Laser Communications Laser Communications

Laser Classes Laser Classes

Class I Class I -- Sealed systems Sealed systems
Class II Class II -- Output 1m\ Output 1m\
Class IIIa Class IIIa -- Output 1m\ Output 1m\ -- 5m\ 5m\
Class IIIb Class IIIb -- Output 5m\ Output 5m\ -- 500m\ 500m\
larmul to eyes, diuse iewing OK larmul to eyes, diuse iewing OK
Class IV Class IV -- Output 500m\ Output 500m\
larmul to skin and eyes, diuse iewing hazardous larmul to skin and eyes, diuse iewing hazardous
iode Lasers iode Lasers
aser diodes emit an elliptical beam with aser diodes emit an elliptical beam with
astigmatism astigmatism
Better units will include correctie lenses or Better units will include correctie lenses or
astigmatism and to make the dot appear round astigmatism and to make the dot appear round
Neither o these problems are inherently bad or Neither o these problems are inherently bad or
DX purposes but correcting them also improes DX purposes but correcting them also improes
diergence, a big win ,more gain,. diergence, a big win ,more gain,.
uman Spectral Response uman Spectral Response
!erceived Intensities !erceived Intensities
WaveIength WaveIength MuItipIier MuItipIier CoIor CoIor
532 nm 532 nm 28 28 Green Green
635 nm 635 nm Red Red--Orange Orange
640 nm 640 nm 55 Red Red--Orange Orange
650 nm 650 nm 33 Red Red
660 nm 660 nm 22 Red Red
60 nm 60 nm 11 Red Red
Laser iode Laser iode
aser Diodes include
Photodiodes or
eedback to insure
consistent output
!ointer esign !ointer esign
!ointer Innards !ointer Innards
odulation odulation

asy with gas lasers, hard with diodes asy with gas lasers, hard with diodes
P\ ,Pulse \idth odulation, P\ ,Pulse \idth odulation,
Used by Ramsey in their kit Used by Ramsey in their kit
Pl ,Pulsed l, Pl ,Pulsed l,
Potentially the highest bandwidth ,100klz, Potentially the highest bandwidth ,100klz,
ain Systems ain Systems
%ransmitter %ransmitter
aximum output power aximum output power
inimum diergence inimum diergence
Receier Receier
aximum lens area aximum lens area
Clarity Clarity
%ight ocus on %ight ocus on
detector detector
ilters ilters
Sun shade oer detector Sun shade oer detector
Shade in ront o lens Shade in ront o lens
Detector spectral response Detector spectral response
Colored ilters Colored ilters
bsorb ~50 o aailable light bsorb ~50 o aailable light
Diicult to ind exact requency Diicult to ind exact requency
ounting Systems ounting Systems
ounts and stands need only be as accurate as beam ounts and stands need only be as accurate as beam
diergence diergence
Good laser diodes will be 1 Good laser diodes will be 1--2mR ,milliRadian, 2mR ,milliRadian,
32 pitch screw at the end o a 2' mount will yield 32 pitch screw at the end o a 2' mount will yield
1mR per reolution. Since quarter turns ,een eighth 1mR per reolution. Since quarter turns ,een eighth
turns, are possible, this is more than accurate enough turns, are possible, this is more than accurate enough
ligher thread pitches allow shorter mounts which may ligher thread pitches allow shorter mounts which may
be more stable ,against wind, ibration, wires, be more stable ,against wind, ibration, wires,
1mR is 1.5' o diergence eery 1000', 3' at 2000 ', etc. 1mR is 1.5' o diergence eery 1000', 3' at 2000 ', etc.
!ointing !ointing
GPS and Compass GPS and Compass
Scopes and Binoculars Scopes and Binoculars
Strobe lights, large handheld loods, headlights Strobe lights, large handheld loods, headlights
l%s to yell when laser light is seen at remote l%s to yell when laser light is seen at remote
location location
eak Signal odes eak Signal odes
Laser Laser
1991 1991 -- June 08 June 08 -- \I and \I and
KB KB -- 153.9 miles ! 153.9 miles !
quipment used: 18 inch quipment used: 18 inch
resnel lens into resnel lens into
Photomultiplier tube Photomultiplier tube
%ransmitter: 15 mw helium %ransmitter: 15 mw helium
cadmium laser ,442 nm, cadmium laser ,442 nm,
pplications pplications
%ransmit oice or miles line %ransmit oice or miles line--o o--sight sight
Use weak signal modes or cloud scatter` Use weak signal modes or cloud scatter`
%ransmit ideo with cheap pens %ransmit ideo with cheap pens
%ransmit high speed data without \P %ransmit high speed data without \P
Blind lies or easy extermination Blind lies or easy extermination