavefront distortion errors caused by anomalies in th

An antenna system for receiving both RF wave and optical wave radiation via a single antenna aperture that may be moved between stowed and deployed configurations as needed. The system includes a wavefront correction system for correcting optical wavefront distortion errors caused by anomalies in the shape of the antenna aperture itself, as well as optical wavefront distortion errors caused by atmospheric perturbations. The optical components used for optical signal conditioning are supported from the antenna aperture and form a compact, unobtrusive means for separating electromagnetic and optical wave signals received by the antenna aperture.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A combination radio frequency (RF) wave and optical wave reception system, comprising: a collapsible, field deployable antenna aperture deployable from a collapsed, compact, non-usable, stowed configuration to an expanded, deployed operative configuration for receiving both R

What is claimed is: 1. A combination radio frequency (RF) wave and optical wave reception system, comprising: a collapsible, field deployable antenna aperture deployable from a collapsed, compact, non-usable, stowed configuration to an expanded, deployed operative configuration for receiving both RF wave radiation and optical wave radiation; a waveguide extending from an axial center of the antenna aperture; a collimator in communication with the waveguide for collimating an optical signal portion received by said antenna and reflecting the optical signal portion through the waveguide, and reflecting an RF wave signal portion received by the antenna aperture through the waveguide; a signal splitter in communication with the waveguide for separating the RF wave and optical wave signal portions traveling through the waveguide; and an optical wavefront correction system in communication with the signal splitter for receiving said optical signal portion, the wavefront correction system structured to correct, in real-time, coarse and fine wavefront errors caused by at least one of atmospheric induced wavefront errors and surface geometry errors in said antenna aperture when deployed. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical wavefront correction system comprises a static wavefront corrector for correcting coarse wavefront errors caused by imprecise surface geometry in said antenna aperture when trasitioned from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical wavefront correction system comprises a dynamic wavefront corrector for correcting fine wavefront errors caused by atmospheric conditions and deployment related variations in the shape of said antenna aperture. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical wavefront correction system includes a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for monitoring and generating wavefront correction signals to maintain said optical output at a desired spot size. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a narrow band optical filter for receiving an output from the wavefront correction system and passing a predetermined bandwidth of said optical signal portion. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wavelength division multiplexing system responsive to said output of said wavefront correction system for demultiplexing said optical signal portion. 7. An antenna system for receiving optical radiation, comprising: an antenna aperture deployable from a compact, non-usable configuration to an operative configuration for receiving optical wave radiation, the antenna aperture including; a plurality of spokes pivotally extending from a waveguide extending from an axial center of the antenna aperture; a collapsible reflector pivotally connected to the spokes such that the reflector is deployable from a first, collapsed inoperative configuration to a second, expanded and operative configuration; a collimator in communication with the waveguide for collimating the optical radiation received by said reflector and reflecting the optical radiation through the waveguide; and an optical wavefront correction system structured to correct, in real-time, coarse and fine wavefront distortion to said optical radiation. 8. The antenna system of claim 7, wherein said optical wavefront correction system comprises a static wavefront corrector that corrects for geometric anomalies in a shape of said reflector causing coarse wavefront distortion in said optical radiation. 9. The antenna system of claim 7, wherein said optical wavefront correction system further comprises: a dynamic wavefront corrector that corrects for dynamic changes in a wavefront of said optical radiation in real time. 10. The antenna system of claim 9, wherein said dynamic wavefront corrector comprises a programmable spatial light modulator. 11. The antenna system of claim 10, further comprising a wavefront sensor responsive to an output of said dynamic wavefront corrector for monitoring in real time said wavefront of said optical radiation and generating feedback signals to said dynamic wavefront corrector to assist in maintaining focusing of said output of said dynamic wavefront corrector. 12. The antenna system of claim 11, wherein said wavefront sensor comprises a Shack-Hartmann sensor. 13. The antenna system of claim 7, wherein said antenna aperture operates to receive electromagnetic wave radiation at frequencies in a gigahertz bandwidth and below. 14. An antenna system for receiving optical radiation, comprising: a collapsible, field deployable antenna aperture including a plurality of spokes pivotally extending from a waveguide extending from an axial center of the antenna aperture such that the aperture is deployable from a collapsed, compact, non-usable, stowable configuration to an expanded, deployed operative configuration for receiving optical wave radiation; a collimator in communication with the waveguide for collimating the optical radiation received by said antenna aperture and reflecting the optical radiation through the waveguide; an optical wavefront correction system for providing, real-time, first and second degrees of wavefront distortion correction to said optical radiation, said wavefront correction system including: a static wavefront corrector that corrects for geometric anomalies in a shape of said antenna aperture causing wavefront distortion in said optical radiation; and a dynamic wavefront corrector that corrects for dynamic changes in a wavefront of said optical radiation; said optical wavefront correction system operating to focus said optical radiation into a desired spot size for subsequent optical detection. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said antenna aperture and said collimator also receive radio frequency (RF) radiation; and wherein said system comprises a beam splitter for splitting said RF radiation and said optical radiation and transmitting said optical radiation to said wavefront correction system. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein said waveguide comprises a light baffle. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein said dynamic wavefront corrector comprises a programmable spatial light modulator. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein said static wavefront corrector comprises a computer generated holographic element (CGHOE). 19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a wavefront sensor responsive to an output of said dynamic wavefront corrector, for monitoring, in real time, said wavefront of said optical radiation and generating feedback signals to said dynamic wavefront corrector to assist in maintaining focusing of a desired spot size for said optical radiation. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said dynamic wavefront corrector comprises a controller, said controller being responsive to an output from said wavefront sensor. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein said wavefront sensor comprises a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. 22. The system of claim 14, further comprising an optical detector for receiving an output from said dynamic wavefront corrector. 23. The system of claim 14, further comprising a wavelength division multiplexing system for receiving an output from said dynamic wavefront corrector and demultiplexing said output to produce a plurality of independent optical output signals. 24. A combination radio frequency (RF) wave and optical wave antenna system, comprising: a collapsible, field deployable antenna aperture including a plurality of spokes pivotally extending from a waveguide extending from an axial center of the antenna aperture such that the aperture is deployable from a collapsed, non-usable, stowed configuration to an expanded, deployed operative configuration for receiving both RF wave radiation and optical wave radiation; a collimator in communication with the waveguide and supported from one end of the waveguide and the antenna aperture, for collimating an optical signal portion received by said antenna aperture and reflecting the optical signal portion through the waveguide, and for reflecting an RF wave signal portion received by the antenna aperture through the waveguide; a signal splitter supported from the antenna aperture and disposed adjacent a rear surface of the antenna aperture, and in communication with the waveguide for separating the RF wave and optical wave signal portions traveling through the waveguide; an optical wavefront correction system supported from the antenna aperture adjacent a rear surface of the antenna aperture, and in communication with the signal splitter for receiving said optical signal portion, the wavefront correction system structured to correct, in real-time, coarse and fine wavefront errors in said optical signal portion and focusing said optical signal portion into a desired spot size for subsequent detection. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein said optical wavefront correction system includes a static wavefront correction system for compensating for errors in a wavefront of said optical signal portion caused by surface geometry variations in said antenna aperture. 26. The system of claim 24, wherein said optical wavefront correction system includes a dynamic wavefront correction system for compensating for errors in a wavefront of said optical signal portion caused by dynamic atmospheric conditions and deployment related variations in the shape of said antenna aperture. 27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a Shack-Hartman sensor for monitoring performance of said wavefront correction system and generating control signals applied to said wavefront correction system to further enhance focusing of an optical signal generated by said wavefront correction system. 28. A method for receiving optical radiation and correcting for wavefront distortion in received optical radiation, comprising: transitioning a collapsible, field deployable antenna aperture, including a plurality of spokes pivotally extending from a waveguide of the antenna aperture, from a collapsed, compact, non-operative, stowed configuration to an expanded, deployed operative configuration to receiving optical radiation; using a collimator to receive said optical radiation from said antenna aperture; using a wavefront correction system disposed adjacent a rear surface of said antenna aperture to monitor and correct, in real-time, coarse and fine wavefront distortion affecting a wavefront of said optical radiation. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein using a wavefront correction system comprises: using a static wavefront correction system for removing wavefront distortion in said optical radiation caused by geometric anomalies in said antenna aperture. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein using a wavefront correction system comprises: using a dynamic wavefront correction system for removing wavefront distortion in said optical radiation caused by atmospheric conditions affecting said wavefront of said optical radiation and deployment related variations in the shape of said antenna aperture.